Trip Notes for August 1-2, 2020: Whitney and more

Aug. 1

Saratoga
Personal Ensign (race 5)

COMMENT: Vexatious was coming off the best race of her life Beyer-wise when a game second to champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont on July 11. She backed up that effort and seemingly improved further, gamely defeating champion Midnight Bisou, though she had to survive a stewards’ inquiry to do so. She broke well, got a nice trip sitting second just outside early pacesetter Motion Emotion, continued on that gal’s hip to the far turn, came with a run turning for home, was getting the better of that rival only to be immediately confronted by defending champion Midnight Bisou to her outside, but battled back gamely and held off the champ while drifting out in the lane, and she was actually edging away from Midnight Bisou in the final strides. The stewards launched an inquiry into the stretch run but let the result stand, which seemed the right call. Trainer Jack Sisterson said she’d race one more time before the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland in November. That could come in the Grade 1 Spinster there in October or in the Grade 2 Beldame at Beldame. Midnight Bisou, the defending champ, got a dream trip as she sat in Vexatious’s wake from the start, crept closer while outside that rival on the far turn, looked poised to overwhelm that rival turning for home, but couldn’t get past that rival, was carried out some in the stretch as the winner drifted out but never lost her action. She simply couldn’t get past, and in fact the winner was edging away from her in the final strides. She ran well but had no excuses. She’ll reportedly run just once before the Breeders’ Cup, most likely in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont in October. Point of Honor, a sharp second in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 13 when beaten just a nose by She’s a Julie, lacked speed, as usual, to be last early, remained there to the far turn, swung wide to start a run on the turn in Midnight Bisou’s wake, kept to her task following that rival, and while able to run on for third was never really a threat to the top two. Motion Emotion, a well-beaten second to Midnight Bisou in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill on June 27 (8 1/4 lengths), broke well, went right to the lead while taking the fence, set a modest pace under pressure from Vexatious to her outside, battled back when hooked by that rival on the far turn, but gave way once headed.

Saratoga
Whitney (race 9)

COMMENT: This was billed primarily as a summit between Tom’s d’Etat and Code of Honor to determine the top male horse in the game, but Improbable had other plans as he invaded from Southern California to win easily. Coming off a smashing win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 6 (after having run second to Tom’s d’Etat at Oaklawn on April 11, his first start of the year), the $200,000 son of City Zip was his usual rambunctious self in the gate but broke well and eased back to get off the inside and settle in second outside pacesetter Mr. Buff by the first turn, continued to dog that rival through dawdling splits while traveling well down the backstretch, challenged that foe turning for home, took command into the lane, quickly opened up, and kept on well to keep his rivals at bay in the final furlong. Trainer Bob Baffert said he’d like to keep Improbable and Maximum Security separated, so the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita, Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, or the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland, all in October, are options. By My Standards, second but well beaten by Tom’s d’Etat in the Grade 2 Stephen Foster at Churchill on June 27, broke a bit awkwardly but was able to establish position in third just behind the eventual winner, was urged to move closer on the far turn, had no answer when Improbably blew the race open in the lane, but kept to his task well to be second. Tom’s d’Etat, the heavy favorite off four straight smashing stakes wins, stumbled at the start to get away last, bided his time at the back of the pack while moving to the inside by the first turn, continued there while saving ground, came off the inside into the far turn, angled wider out into the lane, finished well, but was never really a danger to the winner. Between the stumble and being off a very slow pace, he was up against it, though even his ‘A’ game might not have handled the winner. Trainer Al Stall Jr. said he could target either the Jockey Club Gold Cup or Fayette as a bridge to the Breeders’ Cup, though he also said the horse might train up to the Breeders’ Cup. Code of Honor, coming off a good third in the Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont on July 4, was a bit rambunctious in the gate, broke decently and settled in fourth just ahead of favored Tom’s d’Etat, bided his time there a couple lanes off the rail, started a wide run into the lane, but flattened out in the final furlong. Surely the slow pace hurt his chances, but he was still third by midstretch and ahead of Tom’s d’Etat, but that rival outfinished him fairly easily in the final furlong.

Saratoga
H. Allen Jerkens (race 10)

COMMENT: Echo Town was no match for No Parole when second to that foe in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont on June 20, but a change of venue and better pace setup propelled him to a big win and revenge. The son of champion sprinter Speightstown was away a bit slowly, bided his time toward the back as favored No Parole set a strong pace, crept closer going into the far turn, swung out into the lane, and blasted home to roll past the leaders and open up for the easy win. The Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill on Sept. 5 might be next. Tap It to Win, a smashing allowance winner at Belmont on June 4 before fading to fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont there June 20, rebounded with the move to this shorter trip as the son of Tapit stalked the strong pace, moved up gamely to challenge for the lead while wide turning for home, had no answer for the winner’s charge, but kept on well to hold second. Shoplifted, third in the aforementioned Woody Stephens, moved forward some as well as the $800,000 son of Into Mischief sat well back from the start, remained well back to the far turn, pitched very wide into the lane, and finished with good energy, though he was never a danger to the winner. Captain Bombastic, coming off a New York-bred stakes win at Belmont on June 14, sat back just behind Echo Town and ahead of Shoptlifted, rallied just behind Echo Town on the far turn, and rallied not far behind the eventual winner into the lane before flattening out a bit in the final furlong. Eight Rings, who dueled before fading to fifth in a stakes at Oaklawn on April 25, his only start of the year, showed good speed from his inside post to press pacesetter No Parole from the start, couldn’t keep pace with that foe going to the far turn while remaining in stalking position while inside, but was basically one-paced to the line thereafter. The $520,000 son of Empire Maker just hasn’t looked like the same horse since two monster wins in Southern California last summer/fall. No Parole, favored after winning his five one-turn races, including a big victory in the aforementioned Woody Stephens, went right to the lead, as expected, set a strong pace under pressure first from Eight Rings and then Mischevious Alex, and continued to battle along the rail when surrounded by foes into the lane before tiring in the lane.

Saratoga
Bowling Green (race 11)

COMMENT: The old warrior Sadler’s Joy showed there’s still plenty of gas in the tank as the 7-year-old finished first under the wire, but while the gas tank remains in tank he had trouble with the steering as he veered inward in the lane hindering Cross Border and Channel Maker, resulting in him being disqualified from first to fourth. The resulting winner was Cross Border, who came into this off a romping New York-bred stakes win here just 10 days ago on July 22. The son of grass champion English Channel wasn’t asked show his usual speed, instead he was under restraint, sitting fourth as Marzo ran off to a big early lead. He remained there as Marzo set a modest pace, started to close the gap with the field on the pacesetter while saving ground, had to wait for room behind rivals turning for home, found room, came through smartly to make his run only to get bumped as Sadler’s Joy came inward, caromed into Channel Maker to his inside, got straightened, and kept on well to just miss. He was awarded the win via the disqualification of Sadler’s Joy, and it seemed like the right call. This doesn’t mean he’s ready for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, but he may have earned himself a shot at the Grade 1 Sword Dancer here Aug. 29. Highland Sky, fifth and ninth in this the last two years and who once ran well at this level and came into this off an okay fourth in the Tiller at Belmont on June 4, was last from the start, bided his time at the back of the pack, was still last into the far turn, started to advance on the turn, swung wide into the lane, and finished well while wide and clear of the trouble. Channel Maker, a good fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont on July 4, ran well again to indicate he’s back on track. The 6-year-old, also a son of English Channel, sat third from the start, remained there as the field closed in on the pacesetter, challenged into the lane, was soundly bumped by Cross Border after that rival had been bumped hard by Sadler’s Joy, lost his action, and was unable to recover. He was moved up to third via the disqualification. Sadler’s Joy, third and sixth in this the last two years and coming off a good third in the aforementioned Manhattan, sat well back, as is his want, from the start, remained there a couple lanes off the fence, started to advance into the far turn, angled wide turning for home, came with a smart wide run in the lane, veered inward as he was rallying to the lead to bump Cross Border, who in turn slammed into Channel Maker, which also forced Marzo and Dot Matrix to check and steady along the inside, got straightened, and went on to finish first. He was disqualified from first to fourth for the incident in the stretch. Surely many of these will target the Sword Dancer along with the winner, and with no dominant American turf stayer likely for that (Zulu Alpha and United are reportedly targeting other races), they would certainly merit respect.

Monmouth
Monmouth Oaks (race 11)

COMMENT: Hopeful Growth finished fifth well behind a number of these rivals in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 4, but that was the first route for this daughter of Tapiture. With that under her belt, a return to the site of her maiden win, and the addition of blinkers, the $160,000 filly vaulted forward to dominate this race. She stalked in fourth while saving ground as favored Lucrezia set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn while in Lucrezia’s wake, shifted off the inside on the turn, pitched wider into the lane, and came with a strong run to roll past the leaders and win going away. She was awfully impressive here, maybe enough to earn a shot at the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill on Sept. 4. Project Whiskey, winner of the aforementioned Delaware Oaks, bobbled at the start but recovered quickly to get a nice trip pressing pacesetter Lucrezia to her outside, challenged that rival on the turn, had no answer for when the winner stormed past, but kept to her task well to be a clear second. Eve of War stalked in third while wide, raced outside the eventual winner, looked in trouble on the far turn as she lost position, but got going again in the lane to get up for third, though she was no danger to the top two. Lucrezia, fourth but far back (27 lengths) in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on June 20, broke well, went right to the lead, saved ground while taking pressure from Project Whiskey to her outside, battled back when challenged by that rival turning for home, but relented once headed.

Del Mar
Bing Crosby (race 10)

COMMENT: McKinzie, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, scratched to instead target the Grade 2 Pat O’ Brien here Aug. 29. Collusion Illusion, a 3-year-old $300,000 son of Twirling Candy, had been considered for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens this same day at Saratoga, but trainer Mark Glatt opted to stay home and the decision paid off as Collusion Illusion notched his first Grade 1 win. In a race that had a strong pace and set up for the closers, Collusion Illusion sat behind a quintet that battled through strong splits, remained there to the far turn a couple lanes off the rail, darted between horses to the inside in midstretch for clear sailing, went past the tiring speedsters to grab the lead, and stayed on gamely to just get to the line before a hard-charging Lexitonian who rallied much wider out in the stretch. Collusion Illusion has now finished first in all five races in which he’s finished (he was pulled up in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita last Sept. 27. His five wins all came sprinting, too, so this is obviously his game. The Pat O’Brien figures on his radar as well. Lexitonian ran splendidly in defeat. He was entered in last Saturday’s Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga but flipped in the gate and was scratched. They opted to ship across the country, and the decision nearly reaped big dividends as the son of champion sprinter Speightstown broke slowly from his rail slot to be last early, was still last to the far turn, swung wide into the lane to start a run, wider still in the lane to be widest of all, closed with a rush, and just missed. If the race had been six furlongs and one step, he would have got there. Law Abidin Citizen, coming off a big optional-claiming win at Santa Anita on June 14, was part of the five-horse speed brigade from the start as he dueled with the four others through fast splits, couldn’t counter the top two in the lane, but stayed on the best of the speedsters. Wildman Jack, trying dirt for the first time, bounced back after a very dull run when 13th in the Grade 2 Shakertown on turf at Keeneland on July 11, showing high speed to be part of the dueling fivesome from the start, was still in it to midstretch (in fact he had the lead at the furlong pole) before succumbing in the final furlong. Fashionably Fast, winner of six straight before finishing a good second to McKinzie in the Grade 2 Triple Bend at Santa Anita on June 7, was part of the quintet pushing the fast splits, moved into contention into the far turn between horses, stuck his head in front on the turn, but gave way once headed.

Aug. 2

Del Mar
Clement L. Hirsch (race 10)

COMMENT: Fighting Mad shot out to a clear early lead in the Grade 2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita on May 31 and led her rivals (some of whom she faced again here) on a merry chase. Well, it was déjà vu all over again as the daughter of New Year’s Day again used her speed to play keep away and post her first Grade 1 win. From her far outside post she broke sharply, shot right out to a clear lead before the field hit the first turn, maintained a clear lead while setting a solid pace, continued in front as Ollie’s Candy tried to apply some pressure to her outside into the backstretch, moved out to a clear lead again into the far turn, and rebuffed Ollie’s Candy’s game bid the length of the stretch. The Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita figures next and should all go well there, a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland in early November in a brutally tough division (Midnight Bisou, Monomoy Girl, Dunbar Road, Vexatious, some of the foes she faced here, the top 3-year-old fillies, et al). Ollie’s Candy, coming off two very tough beats when a sharp second in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 18 and sharp third in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 13, ran big again only to get frustrated again as the daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Candy Ride chased the eventual winner from the start, tried to move closer to that foe into the backstretch, saw that rival move away again into the far turn, came with another run turning for home, and gamely kept after Fighting Mad but just couldn’t get on terms with her. The Zenyatta figures on her radar as well. Ce Ce, who by virtue of wins in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile and aforementioned Apple Blossom likely ranked as the top distaffer in the land earlier this year, was then a non-factor third in the Santa Maria and here while she ran decently as she stalked in fourth a couple lanes off the rail, made a threatening move into the far turn as she came up to Ollie’s Candy’s outside, was still a threat turning for home, but couldn’t sustain her run and while able to hold third was no threat to the top two. Dogtag, returning to dirt after two straight wins on turf at Santa Anita, including a stakes win last time out June 14, stalked in third while holding the fence, racing just inside of Ce Ce, was urged to move closer into the far turn, got to Ollie’s Candy hip while staying inside that gal on the far turn, but then fell away. These waters were probably too deep, so a class drop and return to turf may be in her future. Hard Not to Love, second to Ce Ce in the Beholder Mile and second to Fighting Mad in the Santa Maria, didn’t throw her usual tantrums prior to the start, instead going to the gate without incident (though rider Mike Smith said she was very quiet and lackluster going to the gate). She didn’t have an issue getting into the gate or standing in there, then broke decently but showed no speed to be last early and remained there throughout, never mustering a run. She simply seems better at a shorter, one-turn trip, but with her quirks and idiosyncrasies it’s tough to know what to expect regardless of the trip.