Trip Notes for April 22-23: Charles Town Classic, Elkhorn, and more

April 22

Keeneland
Elkhorn (race 9)

COMMENT: Steady showers left the grass course listed as yielding. California raider Itsinthepost showed his recent sharp graded stakes performances out there were no fluke, that he could ship, and that he could handle non-firm turf. Coming off a win in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at Santa Anita March 25 (after seconds in a Grade 3 and Grade 2 there earlier this year), he stalked in third as Chocolate Ride set a modest pace, moved closer going to the far turn, came with his run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and drew clear. Charming Kitten, eighth in Gulfstream’s Grade 2 Mac Diarmida March 4, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths, was away quite slowly and was last until turning for home. He began his run coming into the lane, had to steady when in traffic, swung out widest, got going again, and finished well for second. The trouble surely hurt, though he might not have been able to challenge the winner anyway. Bigger Picture, fourth in the Mac Diarmida (beaten just a half-length), sat second behind pacesetter Chocolate Ride early, took over from that foe on the turn, battled back when hooked by the winner into the lane, couldn’t keep pace with that foe, and then lost second in the final strides. Red Rifle, a proven graded stakes runner, was well back early just in front of Charming Kitten, moved earlier than that foe to get closer coming into the lane but couldn’t sustain his bid.

Charles Town
Charles Town Classic (race 11)

COMMENT: Off-and-on rain beginning midmorning resulted in the main track being listed as sloppy. It didn’t matter to 7-year-old Imperative, who obviously loves this track. A winner of this race in 2014, second in 2015 and fourth last year, he invaded from California off a ninth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. Today, he lagged well back early as favored Stanford set the pace before Cautious Giant took over. Imperative remained toward the back to the far turn, started a wide run, and edged Matt King Coal in the final strides. Matt King Coal, coming off two straight wins at Laurel, stalked the pace, moved closer on the turn, took command when Stanford gave way, and got nailed in the final strides. War Story, fifth last time out in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Fred Hooper, sat midpack, came with a wide run in tandem with Imperative, was still in front of that rival by midstretch, but couldn’t finish with the top two. He was beaten just two necks while well clear of the rest. Stanford, the defending champ and heavy favorite off a win in the Challenger at Tampa Bay March 11, went right to the lead, but soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Cautious Giant, who made a big move on the first turn. Stanford tucked back a bit and came off the rail and to the outside of Cautious Giant, moved up to challenge for the lead on the turn, but then gave way.

Hawthorne
Illinois Derby (race 5)

COMMENT: Multiplier went from maiden winner to Grade 3 winner. From his rail slot he bided his time early as Stand and Cheer set a decent pace. Multiplier started his run on the far turn while staying inside, moved off the fence coming into the lane to avoid traffic, and sustained his rally to get up in the final strides. Hedge Fund, the 9-5 favorite after running third in the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby March 26, sat second behind pacesetter Stand and Cheer, crept closer going to the far turn, was abreast of that foe on the turn, took over into the lane, opened up as if ready to go on to victory but couldn’t fend off the winner while finishing far clear of the others. It’s Your Nickel, sixth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass, stalked in fourth, plugged along, and was easily third, though he was no danger to the top two. Mr. Misunderstood, the second choice off three straight easy wins at the Fair Ground, lagged back early and never made a move, ending up last. In fairness, his four wins had come on turf and on a sloppy track.

Santa Anita
San Juan Capistrano (race 4)

COMMENT: Inordinate showed turf talent when second in an optional claimer here Feb. 25, but then added blinkers and disappointed in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey, fading to seventh. Well, trainer Richard Baltas removed the blinkers for this and it paid off as the 5-year-old bounced back and posted his first graded stakes win. The one-time European runner (Group 3 placed in France) sat fourth as Runasaurus Rex set a slow pace while being shadowed by Papacoolpapacool. Inordinate came through between horses to challenge for the lead inside the eighth pole, bumped with 4-5 favorite Syntax, and got the better of that rival in the final few yards. Syntax, favored off a second in the San Luis Rey, sat last early in the small field, came with a wide run into the lane, looked poised to go on to victory when challenging for the lead in deep stretch, but bumped with the winner and couldn’t outfinish that foe. Power Foot, 8, was trying to bounce back off a sixth in the San Luis Rey. He stalked in third, moved up to challenge into the lane, had the lead at the eighth pole, but couldn’t finish with the top pair. Papacoolpapacool, a winner on this course going 1 1/8 miles Feb. 5 but eighth in the 12-furlong San Luis Rey last time out, pressed the early pacesetter, was still in the thick of it turning for home and seemingly had gas left in the tank, but then faltered. It seems going farther than 1 1/8 miles just isn’t his game.

Santa Anita
Californian (race 8)

COMMENT: Certainly not the strongest renewal, as top Southern California handicap runners Arrogate, Midnight Storm, Hoppertunity, Mor Spirit, and Imperative were not here, and then the field lost a starter when Cupid scratched. Of course, none of that mattered to 3-5 favorite Collected, who made it two wins in a row. After fading badly to 10th in the Grade 1 Preakness last May, he wasn’t seen until earlier this month, when he won the Santana Mile. Today, he dogged early pacesetter Prime Attraction through solid splits while holding the fence, took over from that foe turning for home, opened up, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Trainer Bob Baffert said the Grade 1 Gold Cup here May 27 could be next. Follow Me Crev, the second choice after running third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap here March 11, bided his time in fourth, came with a nice run in the lane but was never really a threat to the winner. Prospect Park stalked in third, made a mild bid on the far turn, but was then one-paced to the line. Texas Ryano, trying dirt for the first time, was last until turning for home and plugged along to nearly get third. -Comments by Michael Hammersly