King's review: Miz Ida suffers poor trip

Poor trip for Miz Ida in Mint Julep

Miz Ida, who ran fifth in the Mint Julep Stakes Saturday at Churchill, likely would have been more competitive with a clean trip, though how much more is a matter of opinion. One thing is clear: She would have been closer than 5 1/4 lengths back at the finish – her losing margin to upset winner Honey Hues.

For starters, she was forced to play catch up in a slow-paced race – surprising since three of the runners in the field looked like runners that wanted to have their mounts setting or pushing the pace.

Her most visible trouble occurred in the stretch. Trying to split horses, jockey Corey Lanerie had to steady Miz Ida when she appeared she was getting geared up.

Lanerie, who called the trip “disastrous,” said she also kept trying to shy away from the temporary rail – used to protect the inside of the turf course.

“It comes out in points, and I told the guys that they need to fix that,” he said. “She kept shying from it, and she wasn’t that close to it. It cost us some lengths.”

Of course, all the competitors in the race had to deal with the rail, too, but if Miz Ida gets to run on the hedge – without the rail out – horseplayers might want to give her a pass for going unplaced in the Mint Julep.

Most of the time, the rails are down, and racing is conducted on the hedge when there is major stakes race on turf. This meet, perhaps because Churchill has relied on its turf course heavily in a struggle to fill races, they seem to be running on the hedge less regularly.

Lanerie still has a big day

Though unsuccessful aboard Miz Ida, Lanerie still won three races on the 10-race card at Churchill Saturday. His winning mounts came on One Tango Charlie in the fifth, Sportscaster in the sixth, and Claymaker in the last. The first two winners came for trainer Dale Romans and the last for Greg Foley.

He now holds a 34-26 lead over Rosie Napravnik in the rider standings. Napravnik didn’t ride Saturday at Churchill due to being at Belmont Park, where she rode General a Rod in the Belmont.

Horse to watch

Noble Bird
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: June 7, 10th
Finish: 2nd by 3 /4
Beyer: 80

He stalked the pace in a maiden special weight on the grass, made a bold wide move to take the lead, and although run down late, was game in defeat. He finished 5 1/4 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher, while giving the impression he won’t be a maiden for long.