Trip Notes for August 12-13: Arlington Million, Beverly D., Fourstardave, Saratoga Special

August 12

Saratoga
Adirondack (race 4)

COMMENT: Pure Silver again used her speed to make it three wins in as many starts. She tossed her head at the start but still had the speed to be dueling on the lead from her rail slot. She set a strong pace under constant pressure, first from Di Maria and then from Limited View, but shot away into the lane and opened up a huge lead. She’s yet to be beaten to a margin call in her three starts. She looks like the real deal. The Grade 1 Spinaway here Sept. 2 could be next, according to her trainer, Todd Pletcher, who won this race for the fifth time. Southampton Way, coming off a maiden win here July 21 when wearing blinkers for the first time, stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane with a wide move, and stayed on well for the place. Wall of Compassion lagged back while wide, move inward some going into the far turn, further inward on the turn, shifted back out into the lane, and came with a steady run to get up for third. Stainless, also trained by Pletcher, stumbled badly at the start, nearly dumping her rider. She got back into stride and to her credit ran on for fourth. Sly Roxy, the second choice behind the winner after a debut win here July 27, sat off the pace while under a firm hold after racing up on horses’ heels. She moved inside going to the far turn, made a bit of headway, but flattened out in the lane.

Saratoga
Fourstardave (race 10)

COMMENT: World Approval cut back in distance after fading to fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont June 10, and it worked. He stalked in third as the filly Sassy Little Lila set a brisk pace under pressure from a rank Ballagh Rocks, went after the leaders on the far turn while three wide, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and went on to a clear win. He got help here with the yielding footing, giving him a course he loved and one for which runner-up Time Test is known for not enjoying. Trainer Mark Casse said the goal now is the Breeders’ Cup Mile and that World Approval might next go in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Sept. 16. Time Test sat just behind the winner between horses, moved up on the rail to get closer, but ended up right on Ballagh Rocks’s heels and was pinned there by World Approval. Time Test had to wait for World Approval to clear before coming off the rail turning for home, swung out, and finished well. The Woodbine Mile could be on his radar as well, or he could instead go in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch here Sept. 4. Ballagh Rocks was rank early inside Sassy Little Lila as the two volleyed up front early, checked and pulled back going into the backstretch, allowing Sassy Little Lila to take command. Ballagh Rocks switched outside that rival, came with threatening run into the lane, and was outfinished. Disco Partner, coming here off three straight romping wins at Belmont, sat not far behind Time Test, swung wide turning for home to make a bid, but was no match for the top three. He may be a cut below these. American Patriot, back in the U.S. (where he’s a Grade 1 winner) after running 11th in the Grade 1 Queen Anne at Ascot June 20, got pinched back hard at the start and never got involved.

Monmouth
Monmouth Oaks (race 10)

COMMENT: Teresa Z has apparently found her game. After easily beating first-level allowance foes at Penn July 8, she moved to a longer trip and easily won again. She was away slowly, bided her time toward the back, had to steady going into the backstretch, crept closer with a wide run going to the far turn, and ran down leader Overture inside the furlong pole. Sine Wave, a longshot, stalked the pace while inside, moved with the winner into the lane while holding the fence, and stayed on well to outdo Overture for second. Overture set a modest pace under pressure from Frank’s Folly, dispatched with that foe on the turn but was then taken on by Sine Wave. She rebuffed that foe for a while but tired a bit late to lose second. My Miss Tapit, the favorite off a fourth in the Grade 2 Mother Goose after two sprint wins at Gulfstream to start her career, bided her time from the start while staying inside, crept closer as the race progressed, but was never a factor.

Arlington
Secretariat (race 7)

COMMENT: Oscar Performance defeated some serious European challengers for this third Grade 1 win. Coming off wins in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge and Grade 1 Belmont Derby, Oscar Performance showed he doesn’t need the lead to perform. He sat just off pacesetting Sonic Boom, made his move on the far turn, got the better of Sonic Boom in the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment in the final furlong. His connections said they’re thinking about the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Sept. 30, though that would mean two big hurdles: first time vs. elders and first time going 1 1/2 miles. Taj Mahal, from the Ballydoyle/Aidan O’Brien juggernaut, was back in against peers after running ninth against elders in the Grade 1 Coral Eclipse in England July 8. He lagged back, steadily advanced to the far turn, and came with a run in the lane to get second. Afandem, a French raider who won his first three starts before finishing second in the Group 2 July 16, stalked with fellow European raider Permian, moved closer going to the far turn, tried to make a run in the lane, but wasn’t good enough. Sonic Boom, winner of the Grade 3 American Derby here July 8, faced much tougher here. He set the pace under pressure from the winner, battled back when hooked by that foe turning for home, and while stayed on well. Permian, who was generally considered the best of the Euros, was coming off a Group 2 win in England June 23 and a second when beaten a nose in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris in France July 14. He stalked the pace, seemed in a good spot but didn’t really respond when asked into the lane and broke down in his left fore at the wire. Sadly, he had to be euthanized.

Arlington
American St. Leger (race 9)

COMMENT: Postulation looks like a new horse. After four modest outings he romped in Delaware’s Cape Henlopen July 8. He brought that form here, flourishing at this long trip and easily winning again. He sat third as Crewman went out to a clear early lead through modest splits, moved closer while staying inside, went up to grab the lead under his own power going into the far turn, opened up into the lane, and had little trouble holding his advantage to the line. Taghleeb, fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap here July 8, remained well back to the far turn and came with a smart run for second. Keystoneforvictory, winner of the Arlington Handicap and the favorite, sat sixth early, moved up nicely to get a bead on Postulation on the turn, but couldn’t finish with the runner-up. Applicator chased early pacesetter Crewman, took the lead going down the backstretch, but gave way once headed.

Arlington
Beverly D. (race 10)

COMMENT: It was a South American display here as Dacita, a former hotshot in Chile and a Grade 1 winner in the U.S., gave trainer Chad Brown his fourth win in this race (and his third straight), while fellow South American Dona Bruja, the favorite, finished in a dead heat for second. Dacita was sixth in the Grade 2 New York June 9 when victimized by a very slow pace. Today, she sat midpack as Zipessa set a decent pace, was wide going to the far turn while just behind Dona Bruja, lugged in while making her run in the lane, but reeled in Dona Bruja and edged past. Her main goal is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 4, and Brown also has the likes of Lady Eli, Antonoe and today’s foes Grand Jete and Rainha Da Bateria as possible players there. Dona Bruja, easy winner of her two U.S. starts, both Grade 3’s, sat midpack and moved up easily to reach a contending spot turning for home. She moved to the lead as if ready to go on to victory, but couldn’t fend off the winner and had Grand Jete catch her to finish in a dead heat for the place. Grand Jete stalked the pace while inside, had to wait for room into the lane as she was poised to pounce, finally found a seam late, and came through with a strong run. Rainha Da Bateria was away slowly and remained last to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, remained far out in the middle of the track, and closed well. Hawksmoor stalked the pace, moved up eagerly down the backstretch to hound Zipessa, actually had her head in front by midstretch, but came up empty in the final furlong. Rain Goddess, the top Euro invader off Group 1 placings, broke decently from the outside post and managed to avoid getting hung out to dry on the first run. She seemed in a good spot stalking between horses, moved up with Dona Bruja into the lane, but had to check when in tight in midstretch and gave way.

Arlington
Arlington Million (race 11)

COMMENT: Beach Patrol made it quite a day for Chad Brown as he ran 1-2-4 in the Beverly D. and then captured race, where six lengths covered the entire field at the wire. Beach Patrol hadn’t won since taking the Grade 1 Secretariat here a year ago, but had run a number of good races at the top level. With new rider Joel Rosario he broke alertly and was pushed along early to get position dogging pacesetting longshot Oak Brook through solid splits. He hounded challenged for the lead at the top of the lane, looked in trouble when favored Deauville shot through an opening along the rail to grab the lead, but kept on fighting, and was able to reel in Deauville and get to the line before hard-charging European longshot Fanciful Angel to his outside. Fanciful Angel, who came here off some modest form in England, was reluctant to load and had to be blindfolded. He then moved nicely into the gate, broke decently, and bided his time toward the back while saving ground. He steadily advanced to the far turn and came with a strong run to just miss catching Beach Patrol in what clearly is a career-top effort. Deauville, the favorite off proven top-class form in Europe and having been a strong third in this race last year as a 3-year-old, bobbled a bit at the start but quickly got into stride. He stalked the pace while saving ground just behind the two leaders, had a lane open up right in front of him coming into the stretch, moved through to grab the lead, but tired a bit late to lose second and just hold third. This trip may be just a smidge beyond his best, at least at the top level. Enterprising lagged back, came with a strong run up the rail into the lane, had to steady when in tight, and just failed to catch Deauville for third. Ascend, back quickly after a fourth in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Bowling Green July 29, was slow into stride, seemed to content to lag at the back of the pack until turning for home, and came with a run between horses to end up just behind the top finishers. Mekhtaal, winner of the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan in France May 28 and a sixth in the Group 1 Prince of Wales at Ascot June 21, lagged toward the back after a slow start from the outside post. He remained quite wide, was asked for run going into the far turn, and made some progress. The Pizza Man, who won this race two years ago and was coming off a second in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes here July 8, showed more speed than usual, sitting midpack while out wide. He remained there to the top of the lane but then gave way, ending up last. He’s had a wonderful career but obviously these waters are too deep at this stage of the game.

Arlington
Pucker Up (race 12)

COMMENT: Fault, claimed for $50,000 off a win at Churchill May 3 and second in three subsequent starts, ran the race of her life and posted her first stakes win. She sat midpack saving ground as longshot Royalty Princess set a modest pace from the rail, angled out in midstretch, and finished strongly to just get up for the score. Journey Home, dropping off an eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks July 8, raced with the winner from the start, moved earlier than that foe and grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t fend her off. Lovely Bernadette, third behind Fault in the Ta Wee on the Indiana Grand turf July 20, sat just behind the top two and stayed on for third. Happy Mesa, looking to bounce back after fading badly to end up 12th in the Ta Wee July 20, broke slowly, was still well back turning for home while very wide, and was unable to make a dent.

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Del Mar
Best Pal (race 9)

COMMENT: Run Away may have stamped himself the West’s top 2-year-old male and the favorite for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity Sept. 4 with his third win in as many starts. Coming off a win in the Santa Anita Juvenile July 3, he pressed early pacesetter An Ocala Ten, got the better of him turning for home, opened up into the lane, and had little trouble keeping his rivals away. Dia de Pago, who rallied to win his debut at Gulfstream June 18, got squeezed back at the start and was last going to the far turn, but put in a strong rally for second. The Del Mar Futurity figures next for him as well. Fleetwood, second in his debut here July 22, lagged back, made a run into the lane, and finished evenly. Arawak, who won his debut by seven lengths at Belmont May 26 before finishing 12th in a Group 2 in England June 20, stalked the pace just outside the eventual winner but failed to muster a run. Serengeti, who beat maidens by 11 lengths at Santa Anita June 25, broke a bit slowly, bided his time, moved up nicely to loom a threat by the far turn, but came up empty.

August 13

Saratoga
Saratoga Special (race 8)

COMMENT: Copper Bullet blasted maidens at Churchill May 25 but then had trouble when second to Ten City in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor there June 30. Today, he got a clean trip and posted an impressive win. From his outside post he broke sharply and pressed a fast pace set by Mo Diddley and Barry Lee, moved closer on the far turn while wide and in the clear, came abreast of the two leaders coming into the lane, took command, and drew clear. The Grade 1 Hopeful here Sept. 4 may be next. Hollywood Start, who won his only start June 28 at Churchill, was last early, steadily advanced, came with a nice run into the lane, and ran on to be a clear second. Tempestad, who won his debut at Belmont May 18, was well back from the start as well, and got going late to just get up for third. Diamond Ops, winner at Gulfstream of his only two starts, stumbled at the start, stalked in fifth, pitched very wide into the lane, and never mustered a run. Barry Lee, favored off a win at Laurel last month, pressured Mo Diddley through strong splits but gave way in the lane.

Ellis Park
Groupie Doll (race 8)

COMMENT: Tiger Moth knocked heads with some of the division’s best since late winter and was coming off a stakes win at Indiana Downs. Turning back in distance for this race, she bided her time early as Put Da Blame On Me set a solid pace. Tiger Moth was still well back coming into the lane, swung out to make her run, and outfinished fellow closer Walkabout in the lane. Walkabout, fifth to Danzatrice in the Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows July 7, appreciated a slight cut-back in distance, too. She was just behind Tiger Moth early, seemed to have a slight edge on her rival when she split horses into the lane, but couldn’t quite outfinish her. Danzatrice, winner of the Iowa Distaff July 7, was just in front of the top two from the start, and got going late for third. Pat Da Blame On Me, the favorite off two straight front-running wins at Churchill at this distance, set solid splits while holding the rail and taking some pressure first from She Takes Heart and then from She Mabee Wild. She kept the lead to midstretch before succumbing in the final furlong.

Emerald
Longacres Mile (race 8)

COMMENT: Gold Rush Dancer, third in the Bertrando at this trip at Los Alamitos July 8, notched his first graded stakes win. He chased 82-1 early pacesetter Dedicated to You, assumed command after a half mile, opened up on the far turn, and didn’t have any worries thereafter. Mach One Rules, the local favorite and highweight coming off two straight stakes wins, sat midpack early while wide, steadily advanced, and ran down Dedicated to You to get second. Dedicated to You, seventh in this last year but dull in his only two starts here this year, rebounded to top form, only losing second in the final strides. Barkley, who’s been knocking heads with Mach One Rules the past 16 months or so, was well back early, angled out turning for home, and finished decently. Point Piper, winner of this race last year but winless in seven starts since, was far back early after a slow start. He made a decent run into the lane but flattened out. Stryker Phd, winner of this race two years ago but 0 for 5 this year and coming off a fifth to Mach One Rules in the Budweiser here June 18, was well back from the start. He was quite wide turning for home and made some headway to pass tired rivals.

Del Mar
Rancho Bernardo Handicap (race 6)

COMMENT: Skye Diamonds won for the seventh time in her last nine starts and establishing herself as the top sprinting distaffer out West. Coming off a win in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos July 8 over Grade 1 winner Constellation and last year’s distaff sprint champ Finest City, she put in another powerful performance here. She stalked in third as Rockport Babe set a solid pace under pressure from Constellation, moved closer turning for home while still inside and in traffic, finally found room, and reeled in Constellation to win. This makes her one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint here Nov. 3. Constellation, second in her last three, including the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland April 8 to top sprinter Paulassilverlining, did everything right but came up just a bit short. She dogged pacesetter Rockport Babe, took over from that foe turning for home, opened up by midstretch as if ready to go on to win, but couldn’t fend off the winner. Bendable, a winner of 4 of 6 including taking the Grade 3 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita June 18, bobbled at the start and sat last to the far turn. She came with a wide run into the lane and finished decently.