June 18 Belmont Poker Handicap (race 4) COMMENT: Obviously showed that when he is on his game he can produce a huge effort, as he posted a front-running win, just missing the course mark. He shot out to a clear lead, set fast splits while staying inside, and led his rivals on a merry chase. Force the Pass, racing for just the second time this year, ran quite well considering this is short of his best game. He bided his time in fourth, tried to make a run at the winner turning for home, and kept on smartly to be a clear second. Offering Plan sat just behind Force the Pass early while inside, didn’t accelerate as early or as quickly but ran on decently for third. Grand Arch, third in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and coming off a third in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico, stalked in third while saving ground, came under a ride on the far turn, and gave way, ending up last. Churchill Matt Winn (race 5) COMMENT: Gun Runner, third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, cut back in distance and faced much softer. He led through moderate splits, rebuffed the challenge of Gray Sky turning for home, and won easily. Gray Sky, stepping up off an optional-claiming fifth while sprinting here May 30, stalked from the start, made a run at the winner turning for home, and stayed on to hold second. Texas Chrome stalked the pace and kept on evenly for third. Churchill Fleur de Lis Handicap (race 6) COMMENT: Paid Up Subscriber, stepping well up in class after an optional-claiming win here May 6, beat some proven stakes gals, including champion Untapable, and ran her record to 3 for 3 here. She stalked leader Big Book, who set a modest pace, remained in fourth to the far turn, came with a run between horses to grab the lead by midstretch, and drew off from there. Brooklynsway, back to dirt off a troubled fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron on Arlington’s synthetic track May 28, was just behind the eventual winner from the start, remained there to the top of the lane, rallied while wide, and kept on well to be a clear second. Engaginglee, second in the Grade 1 La Troienne here and fifth in the Grade 3 DuPont Distaff at Pimlico, broke awkwardly to be last early. She was still last to the far turn, came with a decent run, but wasn’t ever a danger. Untapable, the favorite after being freshened since running fourth in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn April 15, was a bit rank early, settled into a nice stalking position in third, but came up empty when asked for run into the lane. Churchill Wise Dan (race 7) COMMENT: Pleuven looked on his way to big things in the winter of 2015 with two wins at Gulfstream, but was then sidelined for over 13 months. Well, he looks back on track. He stalked the pace set by Kasaqui, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of him inside the eighth pole, and edged away late. Kasaqui, who fell and was vanned off in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, maintained the lead into the lane, battled back when hooked by Kasaqui, and stayed on for second. Thatcher Street, who beat Pleuven here May 21, sat midpack while wide, and made some headway in the lane. The Pizza Man, the favorite making his first start in over four months, was slow into stride and was last until turning for home. He swung very wide into the lane and finished well. Za Approval, the second choice after fading to eighth in the Grade 2 Dixie, stalked in third, loomed a big threat into the lane, but then gave way. That’s a second disappointing finish in as many starts this year, making you wonder if, at age 8, time is taking its toll. Churchill Stephen H. Foster Handicap (race 8) COMMENT: Bradester bounced right out to a clear lead, set a solid pace, and kept to his task to fend off Eagle in the final furlong. Eagle, second in the Grade 2 Alysheba here, was last early, still well back turning for home, pitched extremely wide into the lane, and finished well. Majestic Harbor, winner of the Alysheba, sat second chasing Bradester, tried to make a run into the lane, but wasn’t good enough. Effinex, the heavy favorite off a win in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, broke a bit awkwardly but seemed in a good spot stalking the pace, only to come up empty. Churchill Regret (race 9) COMMENT: While Auntie Joy had rallied in her best races, this time she went right out to the lead, got away with dawdling splits, then kicked away into the lane. Noble Beauty bided her time, came with a run in the lane, and was able to close the gap on the winner. Try Your Luck, favored off two romping turf wins, stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, but flattened out. Wessex chased the winner from the start, tried to make a run at her turning for home, but was unable to keep up. Santa Anita Summertime Oaks (race 8) COMMENT: The Songbird remains the same. Despite coming off a fever that forced her to miss the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Songbird showed she’s fully back on her game, remaining unbeaten while easily dispatching with her overmatched foes. Her natural speed carried her right out to a lead, though she relinquished pacesetting duties to Bellamentary going into the first turn. She dogged Bellamentary from there, moved up to take the lead going to the far turn, opened up, and won while being geared down. Bellamentary, easy winner of the Angels Flight here May 15, was eager early. She was hounded by Songbird, tried to battle back when hooked by that foe, and stayed on to just hold second. Kay Kay, third to Bellamentary in the Angels Flight, lagged back, made a mild move into the lane and stayed on well to just miss getting second. June 19 Monmouth Pegasus (race 10) COMMENT: This was supposed to be the big coming-out party for the unbeaten Unified, but Donegal Moon had other plans, and he notched his first stakes win. He bobbled at the start to get away last as Saratoga Jack shot out to a clear lead, steadily advanced while saving ground, moved out for clear sailing into the lane, and grabbed the lead late. Extinct Charm bided his time early, though he wasn’t that far off the pace, came with his run while wide, and kept on to get second. Awesome Slew stalked the pace, came with his run on the turn to challenge pacesetter Saratoga Jack, got the better of that foe into the lane, but couldn’t finish with the top two. Unified, the overwhelming favorite after easily winning his first three starts, seemed in a great spot stalking in third, made a mild move on the far turn, but then had nothing. Santa Anita Honeymoon (race 8) COMMENT: Cheekaboo won the Campanile on turf at Golden Gate but was then no match for the highly promising Enola Gray on dirt here May 28. She moved back to turf, and as the second longest-priced horse in the race posted the upset. She bided her time early while saving ground as Gone to Bali bounced out to a clear lead, remained toward the back as the field bunched turning for home, cut the corner, then surged between horses to just get up in the final stride. Be Mine, second to Stays in Vegas in the Grade 3 Senorita here, bided her time toward the back, came with a run into the lane to challenge leader Stays in Vegas, and just got nipped on the line. Stays in Vegas, previously unbeaten in three turf starts, stalked pacesetter Gone to Bali, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, opened up as though she might win, but got edged on the line by a head and a nose. Decked Out was last until turning for home, started her run, had to check in midstretch, but got going again to be a strong fourth.