Trip Notes for April 19-27: Derby Trail, Texas Mile, and more

April 19

Churchill
Derby Trial (race 8)

Bayern, the heavy favorite who was adding blinkers for the first time, showed plenty of courage to finish first. The trouble is, he couldn’t keep a straight path in the lane, and it got him disqualified to second, with the win going to another highly promising runner, Embellishing Bob. Embellishing Bob, coming off a big maiden win at Fair Grounds on March 29 (98 Beyer Speed Figure), dogged Bayern from the start, kept after that foe throughout, got brushed and floated out by that rival in the lane, and came up a nose short in the photo but was awarded the victory due to Bayern’s inability to stay straight in the lane. Trainer Steve Margolis said the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs at Belmont Park on June 7 could be next. Bayern went right to the lead, gamely rebuffed Embellishing Bob’s challenge all the way around, but drifted out into the lane to bump Embellishing Bob, seemed to straighten out in the lane, but then came out again under left-handed whipping, brushing Embellishing Bob and pushing him farther out. While he gamely held on to win the photo, he was disqualified to second. It looked like the right call. Bayern could resurface in the Grade 1 Preakness at Pimlico on May 17. Myositis Dan was splendid in defeat. He lagged back and finished full of run to be beaten just two noses. The top three are all quite promising.

Lone Star
Texas Mile (race 8)

Grand Contender continued his strong form, and the 6-year-old who could have been claimed for as little as $15,000 in November 2012 notched his first Grade 3 stakes win. Coming off a romping stakes win over statebreds at Delta Downs on March 15, the gelding usually employs his speed, but this time he showed a bit more patience as he stalked dueling leaders Skip the Pinot and Smack Ridge. He moved up smartly on the far turn to grab the lead and gamely persevered, keeping a couple of tough rivals at bay through the lane. He may not want anything to do with the big boys, but this shows he can surely do damage in the right spot. Taptowne, coming off a third in the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn Park on March 15, his first start in four months, raced near the eventual winner from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that rival, then gamely chased after him but couldn’t quite get to him. Bourbon Courage, the favorite, lagged back and finished well.

Golden Gate
San Francisco Mile (race 7)

Pepper Crown had been beaten by a number of his rivals here in a couple of starts in March, but his timing couldn’t have been better, as while those losses came in allowance races, he picked his first shot at a Grade 3 to post a career-best effort as the longest-priced runner in the field (46-1). He stalked the pace while saving ground, appeared in deep trouble when blocked behind Summer Hit in midstretch, but waited along the inside, caught a break when Summer Hit moved off the rail, came through, and gamely prevailed. Summer Hit, a sharp second in this last year and favored off a big win on the main track here March 15, set a brisk pace under pressure from Horizontalyspeakin, kept that rival at bay to midstretch, when he moved off the rail some, allowing Pepper Crown to come through and edge him. Hudson Landing, the grizzled veteran who was sixth in this last year, lagged back and finished well for third. Horizontalyspeakin, who came here off two big wins on the Santa Anita turf, dogged Summer Hit from the start, was still there to midstretch, but then weakened.

April 27

Santa Anita
Wilshire Handicap (race 8)

Parranda won the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8, was sixth in the Grade 2 Honey Fox there March 15, and was prudently placed to invade here as she showed she could take her game on the road and do damage in the right spot. For new trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, she bided her time early in fifth as the favored Theatre Star set a brisk pace, moved closer while staying wide and clear on the far turn, grabbed the lead into the lane, and edged away to win well. She may not want anything to do with the biggest and baddest turf distaffers, but this showed that in the right spot, she can be quite effective. Moone’s My Name, coming off a smart win in the American Beauty on this course at this trip March 29, was just in front of the eventual winner early, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that rival on the far turn, still had to work to get going into the lane, finally found her top gear, and finished well, but by then, the winner was already gone. Premier Steps, the smart winner of an optional claimer on this course at this trip March 9, broke slowly to be last early, remained there to the top of the lane, and finished with good energy, though she was never really a danger to the winner. All three could renew acquaintances in the Grade 1 Gamely here May 26, though those waters figure to be much deeper. They could opt to wait for the Grade 3 Royal Heroine at this same distance June 28, too. Theatre Star, favored after winning her last four starts, set a brisk pace but weakened from those efforts.