Illman's preview: Looking for 'Wake Up' call

Time to wake up

Noble Cornerstone is the “reputation” horse in today’s finale based on his runner-up performance in the $250,000 Springboard Mile last December at Remington Park.

Horseplayers judging the gelding off that race alone might miss the big picture. After the Springboard, trainer Wesley Ward threw Noble Cornerstone to the wolves in a pair of graded stakes. Not only was he well beaten in both of those starts, but he displayed poor gate habits. He did not seem like a happy racehorse.

After being freshened up, Noble Cornerstone was transferred to trainer Tom Morley and he was fully expected to run well with a drop in class and distance on May 17. While Noble Cornerstone made an improved showing in finishing second by a head, it was disheartening to see him blow a big late lead while drifting out in the stretch.

Noble Cornerstone will be bet once again. He’s listed at 5-2 on the morning line, and that seems a bit short for a horse that has yet to run back to the two big Beyer Speed Figures earned last year.

Let’s try to beat him with Wake Up in Malibu, who will stretch out for the first time. While Wake Up in Malibu is unfamiliar with today’s distance, his pedigree indicates that he’ll handle it without much fuss. He’s a half-brother to A Shin Forward, who won the Group 1 Mile Championship on turf in Japan, and the dam scored two stakes wins in turf routes.

Moreover, Wake Up in Malibu looked good in his most recent effort. Displaying no rust despite making his first start since Saratoga, Wake Up in Malibu pressed a four-ply pace dispute while well out in the strip, and still had enough to fend off Alabaster City, who returned to graduate impressively last week with an 89 Beyer.

Trained by George Weaver, Wake Up in Malibu boasts good early speed and should be forwardly placed after breaking from a comfortable outside post position. He may very well be the one to catch in the late stages.

SELECTIONS: 9-4-10

Cherry on top

Our Amazing Rose, like Noble Cornerstone, is searching for her good juvenile form. She wowed the Saratoga faithful with an impressive debut performance, but was then sidelined after undergoing colic surgery. While she did win her return start at Aqueduct, she hasn’t looked like the same filly this year.

She looms the controlling speed in today’s eighth race, gets some class relief in her third start of the form cycle, and will receive 10 pounds from her main rival, Very Cherry Candy. Considering those factors as well as the all-world trainer-jockey combination of Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez, Our Amazing Rose looks like a strong contender.

The distance is somewhat of a concern, however. She is by Yes It’s True, a stallion known for imparting speed, speed, and more speed. Whether Our Amazing Rose wants to go 1 1/16 miles against older females is a gamble I don’t want to take at short odds.

Instead, I’ll go ahead and single Very Cherry Candy in the multiple-race wagers. The Ontario-bred slogged through her first two seasons over turf and synthetic in Canada, but thrived since being switched to dirt over the winter at Gulfstream.

She benefitted from a very patient ride from Cornelio Velasquez in winning here on May 23. Very Cherry Candy prompted the pace along the inside before three other horses went for broke with a half-mile remaining. Velasquez took Very Cherry Candy back off the scrum, eased her four wide on the turn, and she gave a game and determined stretch run to defeat a promising filly in Previous.

Considering the lack of speed in the race, Velasquez may be well served to hustle Very Cherry Candy from the inside post. She may find Our Amazing Rose to be a nice target if that one fails to stay the trip.

SELECTIONS: 1-6-5

Horses to Watch

HILLHOUSE HIGH
Trainer: Chad Brown
Last Race: June 18, 6th
Finish: 1st by 2
Beyer: 80
Filly gave a professional effort when dusting off entry-level optional claimers. She raced in between rivals on the backstretch before easing three wide turning for home. Once clear, she powered to the front and wasn’t threatened in the stretch. Her Beyers are light, but she acts like she can handle N2X foes at Saratoga at distances up to a mile.