Trip Notes for August 16-17: Alabama, Beverly D., Arlington Million, Iselin and more...

Saturday, August 16

Saratoga - Lake Placid (race 3)

COMMENT: Field was reduced to four after scratches, but that doesn’t take away from the continued ascent of Crown Queen. The $1.6 million half-sister to two-time champion Royal Delta has come into her own, notching her third straight win and her first stakes win. All her work has come on turf, and here she dogged pacesetter Duff One through slow splits, appeared in a bit of trouble when losing ground to that runner going into the far turn, was asked for run but appeared to be spinning her wheels, only to find her best stride in the lane to outkick her three rivals. Duff One set the pace, had a clear lead turning for home, still held a narrow lead in midstretch, briefly lost the lead when Xcellence put her head in front but gamely kept to her task to recapture second. Xcellence moved to the rail while stalking, came with a nice run into the lane, looked as though she might win when she took the lead at about the sixteenth pole but couldn’t sustain her run. Minorette, so impressive in winning the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 5, sat last early in the small field, gamely chased the other three through the lane but just couldn’t get on even terms. The slowish pace may have been her undoing, as she was chasing fresh horses in the lane.

Saratoga - Alabama (race 10)

COMMENT: Stopchargingmaria romped in last month’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks here, and she validated that win and her love of distance with another stellar performance. She stalked the modest pace set by Size, went up to challenge for the lead on the far turn, gained a narrow lead as that foe tired but was immediately challenged by Miss Besilu into the lane, dispatched with that rival only to then be challenged by Joint Return in the final half-furlong and gamely prevailed. The Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx will reportedly be next, and there she’ll run into division leader Untapable and top-class filly Sweet Reason in what may be the race that decides the division crown – though that certainly still sits firmly on Untapable’s brow. Joint Return sat well back early, came with a smart run while saving ground on the far turn, swung out into the lane and finished well but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Miss Besilu stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run. Unbridled Forever lagged back and never made a move in a disappointing effort. For a filly who looked destined to make noise in the top distance races for 3-year-old fillies this year, she’s been a disappointment.

Monmouth - Jersey Shore (race 11)

COMMENT: Prudhoe Bay appreciated a freshening and a return to dirt as the son of Songandaprayer notched his third stakes win and first graded stakes win. He was a sharp second in a turf sprint here June 29, but after being freshened and returned to dirt here, he broke sharply from his rail draw, dueled with Debt Ceiling, who was to his immediate right, was joined in the duel by Favorite Tale, kept to his task along the inside, grabbed command into the lane and gamely persevered to outfinish Favorite Tale. The latter pressed the early pace, eagerly moved up to challenge going to the far turn, doggedly battled with Prudhoe Bay as Debt Ceiling fell away but couldn’t quite outslug that rival. Glacken Too bided his time, came with a threatening, wide run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it enough to challenge the top two in the final furlong. Debt Ceiling dueled early between horses but paid the price as he weakened to finish last.

Arlington Park - Secretariat (race 8)

COMMENT: Adelaide likely should have won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby as he took the lead, idled late and was caught by Mr Speaker. He made amends for that by proving much the best here, notching his first Grade 1 win and making him 6 for 6 finishing in the exacta. After his good Belmont Derby run, he returned to Ireland but returned here for this and was more than ready, as he stalked in third as Tourist ran off to a clear lead, came with his run into the lane, pushed past a stubborn Tourist and drew clear to win handily, though it was worrisome he drifted out significantly through the lane. He has some new ownership now and reportedly will head for Australia to continue his career. He figures to make noise Down Under. Tourist, who came into this off three straight wins, including a smashing win in the Sir Cat at Saratoga on July 18, again used his speed. He bounced out to a clear lead through brisk splits, still had the lead turning for home, battled back when hooked by the impressive winner and, while no match for that foe, stayed on nicely to be a clear second. He’s surely the best 3-year-old turf distance horse east of the Mississippi (Enterprising out West has a say as to who’s top dog nationally). Sheldon, fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby, helped validate that form as he was just behind the eventual winner from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly or as strongly as that rival but ran on well to get third. Global View, seventh in the Belmont Derby, further flattered that race as he lagged back and made some headway, though he was never a threat. Highball, third in the American Derby on July 12, sat back and was unable to get into the game. Divine Oath, the winner of the Grade 3 American Derby, was last from the start and never got involved. This group was just a bit too tough for those two.

Arlington Park - Beverly D. (race 9)

COMMENT: Euro Charline struck another blow for the Euros as she got a dream ride by Ryan Moore and proved best, making her the 12th Euro to win this race in the last 13 runnings. She’s also the first 3-year-old. She sat in midpack early while getting to the rail to save ground. She bided her time there, moved smartly when asked for some run turning for home, swung out, found room and finished smartly to get the win. Trainer Botti has been superb picking his spots to invade here (3 for his last 6, with one second). Not sure if the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf is on her radar, but the immediate plan reportedly is to stay in the United States (in Todd Pletcher’s care) and point for Keeneland’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II in the fall. Obviously, off this, she’d be a huge threat there, but regardless of that outcome, she may not go to the Breeders’ Cup, as her connections noted that she would have to be supplemented, and it would be coming back fairly quickly (three weeks). A race like the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free in March could be a target, and there she’d face top competition, including males. Stephanie’s Kitten did nothing wrong in defeat. She lagged well back, as is customary for her, remained well back to the far turn while saving ground, began her run between horses coming into the lane and finished well but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Just The Judge, coming out of a strong Group 1 in Ireland, stalked the pace while saving ground, moved out into the lane, finished decently but wasn’t a match for the top 2. La Tia did the local contingent proud. She was fifth in this last year and went one spot better here, as she went right to the lead, opened up a nice margin into the lane as if she were on her way to an upset but was unable to fend off the top three in the final half-furlong. Somali Lemonade, so good this year since getting blinkers (won the Grade 1 Diana last time out), stalked the pace, was a threat turning for home but didn’t have the needed punch. This distance and a top-level Grade 1 may be a bit beyond her. Emollient sat midpack and gave way. She just doesn’t look nearly as sharp as she was least year or even earlier this year. Alterite, washed out and antsy in the post parade, lagged back and fell apart in a very disappointing run. Besides her pre-race antics, she had surgery to remove a knee chip after her good third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, and maybe she’s not the same gal.

Arlington Park - Arlington Million (race 10)

COMMENT: Hardest Core, coming off two big wins at Parx and Delaware but diving into the deepest end of the pool, posts the upset, defeating some of the world’s top grass horses, including last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, Magician, and this race’s defending champ, Real Solution. He lagged back early while saving ground, steadily advanced, kicked out into the lane and came home resolutely to score. He’s now won four straight and five of his last six. Magician did nothing wrong in defeat, as he chased pacesetter Side Glance from the start, moved up smartly to challenge that rival into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch and appeared on his way to victory, only to have the winner go storming past to his outside. Since he seems quite comfortable with American racing, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be pointed for a defense of his Breeders’ Cup Turf title at Santa Anita later this year. Side Glance, third in this last year, filled that slot again as he set a modest pace, tried to battle back when hooked by Magician into the lane, was no match for the top two but stayed on well to be a clear third. Up With the Birds, last year’s Canadian Horse of the Year coming off a big Grade 2 turf win at Woodbine last month, lagged back while saving ground, angled out into the lane and finished decently but was never really a threat. Smoking Sun was well back from the start and never made a move. The slowish pace played against him, and losing a shoe couldn’t have helped, either. Real Solution seemed in a good spot stalking the pace but gave way readily turning for home to end up last in a very disappointing effort. Maybe something went awry.

Del Mar - Del Mar Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Personal Diary was a sharp third (moved up to second via disqualification) in Churchill’s Grade 3 Regret on June 14 but was then only second against optional claimers here July 27. However, that run obviously set her up for a top try, as she posted the upset here. She sat last early as My Conquestadory surprisingly set a brisk pace. She bided her time at the back of the pack, was still there turning for home but blasted home to grab the lead late and opened up to win easily. Stellaris sat midpack, came with a smart, threatening run turning for home, was very wide into the lane, got shuffled back but came on smartly to get second. My Conquestadory bounced right out to set the pace, set modest splits, battled back when hooked into the lane first by favorite Sea Queen and then by the top two but couldn’t stay with those two in the final furlong. She apparently isn’t quite as good as first thought, as she was in control of this but came up short. Sea Queen chased My Conquestadory from the start, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, looked like the winner when she grabbed the lead in midstretch but just as quickly died on her run and was unable to sustain her bid.

Sunday, August 17

Saratoga - Sword Dancer Invitational (race 10)

COMMENT: Main Sequence came from Europe, hadn’t won in more than two years, and promptly took the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth. He backed that up with another fine effort here, notching a second straight Grade 1 victory. He broke poorly to get away last, remained well back for much of the contest, came out into the lane and powered home to just get up for the win. Imagining went right to the lead, set modest splits, kept his rivals at bay through the lane until the very last jump, when nipped by the winner. The U.S. male turf distance division is a mish-mash. Twilight Dancer chased Imagining from the start, doggedly kept after him but just couldn’t get to him. Amira’s Prince stalked the pace but was fairly one-paced. He was lame after the finish and had to be vanned off.

Monmouth - Philip H. Iselin (race 10)

COMMENT: Balance of Power made it a big weekend for Delaware raiders (Hardest Core won the Arlington Million). Coming off a sharp second in a stakes there July 5, the son of champion sprinter Silver Train lagged back in last in the small field from the start, bided his time there until the far turn, when he commenced his run, which carried him past his rivals to get up in the final few strides. Pants On Fire stalked the pace, made a strong run to the lead into the lane, opened up as if on his way to victory but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Valid went right to the lead, took pressure from Vegas No Show, dispatched with that rival turning for home but couldn’t resist the move by Pants On Fire into the lane and then the big finish of the eventual winner.

Del Mar - Rancho Bernardo Handicap (race 4)

COMMENT: Not that we needed proof, but there’s no doubt now that Judy the Beauty is the top sprinting distaffer on synthetic footing, as she easily notched her sixth win in seven synthetic-track starts, the lone loss coming to two-time champion Groupie Doll. In a field reduced to just four after scratches, she bided her time from her rail post, stalking in third as Amaranth set a strong pace. She bided her time there, swung out into the lane, surged to take command and drew off to win easily. She was second in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and that’s her primary target again. Madame Cactus, making her first start of the year, sat last from the start behind the eventual winner, was still last coming into the lane but put in a strong rally along the inside to get the place. Reneesgotzip, the defending champ and favorite despite having been inactive since last Nov. 2 (coming off knee surgery), dogged Amaranth from the start, moved up to challenge into the lane but was unable to sustain her bid. She likely needed this as she’s surely capable of better. Her main fall target is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint vs. males, a race in which she finished third and second the last two years.