Trip Notes for April 14-15: Arkansas Derby, Maker's 46 Mile, Apple Blossom and more

April 13

Keeneland
Maker’s 46 Mile (race 9)
COMMENT: Heart to Heart apparently enjoyed getting his first Grade 1 win in the Gulfstream Park Turf on Feb. 10 so much he’s trying to make a habit of it as the 7-year-old warrior notched a second straight top-level win. The son of grass champion English Channel, now a 15-time winner, just missed in this race last year, finishing second beaten just a neck by American Patriot. He again used his speed as he went right to the lead, set a decent pace under some pressure from Om, kicked away into the lane and to put this thing to bed by the final furlong. Trainer Brian Lynch said the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill in the fall is his main goal and that the veteran would run probably just twice before that, likely at Belmont and Saratoga. Ballagh Rocks, a strong rallying fourth in this last year and making his first start since finishing a troubled ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 4, showed he belongs at this level as the 5-year-old stalked in third, came with a smart run up the rail in the stretch to threaten, if only briefly, but couldn’t close the gap on the winner in the final furlong. Forge gave trainer Bill Mott a 2-3 finish as the son of Dubawi, bouncing back from a seventh in the Grade 2 Muniz at the Fair Grounds on March 24, lagged well back early, remained toward the back on the far turn, came out for room in the lane and finished well. Both Mott runners could target the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5, though that may be coming back too quickly (three weeks). Om, a Southern California invader who last dueled and ran sixth in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 10, chased the winner from the start, moved up nearly alongside that foe on the turn to loom a big threat but couldn’t stay with that rival in the lane while keeping to his task decently. It’s likely back to California for him with the Shoemaker Mile as his target. Next Shares, another California invader who was a sharp second in the Kilroe Mile, was well back from the start while wide, remained wide throughout and never mustered a run. Like Om and maybe the winner the Shoemaker Mile beckons. Hogy, smashing winner of the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream on March 3 in his first run at this mile trip, stalked in fourth while wide, remained wide turning for home while midpack but came up empty. These waters may be a tad too deep for him, at least at this trip.

Oaklawn
Fantasy (race 7)
COMMENT: Rain started just after the fifth race. The track was sealed before this race and was listed as ‘s fast (sealed).’ Sassy Sienna ran third behind Cosmic Burst and Amy’s Challenge in the Grade 3 Honeybee here March 10 but she went back to using her speed to get position and may have enjoyed the wet going as she posted a game, narrow win. From her rail slot she broke well, sat second as 7-5 favorite Amy’s Challenge shot off to a clear lead, remained there as ‘Challenge opened up a substantial lead through fast splits, shifted out for room turning for home and finished resolutely between horses to go past a tiring Amy’s Challenge and edge a game Wonder Gadot. The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 4 is reportedly next, though obviously the water will be deeper. Wonder Gadot continued her solid form as after back-to-back Grade 3 thirds at the Fair Grounds she bided her time early while wide on the first turn, remained midpack to the far turn, came with a nice run alongside the eventual winner to her outside to roll past the tiring pacemaker but just got nipped on the line. She’s a quality filly but it’s starting to look as though she’s always going to find someone just a smidge too tough at this level. The Kentucky Oaks is reportedly next for her as well. Amy’s Challenge, who had a huge lead before tiring late to end up second to Cosmic Burst in the Honeybee, tried the same tactics here as she bounced out to a clear lead, opened up farther going to the far turn while setting a brisk pace, still held a sizeable advantage into the lane to midstretch but then weakened from her early efforts and had no answer when the top two came to her in the lane. She’s quick to be sure but it looks like she may be better at a mile or shorter. The Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5 may be a better spot for her than the Oaks. Cosmic Burst, who rallied smartly to win the Honeybee for her fourth win in five starts, sat back with Wonder Gadot, didn’t accelerate quite as early or as quickly going into the far turn, moved to the inside and made some headway but was never really a threat.

Oaklawn
Apple Blossom (race 9)
COMMENT: Main track was listed as ‘good (sealed)’ after some steady rain the preceding couple hours. Many were starting to consider Unique Bella nearly unbeatable when using her speed going long but Unbridled Mo put a dent in that belief as she rallied to beat the champion. Coming off a fourth in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Royal Delta on Feb. 19, her first start in 10 months, and obviously enjoying the wet going, the daughter of Uncle Mo bided her time early in fourth while saving ground as Farrell set a solid early pace, crept closer going to the far turn, came off the inside to make her run in the lane, switched farther out and finished smartly to roll past the favorite in the final furlong and draw clear. She’s now won seven of 10 and figures to target some of the big distaff races this summer, though trainer Todd Pletcher said he wasn’t sure what would be next. He did say she’s a true two-turn horse, which likely means Belmont is out of the picture. Of course, she could again run into Unique Bella and there’s also the looming presence of Abel Tasman, Elate, and others. Unique Bella, a laughingly easy winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita on Feb. 10 and overwhelming 1-5 favorite here, broke poorly to get away last after seemingly trying to sit when the gates opened but her natural speed carried her up to press the pace. She moved up to join Farrell after a half-mile, took over on the far turn as if ready to go on to victory but couldn’t get away from the field and was unable to with Unbridled Mo to her outside in the final furlong. In her defense, she carried highweight, shipped for the first time, raced on non-fast going for the first time, blew the start and had been ill after the Santa Maria, forcing her to miss the Grade 1 Santa Margarita last month, so she ran well, just not as brilliantly as she had prior. Fuhriously Kissed, making her first start for new connections after being claimed for $62,500 from a turf race at Gulfstream on March 15 in which she ran sixth, validated their eye as she earned a Grade 1 placing as the daughter of Langfuhr lagged well back from the start, was still last turning for home but came with a smart run up the rail in the lane to get up for third, though she was never a danger to the top two. Streamline, second and third, respectively, in the last two runnings of this but coming off an eighth in the Grade 2 Azeri here March 17, stalked in third, came with a game run on the inside into the lane to loom a big threat by midstretch but couldn’t sustain her run to keep up with the top two and lost third in the final strides. This might be her career swansong and if so she goes to the breeding shed off a terrific career. Farrell, third in the Azeri but who was likely to scratch if the track came up wet according to her connections, stayed in and broke well to go right to the lead, set a brisk pace to the half, briefly battled back when they hooked by Unique Bella and then gave way to end up last. This likely confirmed she doesn’t want wet going.

April 14

Keeneland
Ben Ali (race 7)
COMMENT: Rain fell throughout the day but the main track remained listed as ‘fast.’ Rated R Superstar’s lack of speed often leaves him with too much to do but his sit-and-finish tactics worked here as he posted the upset. The 5-year-old gelded son of Kodiak Kowboy, stepping back up in class after rallying for second in a tough optional claimer at Oaklawn on March 23 was slow into stride, as is his custom. He sat last from the start as favored Chip Leader set a modest pace, remained at the back of the pack to the far turn, pitched wide on the turn and powered home to reel-in the favorite and draw clear to win comfortably. Chip Leader, favored off a good second in the Kentucky Cup Classic on Turfway Park’s synthetic main track March 17, but a question mark on dirt having finished off the board in his three prior dirt starts, went right out to the lead, set a comfortable pace, remained clear to the eighth pole, looked as if ready to go on to victory but was no match for the winner’s charge while finishing well clear of the others. Guest Suite lagged back, pitched out into the lane, finished decently but was never a danger to the top two. Rafting, the second choice off a second in a stakes at Tampa last month, was rank and pulling early to chase the pacesetter, remained stalking in third to the top of the lane but gave way readily in the lane in a disappointing effort.

Keeneland
Lexington (race 9)

COMMENT: Rain fell throughout the card but the main track was still listed as ‘fast.’ Despite being mired on the far outside (post 12) My Boy Jack, romping winner of the Grade 3 Southwest on Feb. 19 and coming off a smart third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds on March 24, punched his ticket to Louisville with another smart performance. He bided his time well back from his outside post as Greyvitos set a modest pace, steadily advanced to be midpack by the far turn, came with a smart run in the lane to wear down then-leader Telekinesis in the final strides. Telekinesis, third against elders while routing for the first time in just his second start at the Fair Grounds on March 9, showed he’s the real deal as he showed enough speed to stalk in third early, moved closer going into the backstretch to hound pacesetter Greyvitos, looked in trouble when that rival opened up some turning for home but kept to his task gamely, reeled in that rival to grab the lead by midstretch but just couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Pony Up sat well back from the start, was still well back going to the far turn but put in an energetic finish to get up for third, though he was never a danger to the top two. Greyvitos, making his first start since winning the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Dec. 17 and then suffering an injury, went right to the lead, set modest splits under sustained pressure first from Gracida and then from Telekinesis, opened up some turning for home but couldn’t finish with the top three in the final furlong.

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Keeneland
Jenny Wiley (race 10)
COMMENT: There was rain throughout the day but the turf course remained listed as ‘firm.’ In what is probably the best turf distaff race of the season comebacking Sistercharlie showed she has enormous potential to lead the division as she led a Chad Brown one-two-three finish. She showed big talent in France (narrowly lost a Group 1) before coming to the U.S. last summer to be a game second in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. After that she suffered a lung infection and it’s been a long road back, but she showed here she could be the best turf distaffer in the land as this trip is surely short of what she wants and she still won easily. She lagged back early between horses as favorite Dona Bruja set a solid pace, remained there to the far turn while saving ground, hugged the rail into the lane, surged into contention, veered off the fence to the outside to go around the leaders, sweeping past Dona Bruja and La Coronel and drawing clear to win easily. If anything she figures to be better at longer distances. She may well be Brown’s 2018 Lady Eli. Fourstar Crook, part of the Brown brigade and coming off a big win in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa on March 10, was last early. She remained well back to the far turn, commenced a strong run, darted to the rail to continue her rally in the lane and finished strongly for second, though she was never really a danger to the winner. Off Limits, who completed the Brown trifecta, was smashing winning the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar in the fall but then a so-so fifth in the Hillsborough. She bounced back here as she sat midpack, not far in front of her winning stablemate, came with a smart run between horses into the lane and while unable to finish with the winner kept on smartly only to be edged for second by her rallying stablemate on the rail. These three figure to go in different directions: Sistercharlie might next see the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay at Belmont on May 5 at 11 furlongs or await the Grade 2 New York there June 8 at 10 furlongs; Fourstar Crook could target the Grade 3 Beaugay there May 12 and Off Limits might shoot for the Grade 1 Just a Game II on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 9. La Coronel, previously unbeaten in three starts here and third in the Hillsborough, sat second from the start just outside pacesetting favorite Dona Bruja, crept closer going to the far turn, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane but couldn’t finish with the Brown trio while able to edge ‘Bruja for fourth. She could go next in the Grade 2 Churchill Turf Distaff Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5. Dona Bruja, smashing wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa on Feb. 10, tried those tactics again as she went right out to a clear lead, set a good pace, rebuffed La Coronel’s initial advance on the far turn, still held a narrow advantage to the eighth pole and while unable to finish with the Brown trio kept on gamely to narrowly miss fourth. She ran well and while she can show the way she’s likely better with stalking tactics when she has a target. Rider Jose Ortiz said he didn’t want to be on the lead, but that she broke too sharply and he was unable to take her back into stalking mode, which he said was the plan.

Oaklawn
Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (race 9)
COMMENT: Whitmore won this race in dazzling fashion last year and while he successfully defended his title it wasn’t quite as easy. Coming off a game win over Wynn Time and a few others in here in the Hot Springs here March 10, the 5-year-old gelded son of Pleasantly Perfect sat last early as Smart Spree and Wings Locked Up dueled through strong splits, was boxed in behind horses on the far turn, swung out to find clear sailing and powered home outside his rivals to get up in the final half-furlong. The Grade 2 Churchill Downs at 7 furlongs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5 could be next. Wilbo, fifth in the Hot Springs, bided his time early not far in front of the eventual winner, came with a smart run turning for home but couldn’t quite finish with the winner in a good try. Wynn Time, second in the Hot Springs, stalked the sharp pace, loomed a big threat into the lane, put his head in front inside the eighth pole but couldn’t sustain his run to counter the top two. Ivan Fallunovalot, third in the Hot Springs, stalked while saving ground, moved closer turning for home but then flattened out.

Oaklawn
Oaklawn Handicap (race 10)
COMMENT: City of Light, a $710,000 son of Quality Road, was coming off two Grade 1 sprint wins at Santa Anita (Malibu, Triple Bend) but the colt showed here he can handle this longer game just fine as he stamped himself a potential big player in the handicap division. From his outside slot he bided his time early while midpack, crept closer going to the far turn, came with a smart wide run into the lane, grabbed the lead from game favorite Accelerate by midstretch and gamely outdueled that foe to the line in what was basically a two-horse race. Trainer Mike McCarthy said after the Triple Bend that the Grade 1 Met Mile might be his main spring target and wouldn’t that be a doozy should that race also see Army Mule, Sharp Azteca, Mind Your Biscuits, Always Dreaming, Awesome Slew, Tapwrit, Conquest Big E, and other big-shot milers. Accelerate, the 6-5 favorite coming off big wins in the Grade 2 San Pasqual and Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita this winter, was a bit reluctant to load but after breaking well he stalked in third as Untrapped set a decent pace, moved up to challenge that foe turning for home, was getting the better of that rival when immediately confronted by City of Light to his outside, battled back gamely but fell just a bit short while finishing far in front of the rest. Untrapped went right to the lead, took pressure from Colonelsdarktemper and Accelerate, battled back when challenged into the lane but was no match for the top two while staying on decently to hold third. Hedge Fund, impressive winner of the Essex here March 17, hopped a bit at the start, was still able to get a stalking position while saving ground but came up completely empty when it mattered.

Oaklawn
Arkansas Derby (race 11)
COMMENT: Magnum Moon made it four wins in as many starts, stamping himself a legitimate danger come the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill on May 5 and giving trainer Todd Pletcher quite the arsenal for that (Audible, Noble Indy, Vino Rosso). The $380,000 son of Malibu Moon (sire of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb) used different tactics here. In his three prior wins he used speed to get position but stalked and passed horses. This time he went right to the lead. He set slow splits under some pressure from Quip, maintained a narrow lead over that foe into the lane while staying inside, opened up into the lane and shifted out significantly, seeming to shy from the tracks from the starting gate in midstretch, ending up well off the rail, but still well ahead of his rivals. He looks like one of the ones come Derby time. Quip, who scratched from last week’s Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland to go here instead, dogged the winner from the start, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, proved no match but kept on gamely to hold second over a couple of hard-trying rivals. The Derby could be next, though WinStar racing manager Elliott Walden wasn’t certain about that as owner WinStar also owns pieces of Justify, Audible, and Noble Indy. Solomini, second to ‘Moon in the Grade 3 Rebel here March 17, lagged back, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it enough to challenge the winner or beat Quip for second. He reportedly will head to Louisville. Combatant was last from the start, still well back turning for home, pitched wide and finished decently to miss second by a neck and a head.