Trip notes for Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2019: Woodward, Del Mar Derby, and more

Aug. 31

Saratoga

Prioress (race 3)

COMMENT: Royal Charlotte won her first four starts including the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont July 5, sending her into the Grade 1 Test here Aug. 3 as one of the favorites. However, the daughter of Grade 2 winner Cairo Prince chased the pace that day but gave way readily in the lane, ending up sixth far behind one-two finishers Covfefe and Serengeti Empress. Trainer Chad Brown said later he thought didn’t care for the track. Sure, we’ve heard that excuse too many times from too many trainers but Brown may have been on to something as the filly bounced back with a smart win here. She broke well to stalk early as unbeaten 7-10 favorite Break Even set a strong pace, crept closer going to the far turn, came with earnest into the lane, reeled in that rival inside the eighth pole and drew clear to win well. Brown said she could stay with peers in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland Oct. 19 at 7 furlongs, though he’s not sure she wants to go that far. So, he said an option is to face elders in the shorter (6fs) Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of American there two weeks prior (Oct. 5). Break Even, the heavy favorite after winning her first six starts, five on dirt before a win in a turf sprint stakes here July 14, shot right out to a clear early lead, set a strong pace under modest pressure from Break Curfew, opened up into the lane as if going on to victory but couldn’t finish with the winner who stormed up alongside and past to her outside in the final half-furlong. Trainer Brad Cox said the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at 7 furlongs at Santa Anita Nov. 2 was never in her plans so it’s likely she’s done for the year and will be freshened, targeting, in his words, “a big” 2020. Risky Mandate, the second choice off two big wins to start her career, stalked the pace while saving ground, was asked for run turning for home, was no match for the top two but kept to her task to hold third. This was just her third start so there’s still room for growth. Break Curfew, a former Brown runner who easily won a $75,000 claimer here Aug. 17 and was claimed by Steven Asmussen, chased the favorite from the start, moved closer going to the far turn when asked but was unable to sustain her run and weakened some in the lane.

Saratoga

Saranac (race 6)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when Tracksmith, the 7-2 third choice on the morning line, scratched to instead go in the Virginia Derby at Colonial later this day. Global Access came into this off a couple good thirds including the Grade 2 Hall of Fame here last time out Aug. 2 and continued his good form, posting his second Grade 3 win. The son of European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway was away slowly to be last early as Royal Player bounced out to a big early lead, remained last to the far turn as ‘Player set a solid pace and came back to the field, remained wide and in the clear on the far turn he commenced his run, pitched wider still into the lane, moved up alongside two leaders to his inside in the stretch, came in some in deep stretch to bump with heavy favorite Good Governance, who was coming out a bit, and kept to his task gamely to prevail. Off this the Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Oct. 5 could be next. Good Governance, heavily favored off a smart rallying debut win on this course Aug. 4, stalked in third from the start, came with a smart run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, battled with Seismic Wave to his inside, came out a bit to bump with the eventual winner to his outside (and that rival was coming as well) and fought well to the line to just miss. Seismic Wave stalked while saving ground, steadied some as Power Player on the far turn, got back into stride while saving ground, kept to his task well but just wasn’t good enough. He’s a nice horse to be sure but could be the top of the 3-year-old male turf division is just a smidge beyond him. Rinaldi chased the pacesetter from the start, was a threat into the lane, couldn’t go with the top two while saving ground, steadied late and just missed getting third.

Saratoga

Glens Falls (race 10)

COMMENT: Talk is always about how Chad Brown dominates the turf distaff ranks and while that’s true for the most part, this time it was Graham Motion who did the dominating as his Mrs. Sippy and Empress of the Nile filled out the exacta. Mrs. Sippy, making her first start in the U.S. after a European career which saw her at Group 3 placed last fall, bided her time early as Lady Montdore ran out to a clear lead while setting modest splits, remained toward the back down the backstretch, started a run on the far turn, split horses into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch and ran on smartly to outfinish her rallying stablemate. This could mean taking a swing at the big girls in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Oct. 6, though obviously the water would be a lot deeper there. She could instead target the Grade 3 Dowager at Keeneland at 1 1/2 miles Oct. 20 and avoiding the likes of champion Sistercharlie. Empress of the Nile, stepping up after a game rallying optional claiming win here Aug. 1, stalked in third while not far off the rail, came under pressure into the far turn, pitched wide on the turn, wider still into the lane, finished well but couldn’t quite outdo her stablemate. Santa Monica, second in this last year and the favorite as part of trainer Brown’s “B” team, lagged back just behind the eventual winner, was still there going down the backstretch, came off the inside down the backstretch, made a smart run to reach contention on the turn but couldn’t sustain her run. Fools Gold, another Brown runner and a contender coming off a game win in the Grade 3 Waya here Aug. 4, sat second behind pacesetter Lady Montdore from the start, remained in stalking mode to the far turn, moved wider out into the lane as if ready to make a run but flattened out. Lady Montdore, winner of this last year but winless in four starts since, stumbled at the start, still had the speed to quickly assume command, was a clear early leader through modest splits, came under pressure going to the far turn, battled back, was still in the thick of it to midstretch but then gave way.

Saratoga

Woodward (race 11)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when Vino Rosso, the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, scratched to instead await the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Sept. 28. Preservationist was smashing winning the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont July 6 but was then disappointing in the Grade 1 Whitney here Aug. 3 when after setting the pace tired to end up a well-beaten fourth. Well, the son of Arch bounced back to his Suburban performance level, posting a gutty win despite a tough trip. He bided his time early while saving ground as Mr. Buff set a modest pace, moved up just behind the leaders on the far turn, came with a smart run between rivals Bal Harbour to his inside and Tom’s d’Etat to his outside but bulled his way through doggedly to get up in the final few strides. The Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Sept. 28 might be next, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens, though success there doesn’t guarantee a trip to Santa Anita for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 2, as Jerkens wasn’t thrilled with the idea of shipping across the country and could instead swerve that to target the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in January. Bal Harbour, a sharp second in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup July 20, chased pacesetter Mr. Buff from the start, moved up nicely on the far turn to challenge for the lead, took over from a tiring Mr. Buff turning for home, took over into the lane, moved to the rail, battled gamely as Preservationist came to his outside but just couldn’t quite outdo that rival in a fine try. The Jockey Club Gold Cup figures next for him, along with stablemate Vino Rosso. Yoshida, winner of this last year and coming off a solid second to McKinzie in the Grade 1 Whitney here Aug. 3, lagged back, as is his custom, saved ground as he bided his time, started his run on the far turn while saving ground, pitched out into the lane for clear sailing, looked very dangerous once straightened away while widest of all, finished well but wasn’t quite good enough. Tom’s d’Etat, third in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill June 15 and winner of the Alydar here Aug. 2, stalked from his outside post, advanced going to the far turn, came with a smart wide run to challenge for the lead into the lane, jostled some with Preservationist to his inside in the stretch and then couldn’t finish with the top two to his inside and Yoshida to his outside. Mongolian Groom, a new face who shipped here after a third in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 17, stalked the pace in third, moved closer while staying wide and in the clear going to the far turn, looked dangerous as he moved even closer on the turn and into the lane, was still there between horses, was in tight in midstretch and couldn’t sustain his bid.

Colonial

Virginia Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: English Bee ran into some of the beasts of the 3-year-old male division in his last two starts when 10th in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby and fourth in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame. He wasn’t facing quite that power here – though by no means were these rivals a bunch of pushovers – and he took advantage as the son of grass champ English Channel notched his first graded stakes win. He showed handiness from his outside slot to dog early pacesetter Credit Swap through very slow spits, remained on that rival’s hip to the far turn, was asked to go after that foe into the lane, fought hard to finally catch and edge past a stubborn Credit Swap inside the eighth pole and just got to the line before a hard-charging Jais’s Solitude. Something like the Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Oct. 5 could be next. Jais’s Solitude, stepping up after a smashing win on Arlington turf July 27, showed he belongs as he bided his time early, crept closer going to the far turn, came out into the lane, finished resolutely but just ran out of ground. Credit Swap, third in the Frisk Me Now on Monmouth turf July 27, broke well, went right to the lead from his outside post, quickly moved to the rail, set a dawdling pace as English Bee dogged him to his outside, battled back gamely when confronted by that rival into the lane, held him at bay to just inside the eighth pole and only succumbed to him and the runner-up in the final strides. Tracksmith, winner of the Frisk Me Now who scratched from Saratoga’s Grade 3 Saranac earlier this day to go here instead, sat midpack from the start while saving ground, loomed a threat into the lane but flattened out.

Del Mar

John C. Mabee (race 7)

COMMENT: Vasilika will have to go down as one of the best claims in recent memory. The daughter of Skipshot was haltered for $40,000 a year and a half or so again. Showing courage here to just get up for the win. She’s now won 13 of 15 since being claimed, numerous graded stakes including two Grade 1’s and over $1.3 million. Here from her rail slot she lagged back early while saving ground, came off the rail some into the clubhouse turn, bided her time there, moved up between horses going into the far turn, came off the inside further into the lane and finished with gusto to just get up in the final stride. The Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita, a race she won last year, could be next Sept. 28, though trainer Jerry Hollendorfer remains in a legal battle with Santa Anita after being ruled off earlier this year. She could instead go for the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 5. Should she run well in either and the legal issues with Santa Anita can be resolved she could take a swing at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf there Nov. 2, which would likely be her career swan song before going into the sales ring Nov. 4. Juliet Foxtrot, winner of her first three starts in the U.S. after racing in Europe, did everything right only to get nipped on the line. She showed speed to sit second off longshot Ippodamia’s Girl who set a strong pace, pressured that rival the far turn, took over from that foe turning for home, opened up into the lane as if going on to victory only to get nailed late by the winner. She wasn’t stopping either – Vasilika simply ran and got her. The Rodeo Drive could be in her plans as well. Toinette, winner of her first start this year in an optional claimer here Aug. 7, was just ahead of Vasilika early, crept closer going down the backstretch and into the far turn, tried to make a run at then-leader Juliet Foxtrot into the lane, could never get on terms with that rival, couldn’t finish with the eventual winner but kept to her task to be third. She could certainly improve off this outing. Paved, third in the Osunitas here July 19, her first start of the year, sat well back from the start, remained there to the far turn, swung out into the lane and finished well, though she was never really a danger. She was a sharp second to Vasilika in last year’s Rodeo Drive so that race figures on her radar as well. La Force, who moved to turf despite being just 1-for-12 on it after winning the Grade 2 Santa Margarita on Santa Anita dirt June 1 and running third in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch on dirt here July 28, was slow into stride, was last down the backstretch, still last into the far turn and then could pass only a few tiring rivals in the lane. It may be back to dirt for her for something like the Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita, a race in which she was a good second last year, Sept. 29.

Del Mar

Del Mar Debutante (race 9)

COMMENT: Bast, a $500,000 daughter of juvenile male champ Uncle Mo, couldn’t handle Inspiressa when second to that gal when both debuted here Aug. 11, but that experience, blinkers (it was a small blinker, according to trainer Bob Baffert) and a great trip here were more than enough to turn the tables as Bast dominated what on paper looked like a very competitive renewal, giving Baffert his eighth win in this race. She broke very sharply but was amenable to being pulled back to fourth off a trio of dueling leaders Leucothea, Inspiressa and Stellar Sound, crept closer on the far turn, moved up strongly under her own power outside Inspiressa and Stellar Sound as Leucothea fell away on the rail, took command into the lane toward the outside, moved back toward the inside in the lane and drew off to win with ease. With Amalfi Sunrise on the shelf Bast is surely the top juvenile filly out West, at least for the time being. The Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita Sept. 27 is reportedly next and should all go well there, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies there Nov. 1. Inspiressa, favored off that aforementioned impressive win over Bast here Aug. 11, broke well, was just off the lead coming out of the chute, quickly moved up to press the pace between Leucothea to her inside and Stellar Sound to her outside, took the lead on the far turn as Leucothea gave way to her inside, was getting the better of Stellar Sound only to have Bast surge past a few lanes wider out, was no match for that foe as she moved toward the rail in the lane and kept to her task well enough to just hold second. The $850,000 daughter of The Big Beast will likely take another shot at Bast in the Chandelier. Comical, winner of the Grade 2 Schuylerville at Saratoga July 11 but a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Sorrento here Aug. 3 behind Amalfi Sunrise, bounced back to form as she broke sharply but was content to pull back. She lagged back, while saving ground, remained inside at the back of the pack, came with a smart run into the lane, came off the rail to go around a tiring Leucothea, moved back to the rail in the stretch and finished well to almost catch the runner-up, though she was never a danger to the winner. Stellar Sound, another Baffert who was coming off a smart maiden win here Aug. 18, showed speed to be part of the dueling triumvirate up front outside of Leucothea and Inspiressa, tried to go with Inspiressa to her inside and stablemate Bast who surged up to her outside turning for home but soon backed out of it. Baffert reported she displaced her palate, which accounts for her fade. Pure Zena, a romping 11 1/4-length debut winner here July 20, sat back, was asked for run on the far turn and into the lane while well off the rail but came up empty. Leucothea, who blasted maidens by 14 1/2 lengths here Aug. 15 while posting the top 2-year-old filly Beyer out West (91), rushed up to be part of the pace while inside, dueled with Inspiressa and Stellar Sound to her outside, but gave way readily turning for home once headed.

Sept. 1

Saratoga

Spinaway (race 11)

COMMENT: Perfect Alibi, a $220,000 daughter of Sky Mesa, was a sharp second in the Astoria at Belmont before rallying to edge Frank’s Rockette in the Grade 2 Adirondack here Aug. 4. Well, the filly validated that win by beating ‘Rockette yet again. She bided her time early, saving ground as Mundaye Call set a solid pace, advanced up the rail on the turn, continued to make progress up the inside as she went after leader Frank’s Rockette, seemed in a bit tight along the rail but showed courage to continue through, subdue ‘Rockette and edge past in the final half-furlong. Trainer Mark Casse said he now had to decide whether to go to the Grade 1 Frizette (one-turn mile) at Belmont Oct. 6 or the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland (1 1/16 miles, two turns) Oct. 4 as a path to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Nov. 1. Frank’s Rockette couldn’t quite beat ‘Alibi in the Adirondack and was foiled by that filly again here but the daughter of Into Mischief ran quite well. She dogged early pacesetter Mundaye Call, took over from that tiring rival on the far turn, tried to keep Perfect Alibi hemmed in along the fence in the lane but was unable to trap her there and then couldn’t fend off that rival in the final half-furlong in what was basically a two-horse race. She has the same options as the winner. Figure of Speech, a $200,000 daughter of Into Mischief who blasted maidens in her debut here July 31, stalked the pace, looked threatening on the far turn when just behind Frank’s Rockette but then couldn’t go with the top two in the lane, running on decently to hold third. Shippy, a good third in the Grade 3 Schuylerville here July 11 to Comical (who ran third in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante), lagged back, racing with the eventual winner, pitched very wide turning for home but was unable to get involved. Risky Mischief, yet another daughter of Into Mischief who cost $350,000 and who whipped maidens in her debut here July 31, stalked in third from the start, came under pressure to stay involved on the far turn but failed to muster any sort of run.

Monmouth

Red Bank (race 11)

COMMENT: Divisidero is a Grade 1 winner, and while at age 7 he isn’t that horse any longer there’s still plenty of gas in the tank as he came into this off a near-miss second in the Grade 3 Oceanport here July 20 and did just a bit better to notch a Grade 3 win here. From his rail slot the son of Kitten’s Joy was last early in the small field as Diamond King set a solid pace, pitched wide to start a run on the far turn, swung wider still into the lane and closed resolutely to get up for the score. Considering he’s going so well now could be he deserves another shot at the deepest end of the pool, maybe something like the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Oct. 5. Firey Speech, stepping up after two big allowance/optional claiming wins at Churchill and Canterbury, was away slowly, was still able to establish position stalking in third, angle out some into the lane, raced with the eventual winner who was to his outside, ran on well but couldn’t quite finish with the winner. Maraud, claimed for $80,000 when a sharp third in tough optional claimer at Saratoga Aug. 16 (beaten just a head), added blinkers for this move back into graded stakes waters and sat second from the start, moved closer to pacesetter Diamond King going to the far turn, made his move into the lane, grabbed a narrow lead by midstretch but couldn’t quite finish with the top two.

Del Mar

Del Mar Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: Nolde, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, had shown ample talent in his first three turf starts, winning the first two and finishing a sharp second last time out, beaten just a nose in the Oceanside here July 17. He was facing tougher and longer but proved his affection for the footing no fluke as he ran big again, posting the mild upset. He bided his time early as Kingly ran out to a clear early lead through solid splits, remained midpack to the far turn, came with a smart run between horses in the stretch and prevailed in a four-horse photo. The Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Nov. 2 figures his fall target, though as nice as this win was you sort of get the feeling that if you ran this race six times you might get five different winners. Originaire, stepping up in class after a big rallying win in an optional claimer here July 18, was well back from the start, remained well back to the far turn while saving ground, advanced along the inside into the stretch, came out a few lanes for clear sailing and surged to just miss. Neptune’s Storm, the favorite off two stakes wins at Santa Anita in the spring and then a sharp second in the Grade 3 La Jolla here Aug. 4 (to today’s foe Kingly), ran well yet again but just missed as he chased the pacesetter from the start, slowly reeled in that rival while staying inside, came off the inside to move up and challenge Kingly on the far turn, took the lead into the lane and persevered gamely to miss by just a neck and a head. Hackberry, coming off a game maiden win on this course July 27, sat midpack from the start while saving ground, just ahead of the eventual winner, made an early move going to the far turn coming off the inside to move in just behind the top two and stayed on gamely between horses. Kingly, game wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 3 La Jolla here Aug. 4, shot out to a clear early lead, set a solid pace under minimal pressure, had Neptune’s Storm move closer to him going into the far turn, was challenged by ‘Storm to his outside turning for home, battled gamely to midstretch and only weakened a bit in the final furlong. Nolo Contesto, like the winner a son of Pioneerof the Nile and a $385,000 sales buy coming off a smart rallying second in his first try on turf here Aug. 11, got bumped and squeezed back at the start to get away poorly, sat well back, came off the inside into the lane but was unable to get involved. Many of these figure to take another shot at the winner in the aforementioned Twilight Derby.