Trip Notes for April 14-15: Arkansas Derby, Jenny Wiley, and more

April 14

Keeneland
Maker’s Mark Mile (race 9)
COMMENT: With champion Tepin sidelined, the turf mile division has been a revolving door this year with horses taking turns in the big races on both coasts. That pattern continued as longshot American Patriot closed with a rush to get the win. Coming off an optional-claiming win at Gulfstream two months ago, his only previous start this year, he bided his time midpack early as Southern California raider What a View set a solid pace. American Patriot was still midpack coming into the lane, started to pick up momentum between horses, and closed with a flourish to get up in the final strides. Heart to Heart, second in this race last year to Miss Temple City, stalked pacesetter What a View, moved up to confront that foe on the far turn, battled with him into the lane, finally dispatched with him, looked like the winner at the sixteenth pole, but couldn’t fend off the winner. Conquest Panthera sat midpack while outside, moved up eagerly on the far turn to be just off the lead while still wide, didn’t seem to be going anywhere, but found his top gear in the final furlong, closed with American Patriot while just to his inside, and just missed while between the winner and runner-up. Ballagh Rocks, making his first start in a stakes after three straight wins and then nearly three months off, lagged well back until the stretch and finished smartly to be a close fourth. What a View, coming off three straight seconds in Southern California, popped right out to the lead, set a solid pace under some pressure from Heart to Heart, battled back when challenged by that foe on the far turn, and was still there to near midstretch before succumbing. Bolo, the tepid favorite after a win in the Grade 2 Arcadia at Santa Anita Feb. 1 and third in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile there March 11, stalked a few lengths off the lead while staying on the rail, moved closer on the far turn, but was unable to produce a run. His poorest performances came the only four times he’s left Southern California.

Oaklawn
Apple Blossom Handicap (race 9)
COMMENT: When last seen, Stellar Wind blew the start in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff before ending up fourth behind champions Beholder and Songbird. Today, she broke alertly and was content to stalk in third while saving ground as Terra Promessa set a slow pace. Stellar Wind moved closer on the turn, came out for room, made her run at Terra Promessa in the lane, gradually wore her down, and was edging away in the final half-furlong. She will reportedly target the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita June 3 (she won that race, then called the Vanity Mile, over Beholder last year). Terra Promessa did everything right but just couldn’t quite fend off the favorite. In a nice bounce-back after her troubled fifth in the Grade 2 Azeri here last month, she broke sharply from the rail, was urged to the lead, set modest splits while holding the rail and taking some pressure from longshot Durango, dispatched with that foe turning for home, and battled back when Stellar Wind challenged to her outside. The main question now is whether she can produce this top-level form at any place not named Oaklawn. Streamline, second in this last year and winner of the Azeri here March 18, stalked the pace in fourth, remained inside while trying to rally behind Stellar Wind, ran on in the lane, but was never a danger to the top pair.

April 15

Keeneland
Ben Ali (race 7)
COMMENT: Watershed moved back to dirt after finishing ninth, beaten just two lengths despite traffic issues, in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida on Gulfstream turf and earned his first graded stakes win. He bided his time early while saving ground as Conquest Enforcer set a solid pace under some pressure from 9-5 favorite Bird Song, moved closer going to the far turn, moved outside at the quarter pole to continue, and reeled in Bird Song and drew clear. With Arrogate getting a freshening there are some big prizes up for grabs and off this he could target something like the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill June 17. Eagle, previously unbeaten in three starts here and winner of this race last year, sat well back to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, and finished well to nip Bird Song for second, though he was never really a threat to the winner. Bird Song, favored off a win in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Fred Hooper going a mile March 4 and trying this longer nine-furlong trip for the first time, dogged Conquest Enforcer from the start, moved up to challenge that foe turning for home, took the lead and opened up as though ready to go on to victory, but was then no match for the winner and just got nipped in the final strides for second. The distance may have got him. Conquest Enforcer, racing on dirt and trying this distance for the first time after knocking heads with some of the West’s top turf milers, popped out to set a decent pace under pressure from Bird Song, was still on the lead turning for home while well off the rail, but then couldn’t keep up.

Keeneland
Lexington (race 9)
COMMENT: Senior Investment flattered Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner Girvin and may have punched his ticket for the Grade 1 Preakness at Pimlico March 20 with a game victory here. Dropping a bit after running sixth in the Louisiana Derby, Senior Investment sat well back early as Resiliency set a decent early pace under pressure from Time to Travel and Souper Tapit. Senior Investment remained well back to the far turn, came very wide into the lane, and rallied strongly to get up in the final strides. West Coast, a Southern California maiden winner, was likewise well back early, moved earlier than the eventual winner to be in contention turning for home, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but got nailed in the final strides. No Dozing, the 9-5 favorite coming off a fourth in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, was checked very hard going into the first turn to lose position, gathered himself while inside, steadily advanced, swung out into the lane, and finished well. Souper Tapit got knocked around out of the gate, had to check hard, and clipped heels going into the clubhouse turn. He was able to get back into stride to press the pace, but then had nothing left turning for home.

Keeneland
Jenny Wiley (race 10)
COMMENT: There were those so impressed by Dickinson’s wins in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Suwannee River Feb. 11 and Tampa’s Grade 2 Hillsborough March 11 they believed she was ready for the big time. They were right as she got her first Grade 1 win, defeating maybe the best turf mare around, Lady Eli. Dickinson pressed the early pace of Catch a Glimpse, was content to let that gal move out to a clear lead, and continued in third while saving ground going down the backstretch. Dickinson remained just behind Catch a Glimpse and Illuminant as those two battled for the lead into the lane, came out for room, looked in trouble when Lady Eli shot through to grab the lead, swung out around Lady Eli, was pushed out a few lanes as that foe drifted out, but continued on gamely to just edge Lady Eli. She’ll reportedly target the Grade 1 Just a Game on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 10 – where she could run into Lady Eli again. Lady Eli ran splendidly in defeat. Making her first start since a nose loss in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she broke well from the rail, tucked back just a bit off the pace, tossed her head a bit on the first turn but settled after that back in sixth. Lady Eli had to wait for room into the lane, charged through a hole while drifting out a bit, took the lead from Illuminant and Catch a Glimpse, but got nailed on the line. Quidira stalked outside of Dickinson, kept to her task gamely while wide, but just wasn’t good enough. Time and Motion sat fifth, pitched wide into the lane, and failed to make a run. Trainer Jimmy Toner said he would add blinkers to help her focus, and her next start may be in the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont May 13. Illuminant, the talented West Coast raider, dogged Catch a Glimpse from the start, battled for the lead with that foe to midstretch, but couldn’t sustain her run in the final furlong. Catch a Glimpse battled well to the eighth pole but tired with her dueling partner Illuminant in the final furlong.

Oaklawn
Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (race 7)
COMMENT: Whitmore stamped himself among the sprint elite with another dominant performance here for his fourth straight win. A year ago he was third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and 19th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He was gone for five months but has come back to run in four sprints, dominating each. He bided his time early as Chief Cicatriz set the pace under pressure from Holy Boss, improved his position to the top of the lane, was asked for run, surged to the lead, and drew off to win easily. The Grade 2 Churchill Downs at even furlongs may be next. Apprehender, a 30-1 shot off an allowance win here Feb. 25, sat well back early while widest, and finished well to win a four-horse blanket photo for second. Holy Boss and Chief Cicatriz battled on the lead throughout, with Holy Boss getting the head nod over Chief Cicatriz. Moe Candy, invading off a second in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes at Santa Anita Feb. 4, was away slowly, improved his position to the far turn, angled wide for the stretch, but never mustered a run.

Oaklawn
Oaklawn Handicap (race 9)
COMMENT: Inside Straight looked like a new horse when dominating an allowance race here March 10, and this new version can now say he’s a Grade 2 winner, as he took this easily despite trouble. He stalked in third while inside as 1-2 favorite Midnight Storm went out to the lead and set a strong pace. Inside Straight was boxed in on the far turn while seemingly ready to pounce, found a seam into the lane, came with his run to grab the lead, and drew clear. A race like the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill June 17 could be next. Domain’s Rap, second in the Essex here March 18, bided his time early while saving ground, had to wait for room on the far turn, shifted out to make his run, and came on well. Midnight Storm set a brisk pace under pressure from longshot Cutacorner while holding the rail, showed some fight turning for home when confronted by Goats Town, fought against the winner in midstretch, but then weakened. This was a bit disappointing but maybe that hard-fought second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 11 took more out of him than originally thought.

Oaklawn
Arkansas Derby (race 11)
COMMENT: Classic Empire, last year’s juvenile champion, has had a brutal year, first being a non-factor third in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Feb. 4, then having a couple ailments (foot abscess, back injury), and then not wanting to train. But trainer Mark Casse did an amazing job as he got his champ back and looking like one of the ones for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby May 6. Quotes earlier in the week from Casse said they would “send” from the gate, but Classic Empire had to take up sharply when sandwiched between a couple rivals going into the first turn. He gathered himself to sit a few lengths behind the leaders while between horses, crept closer going to the far turn while still under a hold, followed Malagacy as that guy made his move to challenge, pitched wider turning for home, came out further in the lane for clear sailing, and ran down the stubborn Conquest Mo Money. Considering he’d run just once this year and had some setbacks, this was a super effort and he’ll be very tough at Churchill. Conquest Mo Money, winner at Sunland of his first three and then second to impressive winner Hence in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby March 26, showed he’s the real deal. He pressured early pacesetter Grandpa’s Dream, soon took over from that overmatched rival while setting a brisk pace (faster than what elders did in the Oaklawn Handicap), looked in trouble when a number of horses came to him going into the far turn and when Malagacy put his head in front, rebuffed Malagacy, but couldn’t fend off Classic Empire. Conquest Mo Money is not nominated to the Triple Crown, and it would cost $200,000 to make him eligible. Lookin at Lee, a non-factor sixth in the Grade 2 Rebel here March 18, showed no speed, as usual, and ran on well to get third. His habit of leaving himself with so much to do turning for home makes him tough to embrace for a top prize. Sonneteer, a maiden who ran on well for second behind Malagacy in the Grade 2 Rebel here March 18, sat well back, behind Lookin at Lee, swung very wide into the lane, and finished well. Malagacy, who had won all three of his starts, ran big in his first defeat. He broke a step slowly from the outside post, yet still had enough speed to stalk the pace while very wide going into the first turn. He was asked to move closer going into the backstretch while still wide, moved up to challenge Conquest Mo Money for the lead into the lane, battled with that guy to midstretch, but tired a bit late to just miss third. The wide trip didn’t help but he may have been exposed in terms of distance, but he could still become Grade 2 Woody Stephens/Grade 1 King’s Bishop type. Untrapped, third in the Rebel, sat midpack from the start, loomed a threat turning for home, but couldn’t sustain his bid.

Santa Anita
Los Angeles Handicap (race 4)
COMMENT: In surely one of the weakest renewals of this race, made weaker when a scratch cut the field to just four, the maiden winner Lord Simba was not only made the 1-2 favorite but looked the part with an easy win. Coming off a strong maiden win here March 19 he pressured Kentuckian early while to his outside, dueled with that foe to the top of the lane, got the better of him, and drew clear late. None of the West’s top sprinters were here so surely his next assignment will be tougher. That may come in the Grade 2 Kona Gold here May 20. Eastwood, who showed much promise in 2014 and 2015 but was making his first start in almost two years, sat third, not far behind the eventual winner, tried to make a run at Lord Simba into the lane, and stayed on to be second, well clear of the rest. This was an encouraging first run back. Grazen Sky was last early and plugged along for third. Kentuckian, the second choice, set the pace from his rail slot under pressure from the winner and gave way once headed. He doesn’t look like the same horse we saw Beyer triple digits as a 3-year-old two years ago.