Trip Notes for August 15-16: Adirondack, Arlington Million, Del Mar Oaks, and more...

Saturday, August 15

Saratoga - Adirondack (race 4)

COMMENT: Looks like top sire Tapit has yet another promising runner as his 2-year-old filly Just Wicked made it two wins in two dirt starts. She bided her time early as favored Tonasah set a solid pace, moved closer going down the backstretch, challenged that foe into the lane, got the better of that rival late and edged away. The Grade 1 Spinaway here Sept. 5 may be next. Tonasah, favored off a romping debut win at Belmont July 2, took pressure from Heartbreaker Girl and was soon taken on by Just Wicked, kept the lead to midstretch, and finished far clear of the rest. The Spinaway figures on her radar as well. Delicate Lady lagged back and came with a steady run.

Saratoga - Fourstardave (race 10)

COMMENT: Grand Arch was second to Seek Again in this race last year, and went one slot better here to get the Grade 2 win. He stalked in third as King Kreesa set a modest pace, moved closer to that foe turning for home, got the better of him into the lane and fended off hard-charging closers Ironicus and Seek Again. He set a course record. Ironicus, favored off three wins in his last four starts, was slow into stride to be last early, remained there to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane and finished strongly. Seek Again, the defending champ, sat back just in front of Ironicus, started his run in tandem with that rival and finished well to get third. King Kreesa, coming off two front-running wins at Belmont, set modest splits, battled back when hooked into the lane but wasn’t good enough. Mshawish, a Grade 1 winner at Gulfstream this winter and last seen finishing third behind a couple of Europe’s best in the Group 1 Dubai Turf March 28, bided his time, made a threatening run on the far turn but failed to sustain it. He may have needed this as it was his first start since Dubai.

Arlington - Pucker Up (race 6)

COMMENT: Miss Money moved back to turf and posted the upset. Coming off a sixth in a stakes in the slop at Indiana Downs July 17, she showed her old speed when back to turf here, sitting second behind Unbridled Courage, who quickly moved out to a clear early lead. Miss Money took command from that tiring rival on the far turn, was immediately taken on by Prado’s Sweet Ride, rebuffed that foe, but then had to fight hard to get to the line before hard-charging Return to Grace. Return to Grace lagged back early, moved closer into the lane, shifted out and bumped a couple times with American Mon Amie, but gathered herself and finished gamely. Prado’s Sweet Ride stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run. Miss Chatelaine, favored after facing division-best Lady Eli in her two starts this year, was last early, still well back turning for home, and could make only minimal headway in the lane.

Arlington - American St. Leger (race 7)

COMMENT: It was hardly a shock the Europeans dominated this race since it’s run at a distance rarely seen in the U.S. Lucky Speed, Group 1 placed in Germany last September before a layoff and a fourth in the Grade 2 Nijinsky at Woodbine last month, bided his time as Alpha Kitalpha set a modest pace. Lucky Speed swung out for room into the lane and reeled in Panama Hat. Panama Hat, coming off a 12-furlong win in Ireland, sat fourth, just in front of the eventual winner, surged to a clear lead by midstretch looking like the winner, but then couldn’t fend off Lucky Speed while ending up well clear of the rest. Hyper, the favorite, sat well back early, got pushed out wide into the lane while getting shuffled back but found his best stride to get third.

Arlington - Secretariat (race 8)

COMMENT: Highland Reel dominated here, giving trainer Aidan O’Brien his fourth win in this race. Coming off a Group 3 win in England, Highland Reel went right out to a clear early lead. He set a modest pace and shot away from his rivals. Closing Bell, fourth to Force the Pass in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, his first start against winners, showed plenty of promise as here in just his fourth start. He lagged back and came with a nice run along the inside to edge Force the Pass for second. Force the Pass, so impressive winning the Belmont Derby, lost all chance when he hopped in the air to get away last. He swung out for the stretch drive and finished smartly. Goldstream, previously unbeaten and basically untested in five start in Italy, stalked the pace inside, briefly looked a threat turning for home but couldn’t sustain his run. Rain started before this race but the course was still listed as firm.

Arlington - Beverly D. (race 9)

COMMENT: Watsdachances posted the upset on the disqualification of Secret Gesture, not only beating her more-fancied stablemate Stephanie’s Kitten, but some very highly regarded Euros including defending champ Euro Charline. Watsdachances lagged well back as favored Euro Charline moved out to a clear early lead, and came with a smart rally to get second behind Secret Gesture. Secret Gesture, however, drifted out in the lane, impeding the closing run of Stephanie’s Kitten. The stewards disqualified Secret Gesture and placed her behind Stephanie’s Kitten, which gave the win to Watsdachances. Stephanie’s Kitten sat well back, just in front of Watsdachances, moved in tandem with her, forced to steady when Secret Gesture came out into her path, costing her at least second. Both Watsdachances and Stephanie’s Kitten are trained by Chad Brown. Secret Gesture, fifth in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and coming off a fourth in a Group 1 in Ireland, sat second behind Euro Charline. She had no trouble moving past that rival in midstretch but drifted out late. Euro Charline seemed poised for a top try coming off a strong second in a Group 1 in England to Amazing Maria. She set modest splits, was still clearly on top by midstretch, but weakened once headed. She may prefer firmer ground and may not want to race on the lead, either. Wedding Vow, another highly touted Euro coming off a Group 1 second in England, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run. Steady rains turned the course to yielding for this race.

Arlington - Arlington Million (race 10)

COMMENT: Rain had stopped before this race, though the course was still listed as yielding. The Pizza Man scratched from the American St. Leger earlier on the card to go here instead, and he made that decision look brilliant by notching the biggest win of his career. His victory was part of a big race for the Americans, who took the top three prizes. Coming off a win in the Grade 3 Stars N Stripes here July 11, The Pizza Man lagged well back early as Shining Copper opened up a clear early lead while setting brisk splits. The Pizza Man steadily advanced, pitched wide into the lane and finished resolutely to edge fellow closer Big Blue Kitten. Big Blue Kitten, easy winner of the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth July 5, sat back just behind the eventual winner and rallied well. Shining Copper, fourth to Big Blue Kitten in the United Nations, battled back when hooked in midstretch and stayed on for third. Slumber, the favorite, was midpack early, lagged back, steadied hard going into the first turn, was then crowded and pushed to the inside on the far turn and was unable to recover. Triple Threat, last seen winning the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes June 7 before a setback forced him to miss the United Nations, was well back early but never made a move in a disappointing run. Maverick Wave, coming off a Group 3 win in England and the best-backed of the Euros, chased Shining Copper early but gave way readily and was vanned off.

Del Mar - Del Mar Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Sharla Rae found 1 1/4 miles at the Grade 1 level too much to handle when fifth in the American Oaks and seventh in the Belmont Oaks. However, she cut back in distance here, didn’t face quite the same power and took advantage, notching her first turf win and her first Grade 1 tally. She stalked as Paulina’s Love set a solid pace, moved closer on the far turn and into the lane, moved out for room once straightened away and continued to grind away to reel in Her Emmynency. Her Emmynency dogged pacesetter Paulina’s Love from the start, moved past that tiring rival into the lane, and battled back when challenged by Sharla Rae in the final half-furlong. Prize Exhibit, the heavy favorite off two big wins going a mile, lagged back as usual and finished decently, though she was never really a danger to the top pair. She might next go in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon vs. elders here Sept. 6 as a prep for the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland in October. Zipessa, easy winner of her two starts, stalked the pace but gave way readily to finish last of eight. Could be this was a bit too much too soon.

Sunday, Aug. 16

Saratoga - Saratoga Special (race 9)

COMMENT: Last year Keith Desormeaux unleased top juvenile male Texas Red. He appears to have a suitable follow-up this year as he shipped Exaggerator here from California and toppled some of the better juvenile males here. From his rail slot Exaggerator was slow into stride, moved closer while staying inside, had to wait a bit off heels, found room, moved in just behind favored Saratoga Mischief for the stretch run and outfinished that stubborn rival. He might take a shot at the Grade 1 Hopeful here closing day Sept. 7. Saratoga Mischief, heavily favored off a maiden win here last month, dogged John Q. Public early, got the better of that rival turning for home, moved out to a slight lead into the lane, battled back when hooked by the eventual winner and ended up well clear of the others. Hammers Vision, a winner of his turf sprint debut at Belmont last month, lagged back and finished decently.

Emerald - Longacres Mile (race 8)

COMMENT: Stryker Phd rallied from far back to win this in 2014 and he again utilized his strong late run to confirm his status as the top older horse in the Northwest. As is his custom he was well back early as Modern set fast early splits. He started to advance while wide as Alert Bay took the lead on the far turn, continued his strong run to roll past that foe and stayed on well to outkick Southern California raider Sammy Mandeville. His connections are reportedly thinking about the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland this fall. Sammy Mandeville was last early, started his run on the far turn while just behind the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate quite as quickly, angled out sharply into the lane and finished well but. Alert Bay stalked the pace, made a smart run to grab the lead turning for home but couldn’t finish with the top two. Noosito pressed the fast splits and did well to hang around for fifth.

Del Mar - Rancho Bernardo (race 4)

COMMENT: Taris seemed poised for a huge 2015 but was injured when running second to Sam’s Sister in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita last December. She made her much-anticipated return with a solid win here. She got a dream trip stalking pacesetter Wasted at Midnight through modest splits, had no trouble taking over from that rival into the lane and drew off to win comfortably. She might next go for the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of American at Keeneland in early October as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup. Baruta, coming off two wins including an easy victory on this track July 17, stalked in fourth and came with a steady run to get up for second. Uzziel pressed the pace, tried to go with the winner into the lane, was no match for that foe and just lost second in the final strides. Sam’s Sister, winner of the Grade 1 La Brea and the Grade 2 Santa Monica at Santa Anita over the winter, lagged back and never mustered a run. That makes four straight losses since the Santa Monica.