Trip notes for April 19: Ben Ali, Lexington, Charles Town Classic and more...

Saturday, April 19

Aqueduct - Distaff Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: La Verdad continued her superb form, winning for the seventh time in her last eight starts and capturing this Grade 2 in smart fashion. As usual it was her speed that made the difference. From her rail slot she bounced right out to a clear early lead, took some pressure from Bridghampton but dispatched with that foe, extended her margin going on the far turn and maintained that advantage to the line. Off this a race like the Grade 3 Vagrancy at Belmont May 17 could be next, though trainer Rice said her main goal would be the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga in August. Kauai Katie, making her first start since fading to sixth (last) in the Grade 1 Prioress at Belmont last July 27, was a bit slow into stride, bided her time and came with a decent run but never really made the winner sweat. My Pal Chrisy, coming off a nice second in the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream March 22, lagged well back and made only modest headway. Munnings Sister chased the winner from the start but weakened from those efforts.

Keeneland - Ben Ali (race 8)

COMMENT: This was supposed to be a battle of previous winners of the Grade 2 Fayette here (Newsdad, Nikki’s Sandcastle) but Frac Daddy made it 2 for 2 on this track with a smashing victory. Frace Daddy, second in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby a year ago before running 16th in the Kentucky Derby and 14th in the Belmont, has now won on dirt, turf and synthetic, and off this may be best on the latter. He dogged early pacesetter Red Rifle from the start, took over from that rival on the far turn, surged to a clear lead and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Stealcase, winner of the Grade 3 Ontario Derby on Woodbine’s Polytrack last September and making his first start here and first start in 3 months, sat midpack, came with a nice run but was no threat to the winner. Nikki’s Sandcastle, winner of the Grade 2 Fayette here last fall, lagged well back and finished decently. Newsdad, 2 for his previous 3 on this track, and coming off a big win in the Grade 2 Pan American on turf at Gulfstream March 29, was last early, still last turning for home, swung very wide into the lane and basically passed tires foes without being a factor.

Keeneland - Lexington (race 9)

COMMENT: Mr. Speaker took advantage of a fine ride and a dream trip and had little trouble proving best. He stalked early in fourth, moved closer down the backstretch, was just behind the leaders turning for home while in the clear, moved past his rivals to take command in midstretch and drew off to win convincingly. Divine Oath, winner of his first two starts, both on turf at Gulfstream this winter, showed he can handle the synthetic stuff too, as he brushed the gate at the start to be toward the back early, but bided his time and came with a nice run for second. Supermonic, coming off a romping allowance win here April 13, showed he’s legit as he battled on the pace with Solitary Ranger, finally got the better of that foe in midstretch and lost second in the final strides. Ami’s Holiday, a Grade 3 winner on synthetic at Woodbine last fall and making his first start of the year, stalked the pace sitting near the eventual winner, tried to go with that rival into the lane but couldn’t keep pace

Charles Town - Charles Town Classic (race 12)

COMMENT: Imperative was whipped by Game On Dude by 18 lengths in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap but that didn’t dissuade his connections from taking another swing at Game On Dude and this time it worked, as Imperative posted the 26-1 upset. He sat well back early as Moreno and Game On Dude dueled for the early lead, moved up strongly and well within himself down the backstretch, swung out to keep his momentum going, grabbed the lead turning for home and edged clear of Game On Dude. Quite a feather in the cap for a horse who was claimed for $50,000 Dec. 21. Game On Dude, the 3-5 favorite, dueled with Moreno, was getting the better of that rival when taken on by Long River, dispatched with that foe but couldn’t fend off Imperative into the lane. Rider Mike Smith said he felt Game On Dude never got hold of the track. Moreno dueled early with Game On Dude, couldn’t kept up with the top two in the lane but stayed on well for third. Clubhouse Ride was last early and made modest headway. Long River stalked the pace, made a threatening move into the lane but flattened out.

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Hawthorne - Sixty Sails (race 8)

COMMENT: Flashy American has been knocking heads with some toughies (Beholder, Close Hatches, Authenticity) and she got away from such beasts here and it paid off as she notched her first graded stakes wins. The daughter of Flashy Bull sat third, not far off the modest pace of Sonja’s Angel, moved closer turning for home, came with her run along the inside to grab the lead in midstretch and edged away. Sonja’s Angel, a $25,000 claim at Gulfstream last year and stepping up after some strong form there this past fall and winter, set a modest pace. She was off the rail into the lane and that may have been the difference, as Flashy American came through that opening. Gamay Noir, 49-1 upset winner of the Grade 3 Rampart at Gulfstream last month, had a troubled start to get away last, remained there to the far turn, came with a smart run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it.

Hawthorne - Illinois Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: Dynamic Impact, making his first start against winners, posted the narrowest of upsets as the son of Tiznow obviously relished the nine furlongs. He dogged 2-5 favorite Midnight Hawk from the start, seemed in trouble when that rival was still clear at the eighth pole, but stuck to his task doggedly to just get up. Dynamic Impact’s trainer said the Derby is a no-go but he’s possible for the Preakness at Pimlico May 17. Midnight Hawk, a Grade 3 winner and coming out of 3 straight graded stakes placings, stumbled at the start to get away poorly but had the speed to grab the lead by the first margin call. He set a solid pace (much quicker than what older distaffers did going the same distance about 20 minutes earlier in the Grade 3 Sixty Sails), looked like the winner when he opened up some into the lane, but then couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Trainer Bob Baffert said Midnight Hawk will likely point for the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont June 7. Irish You Well, a maiden, lagged back and passed mainly tired foes. While he got third he was never a threat to the top 2.