Trip Notes for August 13-14: Arlington Million, Beverly D., Best Pal, Saratoga Special
Aug. 13
Arlington
American St. Leger (race 6)
COMMENT: On paper, Da Big Hoss appeared to hold all the aces as the top long-distance turf horse in America, coming off wins in the Grade 2 Elkhorn and Belmont Gold Cup. Well, that’s how it played out on the course, as the 5-year-old showed his affinity for this long-distance game with another handy win. He bided his time early as O’Prado Ole went out to a clear early lead, started to advance going to the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear when making his run, grabbed the lead into the lane, and edged clear. The Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 10, a race he won last year, figures next. Clondaw Warrior, an invader from Europe, where he last won a two-mile race in Ireland, lagged well back, didn’t accelerate as early or as quickly as the winner, but got going late while wide to get up for second. Wasir, another European invader who won going two miles in Germany two races back May 15, sat just behind O’Prado Ole, who set slow splits, moved up to challenge that tiring rival into the far turn, grabbed the lead, was soon confronted by the eventual winner, battled gamely to midstretch, but then weakened a bit, losing second in the final strides. O’Prado Ole, a sharp second in the Grade 3 Stars ‘N Stripes here July 9 (beaten a nose), veered in sharply at the start, was still able to move out to a clear early lead, set dawdling splits, was challenged going into the far turn, battled back briefly, but then gave way badly, finishing last. He was vanned off, so something may have gone amiss.
Arlington
Secretariat (race 7)
COMMENT: Beach Patrol wasn’t necessarily going to win last month’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby when third after a brutal trip, but he could have been closer. He made up for that here as he proved a game winner over the invading Long Island Sound. He stalked in third as longshot Scissors and Tape bounced out to a clear lead, setting modest splits, moved up alongside Long Island Sound, who took a narrow lead turning for home as Scissors and Tape fell away, and battled gamely for the length of the stretch to narrowly prevail. A race like the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in the fall, for 3-year-olds only, could be next. Long Island Sound, sixth in the Belmont Derby behind winning stablemate Deauville, fared better here as he came back from Ireland. He was second from the start behind Scissors and Tape, moved up to take the lead from that tiring foe turning for home, was immediately taken on by Beach Patrol, battled hard the rest of the way with that rival, but came up just a tad short (beaten a head). He returns to Ireland with the rest of the Aidan O’Brien contingent. American Patriot bided his time early, was asked for run while saving ground going down the backstretch, shifted out for room coming into the lane, and finished well to close the gap on the top two, but just couldn’t quite get to them. Surgical Strike sat sixth, made a brief threatening move turning for home, but flattened out. Cherry Wine, with a second in the Grade 1 Preakness as his top mark, returned to turf here but was away slowly to be last from the start, was still last turning for home, and only managed to beat the fading pacesetter.
Arlington
Beverly D. (race 8)
COMMENT: She had a brutal post (No. 13), but the talent edge Sea Calisi had over the rest of the field was significant and more than offset her draw as she showed that she belongs in any discussion of the best turf-distance distaffers in the land. Coming off a troubled second to top-class stablemate Dacita (who came back to win the Grade 1 Diana here), Sea Calisi broke well, but rider Florent Geroux took her well back, as is her normal running style, as she relaxed well off a modest pace of her stablemate and “rabbit,” Elusive Million. She bided her time, advanced as Zipessa took command to the far turn, got pushed out very wide on the far turn as she crept forward, was finally asked for everything once straightened away, surging past then-leader Zipessa while keeping the rallying Al’s Gal at bay in the final yards. She’s expected to make her next start in Belmont’s Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 8 despite the fact that Dacita is being pointed for that as well. It will be a bridge to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf there a month or so later, for which she’d be one of the favorites, regardless of which big Euros come over. Al’s Gal, second to Faufiler in the Grade 3 Modesty here July 9, the main local prep for this, ran splendidly in defeat. She was well back, behind Sea Calisi from the start, was actually last going to the far turn, swung out to make her run and finished with good energy to give the winner a scare. Zipessa, the smart winner of a Grade 3 at Parx on July 4, stalked the pace, moved up nicely to take command going to the far turn, looked very dangerous when opening up a big lead into the lane, but couldn’t counter the big rallies of the top two. Faufiler, the winner of the Modesty here, sat in midpack and made modest headway. Coolmore and Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien’s invading 3-year-olds who ran third and 13th in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 9, didn’t fare any better vs. elders here. Both were prominent from the start, stalking pacesetter Elusive Million. They both loomed ominously turning for home but gave way to finish 10th and 12th. They’ve reportedly shipped to Ashford Stud in Kentucky to regroup, though whether that means back in Europe or for a campaign here isn’t certain.
Arlington
Arlington Million (race 9)
COMMENT: Mondialiste is apparently back in top form. He won last year’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and was second to Tepin in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. However, then came three ugly efforts before a bounce-back second in a Group 2 in England last month. Well, he stepped up his game further, using his late run to get the win. He broke well and settled nicely in midpack as Take the Stand set the pace with modest splits, bided his time, swung out for clear sailing in the lane, and finished strongly to beat the cavalry charge. He’ll reportedly return to Ireland and target the Breeders’ Cup again, though whether it’s the Mile or the 1 1/2-mile Turf is to be decided. Kasaqui, coming off a nice win in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap here, showed that he’s not out of his element in this deep end of the pool as he bided his time, racing in tandem with the eventual winner while inside that foe, came off the rail with a smart run when finding a seam between horses in the lane, couldn’t outfinish the winner, but just edged sophomore Deauville for second. Deauville, facing elders after winning the Grade 1 Belmont Derby last month, then shipping back to Ireland and back to the U.S., ran quite well despite all the hurdles (including the worst of the draw with a far-outside post). He stalked in fourth from his outside slot, crept closer on the turn and into the lane, grabbed the lead from a tiring Take the Stand, finished gamely but couldn’t quite go with the top two, losing by just two necks. The Pizza Man, the defending champ but coming off a couple of so-so outings, sat well back, as usual, swung very wide into the lane, was still last coming to the furlong pole before getting going, and unleashed a smart run. It wasn’t enough to threaten, but he did split the field. While he ran well, at this stage of the game, this level may be a smidge beyond him. World Approval, favored off his win in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth last month, stalked pacesetter Take the Stand, loomed a big threat turning for home, but then gave way. Tryster, the second choice off Group 1 work in Dubai and England, was well back early (in fact, he was last), as expected, advanced some down the backstretch, but then came up empty. Wake Forest, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War and third in the United Nations, lagged back and never made a move in an inexplicably dull run. Dubai Sky was scratched after refusing to be reshod.
Arlington
Pucker Up (race 10)
COMMENT: Noble Beauty found the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks waters too deep last month (ran eighth), but this class drop did the trick, as she gave rider Geroux his fifth win on the card (four of them stakes) and trainer Brown his third stakes win on the card – but she needed some help from the stewards, who disqualified original winner Try Your Luck. Noble Beauty lagged well back as Moms Choice set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, moved very wide to make her run into the lane and finished strongly only to come up a nose short of Try Your Luck, who drifted out, carrying Auntie Joy with her, which got her disqualified and placed third behind Auntie Joy. Noble Beauty could target a race like the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in the fall, though there she likely would again encounter the likes of Catch a Glimpse, Time and Motion, Mokat, etc. Auntie Joy, who won Churchill’s Grade 3 Regret on June 18 (with Noble Beauty second) and was then fifth in the Belmont Oaks, sat in midpack, swung out turning for home, came with a strong run into the lane only to get carried out by a drifting out then-leader Try Your Luck, finishing third, just a head behind Noble Beauty. She was moved up to second via the disqualification. Try Your Luck, third to Auntie Joy and Noble Beauty in the Regret and third in a stakes at Indiana Grand on July 20, stalked in third, came with her run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but drifted out, taking Auntie Joy with her before crossing the wire first. After an inquiry, she was disqualified and placed third. Nawlins Kitty, who finished first in her first two starts (was disqualified to eighth in a stakes at Indiana Grand on July 20), lagged back, remained there to the far turn, and came with a decent run to get fourth.
Del Mar
Best Pal (race 8)
COMMENT: Klimt cost $435,000 at auction, and after a big maiden win at Santa Anita on July 10 and then a big win here, it looks like money well spent. The son of Quality Road broke a half-step slowly but still had the speed to dog pacesetter Big League, moved closer to that foe turning for home, challenged him into the lane, got the better of him by midstretch, and drew away to win comfortably. This gave trainer Bob Baffert his eighth win in this race. The Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity here Sept. 5 is likely next, though there he’ll run into dazzling meet winners Catching Aces and Straight Fire. He’s a promising candidate for the future, as he’s bred to go longer. Big League, a strong winner of his debut here July 30, bounced right out to the lead, took some pressure from Klimt while setting a solid pace, battled back when hooked by that foe into the lane, but finally relented as he was unable to keep pace in the final furlong while finishing well clear of the rest. The Del Mar Futurity could be next for him as well. Thirstforlife, a romping winner over maidens at Churchill Downs on June 4, stalked the pace just behind the top pair, angled in for the stretch run, kept to his task, but was no threat to the top two.
Aug. 14
Saratoga
Saratoga Special (race 9)
COMMENT: Another example of how pace makes the race. Gunnevera rallied from far back to beat maidens at Gulfstream on July 16. The son of Dialed In, who ran the same way, got the right pace again and the right trip to take advantage as he stepped up to beat winners here. He broke slowly in the field of five to be last early, remained there as Get Lit N Get Wild set a hot pace under pressure, swung out into the lane and powered home to easily reel in clear leader Recruiting Ready in the final half-furlong to win. The Grade 1 Hopeful here Sept. 5 could be next. Recruiting Ready, the overwhelming favorite off a monster debut win at Pimlico on May 28 and a good second in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs on July 2, went right out to press the pace from his outside post, veered in going to the far turn, forcing Tip Tap Tapizar into Sonic Mule, opened a clear lead into the lane, but couldn’t fend off the winner. He was disqualified from second to fourth for his antics going into the far turn. Tip Tap Tapizar was just off the pace early, moved closer going to the far turn, had to steady hard when waylaid by a veering-in Recruiting Ready, was able to get straightened out and going again, but the race was lost there as, while he ran on for third, he was no factor (beaten 15 lengths).
Emerald
Longacres Mile (race 8)
COMMENT: Point Piper had been knocking heads with some of the best horses in the land (Dortmund, California Chrome, Melatonin, Effinex). Freshened since running fourth in the Grade 2 Californian at Santa Anita in May, that plus the class drop did the trick as he powered home to win easily, setting a track mark. He bided his time early as favorite O B Harbor shot out to a clear lead while setting sizzling splits, remained well back to the far turn, drifted out some in the lane while hitting high gear, and finished strongly to grab the lead inside the furlong pole and win going away. He’d been racing longer, so maybe this was a sign that a race like the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile would play well for him. Cyrus Alexander gave trainer Jerry Hollendorfer a one-two finish as the son of Medaglia d’Oro, who cost $1.7 million at auction and was coming off a disappointing seventh in the Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows on July 2, sat back, basically racing in tandem with his winning stablemate, made an earlier move to be second on the far turn, was no match for the winner when that guy went surging past, but stayed on gamely to be second. O B Harbor, the top local hope and the favorite after winning four straight this year (the last three being stakes), shot out to a clear lead, set strong splits, was no match for the winner when that guy came at him in midstretch, but stayed on decently to hold third. He’s still the best local horse – it’s just that the two who beat him are used to even deeper water. Alert Bay stalked in midpack, angled out turning for home, and ran on evenly. Stryker Phd, the winner of this race the past two years but coming off a modest fourth when well beaten by O B Harbor (seven lengths) in a stakes here July 17, lagged back, just behind the eventual one-two finishers, tried to rally with them while wide on the turn and into the lane, but proved no match as he split the field.