Trip Notes for April 9-10: Wood Memorial, Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby, and more...

Saturday, April 9

Aqueduct - Excelsior (race 3)

COMMENT: Kid Cruz had just one second from three previous wet-track tries but had no trouble handling wet going here as he notched his second straight win. As the 3-2 favorite he stalked the pace set by Madefromlucky, moved up wide to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of that rival but had to work hard to the line to maintain his narrow advantage. Madefromlucky went right out to the lead, took immediate pressure from Good Luck Gus while setting modest splits, still had the lead on the far turn when confronted by Kid Cruz, lost the lead to that foe, but kept on doggedly to the wire to be second, far clear of the rest. Turco Bravo was last early, moved closer going to the far turn, but was no match for the top two in the lane.

Aqueduct - Gazelle (race 8)

COMMENT: Lewis Bay appreciated the return to the big track here, site of her Grade 2 Demoiselle win in the fall. She was kept wide and stalked in third, moved up nicely to challenge on the turn, opened up, and was geared down in the final strides. She was the only graded stakes winner in the field, so there’s cause to question the strength of the opposition. Royal Obsession, coming off a fourth in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds Feb. 20, was just behind the winner early, didn’t accelerate as quickly, got going into the lane and cut into the winner’s margin late. Mo d’Amour, winner of the Busher on the inner track here, pressed pacesetter Clair de Lune, battled back briefly when hooked by Lewis Bay but then weakened. Clair de Lune tried to battle back when hooked by stablemate Lewis Bay turning for home, but then gave way readily. Behrnik’s Bank was scratched.

Aqueduct - Bay Shore (race 9)

COMMENT: Unified, winner of his debut at Gulfstream Feb. 2 with a 99 Beyer, took a huge step up in class for just his second start. He zipped right out to the lead, took pressure immediately from King Kranz, was still hounded by that rival turning for home, but then drew clear in the lane. King Kranz, third to Awesome Gent in a stakes on the inner track March 6, dogged the winner from the start but couldn’t keep pace in the lane while finishing far clear of the others. Cocked and Loaded, cutting back in distance for his first start since running fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Oct. 31, stalked the pace, was wide into the lane, and ran on evenly to be third. Awesome Gent, romping winner of three straight on the inner, including the Jimmy Winkfield, bided his time early while saving ground but never mustered a run. He may not be quite as good off the inner.

Aqueduct - Wood Memorial (race 10)

COMMENT: Outwork punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby, as the son of red-hot sire Uncle Mo made it three wins in four starts and did what his sire couldn’t do at 1-10. He dueled early with Matt King Coal, pushing that foe through brisk fractions, dispatched with that rival into the lane, opened up and then had to fight hard to just get to the line before hard-charging 81-1 longshot Trojan Nation. The main issue with his win is that Trojan Nation is a maiden, which brings the strength of this race into question. The other question is, how much did the muddy surface affect the running? Trojan Nation, shipping in from Southern California with three thirds in five starts, sat last early, moved to the inside to make his run in the lane, and finished smartly to just miss. He is by multiple Grade 1 winner Street Cry out of champion juvenile filly Storm Song, so maybe the light has gone on for this guy and he’s ready to start living up to that pedigree. Adventist, third to Shagaf in the Grade 3 Gotham, lagged back and finished decently for third, though he was never really a threat. Matt King Coal, winner on the inner track here March 6, dueled early with the winner and weakened a bit in the lane. Shagaf, highly regarded after winning his first three starts, lagged back, just in front of the runner-up, made a mild move on the far turn but had to steady behind horses and failed to get going again afterward.

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Aqueduct - Carter Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: Salutos Amigo was slow to begin and sat last as Green Gratto raced out to set the pace under pressure from Dads Caps. Salutos Amigos remained well back to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, rushed up into contention, got bumped by Calculator, but kept on to get the win. Calculator, who shipped from Santa Anita, lagged well back early, with only the winner behind him. He moved a bit earlier than Salutos Amigos, looked on his way to victory, but shied from a left-handed whip, drifted out into Salutos Amigos to bump that foe, got straightened away but couldn’t outfinish the winner. Dads Caps, winner of this race last year, dogged pacesetter Green Gratto, took over from that foe into the lane, opened up a clear lead but couldn’t finish with the top two. He’s now 3 for 4 on this main track.

Keeneland - Ashland (race 6)

COMMENT: This was supposed to be a summit of sorts among Cathryn Sophia, Rachel’s Valentina and Carina Mia to see who might be the top challenger to Songbird come the May 6 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Well, 30-1 Weep No More had other plans as she posted the big upset. Coming off consecutive wins at Tampa Bay, including the Suncoast, Weep No More sat last in the small field as Carina Mia set the pace, was still last into the lane, but surged home to get up in the final strides. Rachel’s Valentina, making her first start since finishing second to champion Songbird in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Oct. 31, ran awfully well, but couldn’t outdo Weep No More. She dogged pacesetter Carina Mia, moved in tandem with Cathryn Sophia when that gal surged up alongside, battled with that foe, looked in trouble when Cathryn Sophia took the lead, but re-rallied. Considering the layoff this was a super run and sets her up well for a shot at the Kentucky Oaks. Cathryn Sophia, favored after romping in her first four starts, bided her time in third, made her hallmark strong surge into contention on the far turn to make it three abreast turning for home, battled with Rachel’s Valentina as Carina Mia fell away, and flattened out. Carina Mia, making her first start since a romping win in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Nov. 28, went right to the lead with Rachel’s Valentina on her outside hip and Cathryn Sophia just in behind, was tackled by those two on the far turn, battled for a while but was done by midstretch.

Keeneland - Commonwealth (race 7)

COMMENT: Some good routes put Ami’s Flatter on the Kentucky Derby trail last year. But now he’s 3 for 3 sprinting after another impressive win. He sat midpack early as favored Holy Boss zipped out to a clear lead, moved closer down the backstretch, came with a run on the far turn to contend, surged past, and drew clear to win easily. Ready for Rye, third to X Y Jet at Gulfstream Feb. 27, was near the Ami’s Flatter from the start, tried to go with that foe into the lane, couldn’t keep pace, but kept on to get second. Holy Boss made his first start of the year here. He set fast splits while saving ground, had no answer when the winner surged past, and lost second by a head. No Hiding Place, unbeaten in his first three starts, stalked the pace while inside and didn’t have the punch when it mattered. It still wasn’t a bad first stakes try. Departing, cutting back to a sprint after a string of good outings in route stakes, hopped at the start, lagged back, came with a steady run but was unable to make the necessary impact.

Keeneland - Shakertown (race 8)

COMMENT: Undrafted has ranked among the elite turf sprinters in the country the past few years, and he showed that at age 6, making his first start of the year, there’s plenty of gas still in the tank. He remained well back to the top of the lane, hit high gear late, and surged past his rivals. Something Extra, winner of this race last year, stalked in third, took command into the lane, opened up, but couldn’t fend off the winner. Commute, stepping up in class after a second going a mile on turf at Gulfstream March 12, sat well back early with the eventual winner, and rallied. Power Alert, favored off two straight turf sprint stakes wins at Gulfstream, sat midpack while wide, loomed a threat into the lane, but came up empty.

Keeneland - Madison (race 9)

COMMENT: Stopchargingmaria and Sheer Drama were first and fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff here Oct. 30, and they reversed the order of finish in that race, with Sheer Drama winning and Stopchargingmaria taking second. Wavell Avenue, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare sprint here Oct. 31, finished third. Sheer Drama bided her time early as Sunday Rules, Fioretti, and Enchanting Lady set a hot pace, moved closer on the turn, came with a run into the lane, looked beaten when Stopchargingmaria took the lead in midstretch, but re-rallied to edge that rival. Stopchargingmaria was back with the eventual winner, looked as if she might go on to win when she took the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t counter Sheer Drama’s re-bid. Wavell Avenue sat well back, came with a run into the lane, but didn’t really carry it through. Still, it was a nice first run back after the layoff. Birdatthewire, winner of the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita this winter, was last turning for home and finished decently. Sunday Rules, a Southern California invader who had won eight of nine career starts, dueled for the lead and faded once headed.

Keeneland - Blue Grass (race 10)

COMMENT: Brody’s Cause, seventh in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 12, got back on track and back in the Derby picture. He sat well back early as Laoban set a modest pace, began to advance going to the far turn, swung wide coming into the lane, hit high gear while well out toward the middle of the track to grab the lead by midstretch, and edged clear late. My Man Sam, a maiden winner who had run fast in New York, was last early, still well back going to the far turn, swung extremely wide into the lane, and finished well for second. Cherry Wine, who rallied from far back to be fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel, was far back early with the top two, came with a strong run, and just failed to hold second while ending up well clear of the rest. Zulu, second to Mohaymen in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, got blinkers for the first time. He seemed in a good spot early sitting fifth, looked poised to make a run on the far turn, but came up empty.

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Oaklawn - Fantasy (race 9)

COMMENT: A nice result for trainer Steve Asmussen as his fillies ran one-two, led by 2-5 favorite Terra Promessa. A winner of three straight, all routes, including the Grade 3 Honeybee, Terra Promessa was very rank and pulling early in fourth as Cosmic Evolution set the early pace. Terra Promessa settled a bit and moved closer as Ready to Confess took over the pacesetting duties, moved up to challenge that rival into the lane, opened up, then had to fight hard to fend off stablemate Taxable. She looks like one of the three or four main threats to Songbird in the Kentucky Oaks. Taxable sat farther back than Terra Promessa, came with her run into the lane, kept cutting into her stablemate’s lead, but just ran out of ground while much the best of the rest. Ready to Confess prompted the early pace, took over pacesetting duties, battled back when confronted by the winner on the turn, but soon relented to end up third.

Santa Anita - Providencia (race 5)

COMMENT: Decked Out was fifth in the China Doll, beaten just a length. She got more ground to work with here. She sat last over the yielding turf as Do the Dance and Jeremy’s Legacy dueled early, remained well back to the top of the lane, swung very wide into the lane, and blasted home to win going away. She was being geared down in the final strides. Jeremy’s Legacy, just a quarter-length behind Decked Out in sixth in the China Doll, pressed the pace, dispatched with the other speed, opened up a clear lead by midstretch, but had no answer to the winner’s charge. Nodiac, third in the China Doll, lagged back and finished well. Lady Valeur, second in the China Doll and the favorite here, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat turning for home, but then came up empty. Mirage, winner of the China Doll, bided her time and never mustered a run.

Santa Anita - Santa Anita Oaks (race 7)

COMMENT: Huge favorite Songbird broke just a bit slowly on the sloppy track, but she cruised to another easy win. She took control inside, opened up a commanding lead into the lane, and cruised home to win under wraps. Mokat lagged back, came with a nice run into the lane, and closed the gap. She’s a Warrior sat behind Mokat, made her run in tandem with that foe, and was getting to her late. Bellamentary, the second choice off two wins, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner, but gave way.

Santa Anita - Santa Anita Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Exaggerator was the only horse in the field with a wet-track win, and his love of the slop showed through again here as he dominated. He bided his time early as Danzing Candy ran off to a clear lead and set a very fast pace. Exaggerator was asked for run on the far turn and blew past the rest of the field for the easy win. Mor Spirit got away a bit awkwardly and stalked in fourth while saving ground, came out on the turn, and kept to his task. Uncle Lino moved to the inside from his outside post to chase Danzing Candy, and was taking over from that tiring rival into the lane when the winner blew on past. Danzing Candy set hot splits and paid the price. Any assessment of this race comes with an asterisk as it’s obvious one horse adored the footing.

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Sunday, April 10

Aqueduct - Top Flight Handicap (race 3)

COMMENT: On paper it looked as though Carrumba dominated. Well, she did the expected and won, but it wasn’t easy. As the heavy favorite she stalked pacesetter Mei Ling through modest splits, moved up to challenge on the turn, and battled with her before just edging away late for the win. Considering it was her first run since a second in the Grade 3 Comely here Nov. 28, this was a nice stepping-off point for 2016. Mei Ling, who added blinkers and led all the way to easily win a stakes on the inner track here March 5, went right to the lead again. She set comfortable splits, was taken on by Carrumba on the turn, but had plenty of fight left. She finished far clear of the others. American and Noble and a Beauty sat behind the top two early but never got involved.

Oaklawn - Count Fleet (race 9)

COMMENT: Subtle Indian notched a fourth straight win (and his sixth in seven starts here), using his speed to lead his foes on a merry chase. From his rail slot he bounced out to a clear lead through fast splits, blew the race open into the lane, and kept on strongly to the line. Alsvid, the winner of this last year but twice beaten by Subtle Indian earlier this meet, bided his time early and came with a smart run into the lane to be a clear second. Cinco Charlie chased the winner from the start and weakened. Cautious Giant, who shipped in from Santa Anita after a fourth in the Grade 2 San Carlos March 12, was last early but got going to pass a few rivals.

Santa Anita - San Juan Capistrano (race 8)

COMMENT: With the rain affecting gate placement (the race would have started on the hillside course and thus necessitate crossing a sloppy main track) the distance was changed from about 1 3/4 miles to 1 7/8 miles on yielding turf. It had been two years since Quick Casablanca’s last win, he showed there’s still gas in the tank at age 8. Coming off a second in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at 1 1/2 miles here March 13, he sat last early as Kenjisstorm set a very slow pace, came with a strong run into the lane, and surged to a clear lead while on the fence. Generosidade, a 71-1 upset winner of the San Luis Rey after doing nothing in her first three U.S. starts, lacked not far in front of the eventual winner. She came with a nice run into the lane, and kept on to be a clear second. Life’s Journey, making his first start in a stakes after two poor outings here this winter, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but was no match for the top two. Energia Fribby, the Brazilian mare who ran third in the San Luis Rey, stalked the pace, but then lost position and ran on decently for fourth.