Trip Notes for Aug. 23-24: Travers, Del Mar Handicap, Longacres Mile and more

Saturday, August 23

Saratoga
Ballston Spa (race 9)

Abaco is capable of big things with her late kick when in the mood and when she gets the right pace, and it all came together here. She broke slowly and was content to sit last from the start, as is her custom. She remained there to the top of the lane, swung out very wide and powered home to get up in the final strides. She’s eyeing the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont at 1 1/4 miles Sept. 27. Strathnaver was just in front of Abaco from the start, accelerated quicker than that foe coming into the lane to be a huge threat by midstretch, but then couldn’t finish with the winner in what was still a good try. Nellie Cashman stalked the pace while saving ground, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Centre Court dogged pacesetter Night Song from the start, took the lead in midstretch but gave way thereafter. Filimbi, the favorite, stalked the pace, seemed in a good spot turning for home but not only came empty in the lane but had nothing, finishing last in a disappointing run.

Saratoga
King’s Bishop (race 10)

The Big Beast has stamped himself a potential big-time sprinter with a game win. Coming off a romping win over lesser here last month he sat third while wide and in the clear as Fast Anna set a brisk pace, stayed wide into the lane, and needed every bit of the seven furlongs to finally nudge his way past that stubborn rival. Fast Anna zipped right out to a clear lead, set solid splits, and was still clear at the furlong pole. Coup de Grace lagged back, as is his custom, swung out into the lane and finished well, though he wasn’t really a danger to the top two. Wildcat Red, previously unbeaten sprinting, chased Fast Anna from the start but weakened in the lane.

Saratoga
Ballerina (race 11)

With this win, Artemis Agrotera has now posted three huge victories over this strip. From her rail post she lunged at the start but had the speed to chase La Verdad though brisk splits (faster than 3-year-old males in the King’s Bishop on the same card), took command from that tiring rival coming into the lane and opened up to win with complete authority. My Miss Aurelia, a tepid 3-1 favorite, bided her time early, came with a nice run into the lane but was no match for the winner while continuing on decently to get second. Willet lagged back and made steady headway, though she was never a threat. Ditto Better Lucky. La Verdad set the pace but weakened once headed. That makes for a rare second straight not-so-hot outing for this gal, so she may be in need of a break.

Saratoga
Travers (race 12)

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens ran one-two, and it was the less expected of his pair who got the money, V. E. Day. He sat back as Bayern set a brisk pace. V. E. Day started to progress down the backside, came into the lane at top gear, and shifted out in deep stretch to prevail in the final strides over stablemate Wicked Strong. Wicked Strong sat third as Bayern set the pace, moved up strongly to take command on the far turn as that tiring rival fell away, and looked like the winner when he opened up on the field in midstretch. Tonalist showed more speed than usual to stalk Bayern from the start, saw Wicked Strong go past on the turn, gamely took up the chase, but just wasn’t good enough. Those three are reportedly all targeting the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Sept. 27. Bayern was the big disappointment. Coming off a huge win in the Grade 1 Haskell he again used his speed, setting brisk splits, but this time he fell apart once headed. This and his Preakness fizzle may confirm his outside limit is 1 1/8 miles.

Monmouth
Violet (race 11)

Rusty Slipper used her speed to hound pacesetter Why Katherine from the start, finally got the better of her late, and edged away to post the upset with a host of rivals on her heels. Overheard, the favorite, sat well back early, swung wide into the lane, still had lots of work to do by midstretch but powered home to win a six-horse photo for second. Fasnacloich sat midpack and finished well between horses. Why Katherine set the pace and only gave way grudgingly late while staying inside. Starstruck lagged back and came with a steady rally up the rail to finish fifth, but was beaten just neck, neck and nose for second.

Del Mar
Del Mar Handicap (race 8)

Big John B, a $50,000 claim in April, now appears to be the top turf stayer in Southern California as he notched an impressive third straight win. He sat well back early, commenced his run going down the backstretch, and swept past front-runner Unbridled Command on the far turn before drawing off to win in a laugher. He might now be freshened until he takes a crack at the big boys in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2. Bench Light likewise sat back, came with a strong run, and got second. Bright Thought dogged early pacesetter Cogito, saw Unbridled Command surge past to a clear lead, but kept to his task decently to just miss getting second. Unbridled Command was midpack early, opened up a big lead on the far turn, but the winner blew past and Unbridled Command tired in the final furlong. Fire With Fire stalked the pace but fell away in the lane, a far cry from his strong Santa Anita form this winter/spring.

Sunday, August 24

Monmouth
Cliff Hanger (race 11)

Winning Cause utilized his tactical speed to get first run on heavy favorite Big Blue Kitten and that was the difference. Winning Cause stalked in third on the outside as Plainview set a decent pace, came with his run on the far turn, grabbed the lead from Plainview by midstretch, and held on as Big Blue Kitten came at him. Big Blue Kitten, smart winner of his comeback run at Saratoga earlier this month after a long layoff, sat last from the start while saving ground. He was content to remain there to the top of the lane, pitched out when straightened away and finished with a flourish. Plainview set the pace, battled back inside when tackled by Winning Cause, and couldn’t fend off the top two while finishing well clear of the rest. Guys Reward sat fifth early while saving ground but never really mustered a run.

Emerald
Longacres Mile (race 7)

Stryker Phd left no doubt he’s the best horse on the grounds with a dramatic victory. He sat well back early as is his custom. He commenced a strong run from last going to the far turn while staying very wide and in the clear, circled the field on the turn, and grabbed the lead in midstretch looking as if he were going to win in a romp. He got a little weary but held on to win. Boyett sat a few lengths off the lead, came with a smart run turning for home to grab the lead, had the winner surge past into the lane but battled back gamely to at least make that foe stick to his task to prevail. Twistgrips lagged back well back with the winner, came with a smart run into the lane, veered down to the rail and finished well. Scat Daddybaby bounced out to a clear lead, set a sizzling pace, and while no match for the top three in the lane stayed on for fourth. Prohibition seemed in a good spot stalking the pace, was asked for run on the far turn, but was unable to produce it. Title Contender was midpack early but gave way badly to finish last.

Del Mar
Del Mar Mile (race 5)

This was supposed to be something of a coronation for Obviously as he was going for a third straight win in this race and looking to assert his dominance over the West Coast turf mile contingent. Instead, Tom’s Tribute made it two straight big wins in a row here. He captured the Grade 1 Eddie Read earlier this meet. Tom’s Tribute bided his time early in fourth while Obviously set a fast pace, started his run on the far turn, and it carried it past his tiring rival and ahead of fellow closer Rock Me Baby. He surely has to be considered a contender for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, particularly as it’s to be run at Santa Anita. Rock Me Baby was a few lengths behind the winner from the start, didn‘t accelerate as quickly as that rival, but found his best stride late. Handsome Mike chased Obviously from the start, moved closer as that rival was tiring in the lane, but couldn‘t finish with the top two. Obviously had his head turned at the start to get away slowly, but then rushed up to duel early with Alpha Bullet, put that rival away quickly, was still clear by midstretch, and weakened. In all likelihood he’s still on target for the Breeders’ Cup Mile despite this setback.

Del Mar
Pat O’Brien (race 9)

Goldencents ran second to Fed Biz in this last year, and was coming off seconds in the Grade 1 Met Mile and Grade 1 Bing Crosby, but he turned up his game a notch and put up a splendid performance to win. He went right out to the lead, set fast splits while hounded by Big Macher, Indexical and Fed Biz, was asked for run turning for home, quickly bounded clear and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. He set a track record for seven furlongs of 1:20.99, breaking the mark of 1:21.12 set by Fed Biz in this race last year. Fed Biz, the defending champ, was right on Goldencents’s heels from the start, stayed in close attendance to the top of the lane, and stayed on well to keep second. Silentio, trying Polytrack for the first time, stalked while in the clear, loomed ominously on the far turn, and made Fed Biz work for second. Syndicated bided his time early, came with a threatening run up the rail into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Big Macher, the Grade 1 Bing Crosby winner, dogged Goldencents from the start but gave way at the midpoint on the far turn in a disappointing effort.

Del Mar
Pacific Classic (race 10)

Shared Belief stayed unbeaten and basically untested with another terrific performance, setting up at some point (maybe the Breeders’ Cup Classic) a mouth-watering match-up with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome. Shared Belief sat midpack as Game On Dude dueled early for the lead with Mystery Train. Game On Dude then cleared off while setting a fast pace. Shared Belief was asked for run going to the far turn, quickly cut into Game On Dude’s lead, came abreast of that foe and Toast of New York into the lane, shifted in just slightly and drew off to win easily. He did have to survive an inquiry for possible interference to Toast of New York. The Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita Sept. 28 may be next and should all go well there, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Toast of New York ran big. He sat midpack with the winner, moved with that foe to eliminate Game On Dude’s lead on the far turn, did have to check somewhat when Shared Belief moved in slightly, but got right back into stride and finished well. Imperative was last until the far turn, swung wide for clear sailing, put in a smart rally and just got up for third. Game On Dude, the defending champ, sprinted out of the gate, dueled with Mystery Train into the clubhouse turn, opened up a big lead going to the far turn, and while unable to keep up with the top two in the stretch only lost third in the final jump. Majestic Harbor, huge winner of the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita, lagged back but never mustered a run. He seems much better on dirt.