Trip Notes for August 10-11, 2019: Arlington Million, Beverly D., and more

Aug. 10

Saratoga
Saratoga Special (race 8)

COMMENT: Green Light Go dazzled when he won his debut at Belmont July 4 and the son of Hard Spun showed what the fuss was all about with another terrific performance here. He broke decently, tucked in behind dueling pacesetters Tuggle and Long Weekend, bided his time as those two dueled through strong splits, waited for room on the far turn to come out from behind, found a seam, moved out for room, moved up easily outside the two leaders into the lane, veered inward into the stretch a couple lanes to actually bump with Tuggle but got straightened, opened up and drew off while in hand. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he’d nominate him to the Grade 1 Hopeful here Sept. 2, though the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Oct. 5 is more likely next. Noose, impressive winning his debut at Churchill June 28 when trapped behind horses before finding a path along the rail to shoot through and open up, was a bit slow into stride, lagged back while saving ground, was asked for run on the far turn to get closer, moved out into the lane and finished well, though he was never really a danger to the winner. The Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Sept. 14 is likely next. Tuggle, smart winner of his debut in the slop at Belmont June 21, broke sharply, dueled with Long Weekend to his outside, battled with that rival to the top of the lane, was getting the better of him when Green Light Go surged into contention and then came over and bumped him, but never lost his action and kept on gamely to hold third while staying on the rail, which may not have been the place to be on this day. Zyramid, smart winner here July 13, pressed the early pace from the inside, got shuffled back going to the far turn while staying toward the inside, just outside of Noose, moved out into the lane, tried to rally with that foe, was unable to do so and then weakened in the lane. Iberico, easy winner over maidens at Gulfstream July 6, pressed the pace from his outside post, raced just outside the eventual winner while staying wide but started to tire on the far turn and was unable to keep up.

Saratoga

Fourstardave (race 9)

COMMENT: Got Stormy looked super setting a course record at this trip here Aug. 3. Her connections wheeled her back in a week, stepped up to take on another top distaffer (Uni) and some top males and she proved more than up to the task, setting another course mark and punching her ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. She settled midpack along the inside as longshot Gidu shot out to a long early lead, bided her time there as Gidu was far in front setting a sizzling pace, started her run on the far turn, switched off the fence to go after leader Made You Look into the lane, blew past that rival to his outside, quickly burst clear and won impressively. Trainer Mark Casse said the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Sept. 14 is likely next, then the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Raging Bull, cutting back in distance after chasing the stablemate and top turfer in the land Bricks and Mortar, was away slowly to be last early, remained last going down the backstretch, moved up some to be just outside stablemate and favorite Uni going to the far turn, pitched wide on the turn to start his run, pitched extremely wide into the lane, hit his best stride once straightened away and while unable to get to the winner finished well to get second. The Woodbine Mile or Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Oct. 4 figure on his radar, though right now he seems to be a bit of a horse without a distance. Uni, favored off five straight wins, though all vs. distaffers, sat well back early, ahead of only stablemate Raging Bull, saved ground throughout, was asked to get going into the far turn, had to steady in traffic, remained between horses, found a seam and finished well between runners to just get nipped by her stablemate on the line. The Woodbine Mile, Shadwell Turf Mile vs. males or moving back in with distaffers in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 5 are options. March to the Arch, a rallying fifth in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple here July 12, sat well back from the start, just ahead of Raging Bull and Uni while saving ground, like them bided his time as Gidu set a suicidal pace, came with a smart run on the turn while cutting the corner, came out into the lane and finished well between horses to only miss second by a couple of heads.

Arlington
Beverly D. (race 9)

COMMENT: Sistercharlie’s return to action this year was delayed after a couple setbacks, but the reigning champion turf mare’s return was worth the wait. First she blasted top-class stablemates Rushing Fall and Homerique in the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga and then had little trouble defending her title here, winning easily and affirming herself one of the best turf distaffers of modern times. She sat back as stablemate Thais ran off to a clear lead setting a blistering pace, started to advance on the far turn, came with her run in the lane while widest of all, powered past a tiring Thais and eventual runner-up Awesometank to win easily, setting a course record in the process. She’s also the first two-time winner of this race. The Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Oct. 6 figures her bridge to defend her title in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2, according to trainer Chad Brown. Owner Peter Brant tossed out the idea of going in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf as he’d like to run against Enable. However, to run against her he’d likely have to ship to France for the Group 1 Arc as most reports have Enable retiring after her Arc defense. So, the Flower Bowl figures next. Awesometank, a English invader who was last seventh in a Group 2 July 13, showed some speed to sit second behind the pacesetter, came with a run in the lane, was taking over from the tiring pacesetter only to soon be overwhelmed by the eventual winner, but kept on well to be a clear second while no match for the winner. Competitionofideas, coming off three straight seconds in a Grade 2 and two Grade 3s, lagged back, just in front of the eventual winner, was then behind Sistercharlie on the far turn, still well back turning for home, tried to follow her winning stablemate in the lane, proved no match for that foe but kept on just well enough to hold third. Fleeting, a 3-year-old from the ever-potent Aidan O’Brien barn and coming off a strong rallying second in a Group 1 in Ireland, was far back early to be last after steadying sharply into the first turn when in tight along the rail, was still last turning for home, found her top gear in the lane once straightened to finish strongly between horses but was left with too much to do and was never really able to threaten.

Arlington
Secretariat (race 10)

COMMENT: Valid Point was impressive winning his first two starts but the $140,000 son of Scat Daddy was stepping up in class here. It didn’t matter. In fact, if anything he was more impressive as he stamped himself a potential new star for trainer Chad Brown. He broke a bit slowly and was content to sit last early in the mile race (run at this distance for the first time), remained at the back but with the field bunched wasn’t that far away, started to creep closer going into the far turn while wide, advanced under his own power while staying wide and in the clear to the top of the lane, was asked for run once straightened away and powered home to win well. Brown said he might be special enough to take on elders next in something like the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Sept. 14, where he would run into record-setting Fourstardave winner Got Stormy, among others. Van Beethoven, the much higher priced of the two Aidan O’Brien runners, sat at the back as well, ahead of only Valid Point while holding the fence, remained inside to the far turn, came off the rail to find clear sailing, found a seam, pitched out into the lane and finished smartly to get up for second, though he was never really a threat to the winner. The Last Zip, a sharp deadheat second in the Grade 3 American Derby here July 13, went right to the lead while on the fence, took heavy pressure from Crafty Daddy, remained locks in battle with that foe into the lane, was finally getting the better of that rival in midstretch only to have the winner and runner-up surge past in the final half-furlong. Crafty Daddy, the other part of that smart dead-heat second in the American Derby, pressed the pace from the start, dueling with The Last Zip, fully engaged that rival turning for home while to his outside, battled to midstretch and only relented some in the final half-furlong. Never No More, the better regarded of the O’Brien runners coming off two wins in Ireland including a Group 1, raced midpack inside of Fog of War, asked for run on the far turn while on the rail into the lane but was basically one-paced to the line and unable to threaten. Fog of War was eager and pulling between horses from the start, remained there not far off the pace, was asked into the lane between horses but never really mustered a run. Brown said the blinkers would come off for his next start. Faraway Kitten, winner of the aforementioned American Derby, stalked while wide, loomed a threat while wide turning for home but flattened out once passed by the eventual winner.

Arlington

Arlington Million (race 11)

COMMENT: Bricks and Mortar continued his amazing comeback season with another powerful victory here, possibly locking up champion turf horse honors in the process despite the date. The son of Giant’s Causeway, who missed 14 months due to injury and surgery, notched his sixth straight win in this comeback and his fourth Grade 1. He broke well, relaxed immediately to sit midpack along the rail as Bandua set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, moved closer to be just behind top-class rival Magic Wand, followed her into the lane, found a seam, burst through to the outside of Magic Wand and Bandua on the rail and powered past to win going away. This qualifies him for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, though trainer Chad Brown said he wasn’t sure if that 1 1/2-mile race or the shorter Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile would work better for this guy. That decision will surely color where they go next. Magic Wand, a thoroughly top-class European filly who was second to Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 26 and was coming off a poor outing on ground she hated in a Group 1 in England July 27, stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a big threat just behind leader Bandua into the lane, ranged up outside that rival only to have Bricks and Mortar pounce to her outside, fought on well and while no match for the winner was a good second. Considering how well she’s run in the U.S. another trip for a Breeders’ Cup race figures in the plans. Bandua broke sharply, went right to the lead, set a solid pace under pressure from Hunting Horn, to his outside and Catcho En Die wider out, still held the lead on the turn as those two fell away, battled back gamely on the rail when challenged by Magic Wand into the lane to his outside, had no answer when Bricks and Mortar blew past wider out and then couldn’t quite match Magic Wand in the final half-furlong in what was still a fine try to finish third. Robert Bruce, the defending champ, bided his time early along the rail, behind Bricks and Mortar, remained there much of the way, remained behind Bricks and Mortar to the far turn but instead of following the eventual winner pitched out wide turning for home, swerved wider out still into the lane, got going and finished with good energy but was unable to make up the needed ground. The difference in trips between him and the top three may have cost him third or even second, as the top three all saved ground while he surrendered it going very wide into the lane. Hunting Horn, fifth in a Group 1 in England July 27, broke well, pressed the issue from the start, was being asked for more going into the far turn, was under urging on the turn to try and keep up with leader Bandua as Magic Wand advanced to his inside but couldn’t keep up and gave way. He’s had a busy season and logged lots of mile and could be the way he tired is a sign he’s ready for a break.

Arlington
Pucker Up (race 12)

COMMENT: Just when you thought trainer Chad Brown’s day couldn’t get any better after winning the day’s three Grade 1 events, his Cafe Americano came through to capture this Grade 2. The $625,000 daughter of Medaglia d’Oro won her first two starts before finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. She cut back in distance here, got away from the best 3-year-old turf filly in the lane (Concrete Rose) and got back on track, posting the smart win. She sat well back as longshot Sky Freak set a decent pace under pressure from Indigo Gin, remained well back to the far turn, pitched wide on the turn, surged into contention into the lane, grabbed the lead before midstretch and drove clear. The Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont Sept. 7 could be next, though if that’s coming back too quickly they could await the Grade 2 Sands Point at this same distance there Oct. 12 or target the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland, also at this same trip on Oct. 12. Owner Peter Brant even mentioned he could see her as a potential Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf type – though he obviously already has champion Sistercharlie pointing for that. Princesa Carolina, a sharp second in the Hatoof here July 13, sat midpack from the start, crept closer going into the far turn, was in the mix into the lane, had no answer for the winner but kept on gamely to hold second. Art of Almost, third in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly against elders at Woodbine June 19, was last from the start, a bit behind the eventual winner, was still last turning for home, came with a smart run in the lane to nearly get second, though she was never a danger to the winner. Winter Sunset, second in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill June 15, stalked the pace from the start, loomed a threat into the lane but flattened out in the final furlong. Indigo Gin, winner of three of her last four including the aforementioned Hatoof over some of these here July 13, pressed the pace from the start, challenged for the lead into the lane with the eventual winner but couldn’t stay with that rival and tired some in the lane to end up sixth.

Del Mar
Best Pal (race 8)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when original 2-1 morning-line favorite Schrodinger scratched (fever). He’ll reportedly now point for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 2 should all go well. Collusion Illusion, a $300,000 son of Twirling Candy, came out running to win his debut here July 21 and stepped forward in this tougher spot to stay undefeated and possibly earn a shot at the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 2. He broke decently but was content to bide his time as Thanks Mr. Eidson and Raging Whiskey dueled through solid splits, crept closer on the far turn while wide, remained wide into the lane, moved up to challenge for the lead inside the eighth pole, subdued leader Thanks Mr. Eidson and edged clear. Wrecking Crew, winner of his debut here July 27, got away badly, veering inward from his rail slot to be at the back of the pack, remained there while saving ground, moved off the rail into the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished well for second. Fore Left, the 9-10 favorite off two wins to start his career including the Tremont at Belmont June 7, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain his bid while drifting out a bit in the final furlong, narrowly losing second. Thanks Mr. Eidson went right to the lead, took immediate heavy pressure from Raging Whiskey, dispatched with that foe into the lane, held a clear lead by the eighth pole but then weakened some in the final half-furlong.

Aug. 11

Emerald
Longacres Mile (race 7)

COMMENT: Law Abidin Citizen invaded from Southern California, moved back to dirt and saw it payoff as the son of Twirling Candy proved a game winner. He broke well, allowed favorite and Anyportinastorm to go past to the lead to set strong splits, sat inside just behind rival going into the backstretch, remained there to the far turn, switched out and moved up on that rival’s hip on the far turn, laid down the challenge into the lane outside that rival and battled gamely to the wire to narrowly prevail with Anyportinastorm to his inside with Restrainedvengeance to his outside. Anyportinastorm was always a good horse but has really blossomed since coming here as two romping wins sent him into this the heavy favorite. He was a bit reluctant to load but then broke smartly, got squeezed between horses, bulled his way through to take the early lead by the time they reached the first turn, set a brisk pace under pressure from Law Abidin Citizen to his outside while holding a narrow lead along the rail, battled back gamely when fully engaged by that rival into the lane, fought hard to the wire inside his two rivals and just missed in a fine try. He did everything right but came up just short. Restrainedvengeance, another Southern California raider who likes the winner was moving back to dirt, broke decently from his rail slot, bided his time a few lengths off the strong pace of Anyportinastorm while saving ground, came with a run into the lane as he moved outside Law Abidin Citizen with Anyportinastorm further inside on the rail and battled gamely to the wire to be a strong third, missing by just a head and a neck. Solid Wager, coming off a fourth in a stakes at Indiana Grand July 13, got away slowly after being bumped at the start lagged back, bided his time there, came with a steady run in the lane but was never really a danger to the top trio.

Del Mar
Rancho Bernardo Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: Danuska’s My Gal won two straight Grade 3s at Santa Anita this spring before setting the pace and fading to fourth in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos July 6. She got back to her Santa Anita form here, using her speed to post the mild upset. From her outside post she broke sharply, went to the lead, set a solid pace under pressure from Best of Me, held a narrow lead to the far turn, opened up into the lane and gamely kept to her task to keep favored Anonymity at bay in the final yards. The Grade 3 LA Woman at Santa Anita Oct. 5 figures next and should all go well there maybe a crack at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint there Nov. 2, though she still needs to find a few lengths before thinking about being competitive there. Anonymity, favored off a second in the Great Lady M., her first start in eight months, got a dream trip stalking in third, bided her time there, doggedly went after the eventual winner in the lane, closed the gap but couldn’t quite get to her while finishing well clear of the rest. The LA Woman figures next for her as well. Lady Ninja, stepping up into stakes ranks for the first time after winning three of her last four including last time out here July 19, was away slowly, sat well back, came with a smart run in the lane to pass rivals but was never really a threat to the top two. This shows she’s not out of her element vs. these. Best of Me, back from Emerald Downs in Washington where she won a stakes last time out June 23, broke well, dogged the eventual winner from the start, gamely kept after her to the top of the lane but then couldn’t keep pace and tired a bit in the lane.