Trip Notes for August 1-2: Haskell Invitational, Jim Dandy, West Virginia Derby

Aug. 1

Saratoga
Amsterdam (race 5)

Holy Boss is making like dad, as the 3-year-old son of multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Street Boss stamped himself among the best sophomore sprinters with an impressive tally. Coming off three straight wins, the last two being stakes wins, he pressed pacesetter Victory Is Sweet while saving ground, moved off the inside coming off the far turn, battled briefly with the surging Requite, and had more than enough, drawing off late to notch his first graded stakes win. The Grade 1 King’s Bishop here Aug. 29 is likely next. Requite, a winner of three of four, including a stakes at Gulfstream last out, stalked the pace, came with a nice run into the lane on the inside to grab the lead, but was no match for the winner in the final furlong. Barbados was up close early, was shuffled back some going to the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane, but never mustered the necessary rally. March sat back, moved closer going to the far turn, but then gave way.

Saratoga
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Rock Fall showed guts to win for the sixth straight time (in seven career starts), indicating that he may well have a say as to who’s the top sprinter in the land. Freshened since a romping win in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont two months ago, he again got a dream trip as he stalked a modest pace set by Favorite Tale, who took some pressure from The Big Beast. He kept wide into the lane for clear sailing, doggedly kept to his task to engage leader The Big Beast by the sixteenth pole, and just managed to prevail. He might have caught a break when the rider of The Big Beast lost his whip early in the stretch. Off this, the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 29 would seem logical, but trainer Todd Pletcher wasn’t sure since that race is at seven furlongs, whereas all of Rock Fall’s races have come at six furlongs. Pletcher said he might instead wait for the Grade 1 Vosburgh (six furlongs) at Belmont on Sept. 26, then go to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keenland on Oct. 31. The Big Beast’s best moment came here last summer when he won the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, and returning here surely helped. Freshened since a decent fourth in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct on April 4, he dogged pacesetter Favorite Tale from the start, got the better of that foe by midstretch, was soon confronted by Rock Fall, battled gamely to the wire, and just missed. The Forego certainly figures on his radar. Favorite Tale, fifth to Rock Fall in the True North and then a big winner of the Grade 2 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream on July 5, went right out to set a modest pace while staying inside, was pressured from the start by The Big Beast, battled back gamely when hooked by that foe into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the final half-furlong. Salutos Amigos, a winner of five straight dirt-sprint stakes in the U.S., stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but didn’t have the needed punch. The Forego still figures on his docket.

Saratoga
Bowling Green Handicap (race 9)

Red Rifle may have turned the corner as the son of Giant’s Causeway posted the upset here for a second straight big win. He easily won Woodbine’s Grade 3 Dominion Day on synthetic footing there July 1 and moved back to turf for this, a surface on which he’d won just once in six starts. But that didn’t matter. Just as he did in the Dominion Day, he lagged well back early while saving ground, remained inside to start his run into the lane, came off the rail a bit to move through between horses in midstretch, was set down, and drew off to win easily. Off this, there’s no reason not to shoot for the Grade 1 Sword Dancer here Aug. 29. He also capped off a big Saturday for Pletcher (won graded stakes with Rock Fall and Madefromlucky). War Dancer, freshened since dueling and fading to sixth in the Grade 1 Manhattan after a strong second in the Grade 1 Man o’ War, stalked the pace while saving ground, came with a nice run into the lane, and finished well, though he was no match for the impressive winner. The Sword Dancer figures next for him as well, and he was a solid fourth in that last year. Imagining, a game second to champion Main Sequence in the Sword Dancer last year, might target that again as well as he bounced back from a so-so fifth in the Grade 1 United Nations to sit back early with the winner, moved much earlier to reach a contending position not far off pacesetters Iron Power and Morning Calm, moved past those tiring rivals to challenge for the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his run. Innovation Economy, a winner of his prior three races, including the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup on June 5, sat well back early but sadly broke down inside the five-eighths pole and had to be euthanized.

Saratoga
Jim Dandy (race 10)[bc_video_id:362778:]

It’s too bad that Texas Red sustained an injury and had to miss the Triple Crown, because last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner showed with a win here that he might have been able to challenge American Pharoah. The field was reduced to four after a couple of key scratches (Upstart and Competitive Edge went in Sunday’s Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth instead). Coming off a nice second in the Grade 3 Dwyer, his first start in five months after an injury, he sat in second from the start, never far away from pacesetter Japan, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of him, and gamely kept the hard-trying Frosted at bay through the final yards. The Grade 1 Travers here Aug. 29 figures to be next. Frosted, the winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and a gallant second to American Pharoah in the Grade 1 Belmont, sat in third, not far behind Texas Red, didn’t accelerate quite as quickly as that rival, but got going well into the lane, and finished well. He lost his right front shoe early, so that couldn’t have helped. The Travers figures to be next for him as well. Japan, a winner of his last two, including the Easy Goer at Belmont two months ago, went right out to the lead, set a modest pace under some pressure, had no answer for the winner’s charge, and then couldn’t keep pace late with the runner-up.

Mountaineer
West Virginia Derby (race 8)

Madefromlucky, the favorite after facing the best of his division, appreciated the class drop and got back into the winner’s circle. The winner of the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont on May 9, he’d lost his other three most recent starts, chasing home Triple Crown champ American Pharoah in each of those. He faced no one like that here and took advantage, as he bided his time early while longshot Alliseeisgold set a modest pace, remained toward the back going into the far turn, swung very wide on the far turn and into the lane, and finished strongly to catch his rival and win going away. This might have earned him a shot at the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 29. Souper Colossal, second in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth last month, stalked in fourth while staying wide and in the clear, made a nice run to grab the lead by midstretch, but had no answer when the winner came calling. War Story showed no speed as he was last early, remained there to the top of the lane, swung widest of all for the stretch run, and finished smartly. Iron Fist lagged back, came with a threatening move along the inside turning for home, but couldn’t sustain it.

Del Mar
Clement L. Hirsch (race 8)[bc_video_id:362777:]

Beholder, a two-time champion, looked as good as ever in dominating the proceedings here. She broke alertly to stalk pacesetter My Sweet Addiction early and then stalk Honey Ride, who took over after a half-mile. She moved up under her own energy to grab the lead on the far turn, opened up without being asked, and cruised home without really drawing a deep breath. Heady stuff. The seven-time Grade 1 winner looks good as ever and is surely atop the division. She most likely will target the Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita on Sept. 26 before a tilt in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland Oct. 30, but she looked so good that trainer Richard Mandella put it out there – that if she’s doing well, she could take a swing at the boys in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 22. Yahilwa sat in midpack from the start, came with a nice run, and while no danger at any point to the big winner, ran on well to be a clear second. She may ship back across the country for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 29. Warren’s Veneda lagged back, was in tight turning for home to lose position and actually be last when straightening away, but found her gear and ran on well for third. The Grade 1 winner also could possibly face the boys in the Pacific Classic or, according to her trainer, ship to Emerald to face boys in the Grade 3 Longacres Mile on Aug. 16.

Aug. 2

Saratoga
Shuvee Handicap (race 10)[bc_video_id:362780:]

Stopchargingmaria, last seen easily winning the Grade 3 duPont Distaff at Pimlico on Preakness Day on May 15, continued her strong form and used her versatility to capture this race. She’s won on the pace, from just off the pace, and from well off the pace, and here she was asked to use her speed to hound the favored Untapable from the start. She dogged that rival throughout, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of her by midstretch, and was edging away late. She’s quietly rattled off seven straight top-two finishes (five wins). The Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Aug. 29 figures next, where she will likely run into the top-class Wedding Toast. Untapable, last year’s 3-year-old filly champion, was coming off a well-beaten second to Wedding Toast in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 6. She was asked for more speed here as they put her right on the lead, she took pressure from Stopchargingmaria from the start while setting modest splits, battled back when hooked by that rival into the lane, but couldn’t quite keep up in the final furlong. While she’s run well this year (4-1-3-0), she still doesn’t appear to be as good as she was in 2014. The Personal Ensign might still be on her radar. Tiz Windy stalked the top two from the start, loomed a threat turning for home, but then couldn’t keep pace in the lane with the top two while finishing far clear of the others.

Monmouth
Matchmaker (race 9)

It looks as though trainer Chad Brown has yet another budding female turf star (has the likes of Stephanie’s Kitten, Ball Dancing, Watsdachances) as Casual Smile continued her ascent, winning for the third straight time and notching her first stakes win. She sat well back early as Baffle Me and Means Well dueled on the lead, remained well back to the far turn, commenced her run into the lane, came through strongly between horses in midstretch, roared past the leaders, and won going away. Off this, she may deserve a shot at deeper waters. I’m Already Sexy, coming off a game win in the traditional local prep for this, the Grade 3 Eatontown on June 27, sat in midpack early, came with a nice run to be very threatening into the lane, but was no match for the winner while staying on well. Testa Rossi, another from the Brown stable who was coming off a nice second to Grade 1 winner Coffee Clique in a Grade 3 at Parx last month, was just in front of her stablemate early, moved earlier while wide to reach contention, but then didn’t have the needed punch in the lane. Cushion was slow into stride to be last from the start, was still last turning for home, and then could make only modest headway in the lane.

Monmouth
Monmouth Cup (race 10)

Bradester was a sharp second to Valid in this race last year but made no mistakes here, as the 5-year-old continues in peak form. After a dull run in Dubai on March 28 and a so-so third at Churchill on May 2, he was freshened and came back with a powerful win in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile here July 5. He continued that form here as he went right out to the lead, took early pressure from Grasshoppin while setting comfortable splits, dispatched with that foe turning for home, opened up into the lane, and really didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. As nice as this was, remember main rival Protonico was a vet scratch prior to the start (was the 7-5 favorite at the time), and the pace scenario couldn’t have been much more favorable for the winner. After this race last year, he won the Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill in September, so since he’s in peak form, they might stick to that schedule this year. Valid, the smart winner of this last year and most recently third to Bradester in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile here last month, stalked the pace, made a run at the winner coming into the lane, getting within a length, but then couldn’t keep pace in the straight while finishing well clear of the rest. Freestyler was stepping way up in class after four straight wins, three of those coming here this spring before a win at Parx last month, sat just behind Valid, stalking the pace while saving ground, tried to make a run turning for home, but was no match for the top two. Still, he obviously loves it here, as he’s now 3 for 4 on this track. Pants On Fire, third in this last year and coming off a nonfactor seventh in the Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont on June 6, lagged back and never made a move.

Monmouth
Oceanport (race 11)

Heart to Heart ended 2014 as if he could become a big turf miler in 2015. However, after a loss at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, he was gone almost five months and has since run second here in the Grade 3 Red Bank and then faded to seventh in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont on June 13. He returned here and got back on track, as he used his speed to go right out to the lead, took some pressure from Cage Fighter, opened up a bit into the lane, and stayed on well for the win. He obviously likes this place, so the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger here Aug. 23 is possible, though that’s at 1 1/8 miles, which might be stretching for him distance-wise. If they want to stick closer to this type of trip, they could instead target the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at this same 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on Sept. 7. Hothersal, claimed for $30,000 at Gulfstream in the winter and stepping up after a game optional-claiming win here May 25, bided his time early, steadily advanced to the far turn, made a mild run at the winner into the lane, but was unable to really scare that rival while finishing well clear of the others. Cage Fighter, fourth in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes here June 7, chased the winner from the start, tried to make a run at him turning for home, but couldn’t keep pace and weakened a bit in the lane. Kharafa, the favorite off a nice win in the Elkwood here last month, stalked the pace, had to check hard when in tight on the first turn, was able to settle into a stalking position, looked briefly dangerous turning for home, but then fell apart.

Monmouth
Haskell (race 12)[bc_video_id:362770:]

There may have been some concerns as to how the rigors of the Triple Crown might have affected American Pharoah, but the champ easily dispatched with those worries with a tour-de-force performance that may have been the best of his career. He broke a bit sideways but recovered quickly to go to the lead, then quickly relinquished the pacesetting duties to Competitive Edge, who was going two turns for the first time. American Pharoah sat outside of Competitive Edge, just off his hip, traveling very easily as that rival set a solid pace, was asked for just a bit of run going into the far turn, went around Competitive Edge as if he was nailed to the rail, quickly opened up a commanding lead while still not being asked, and was basically in little more than a gallop in the final furlong. Sure, runner-up Keen Ice closed the gap, but the issue had long been determined, and if rider Victor Espinoza had desired, he could have won by a city block. This gives trainer Bob Baffert his eighth Haskell win. Keen Ice, third to Pharoah in the Grade 1 Belmont, lagged back, as is his custom, started his run earlier going into the far turn, and stayed on decently. While he closed the gap on the winner, the issue was never in doubt. Upstart sat not far behind Competitive Edge and American Pharoah while saving ground, moved closer going to the far turn, tried to make a run along with Pharoah on the far turn, took over second from the tiring Competitive Edge into the lane, but was never a danger to the winner and weakened a bit late to end up third. Mr. Jordan, the winner of the Grade 3 Pegasus here June 21, sat outside and just behind Pharoah from the start to stalk the pace but gave way readily going into the far turn.