Trip Notes for August 26-27: Travers, Personal Ensign, Sword Dancer, and more

August 26

Saratoga
Personal Ensign (race 6)

COMMENT: Champion Songbird suffered just her second defeat in 15 starts, but it took a top-class foe in Forever Unbridled to make that happen. Forever Unbridled, coming off a romping win in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill June 17, her first start of the year, sat last early in the small field as heavy favorite Songbird got away with modest splits while setting the pace. Forever Unbridled came with a run into the lane and edged past despite the fact she wasn’t really being urged strongly in the final yards. This surely stamps her as one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, along with Stellar Wind and the vanquished Songbird – though owner Charles Fipke said they might take a look at facing males in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Either way she’ll reportedly train up to the Breeders’ Cup. Songbird went right out to a clear lead, seemed in complete control with a sizable advantage while setting modest splits, was still clear at the eighth pole, but then couldn’t fend off the winner. Some may say she’s not the same, but she lost by just a neck and this was just her third start of the year. Owner Rick Porter did say he would send her in to get a full physical evaluation, though trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said there’s nothing wrong with her and that in fact she came out of the race great. Eskenformoney stalked in third while inside, tried to make a run at Songbird into the lane, and flattened out in the lane. She held third over Going for Broke.

Saratoga
Ballerina (race 7)

COMMENT: By the Moon, third to Paulassilverlining in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss here July 26, went right out to the lead and was able to dictate the pace through dawdling splits (24.05, 47.81). She held a narrow lead into the lane over Highway Star and kept that rival at bay. This win was surely a function of the race shape but she’s still one to take very seriously come the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 4. Highway Star, making her first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont June 10, appreciated the distance cutback. She hounded By the Moon from the start and came up just a head short in a fine try. Carina Mia bided her time early, came with a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. She stayed on to finish third, well clear of the rest. Paulassilverlining, the favorite after two Grade 1 wins and a Grade 2 win in her three starts this season, stalked the slow pace but had no punch when it mattered. Curlin’s Approval, coming off a romping win in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream July 1, was a bit fractious prior to the start, pressed the pace while inside and under a firm hold, came out for room turning for home to briefly loom a threat, but then failed to muster a run. Could be she’s not as good away from her Gulfstream base, though she also didn’t get the best of trips.

Saratoga
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (race 8)

COMMENT: While Practical Joke can certainly compete with the best of his class at up to 1 1/8 miles, he confirmed here that he’s best as a one-turn horse. He bided his time well, steadily advanced while holding the rail as Takaful set a strong pace, came with a run while saving ground to challenge that foe into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, moved off the inside, and drew off to win easily. Takaful, coming off a romping win in an optional-claiming sprint here July 21, stumbled at the start but grabbed the lead. He was still clear into the lane, tried to fight back when challenged by Practical Joke in midstretch and stayed on well to be a clear second. American Anthem, romping winner of the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 10, was a bit slow into stride from his outside post and remained wide throughout. He came with a decent run but was never a danger to the top two. Coal Front, easy winner of his three starts, including the Grade 2 Amsterdam here July 29, chased the pace, was still a threat into the lane, but failed to muster a run.

:: Save up to 55¢/card on PPs with a 5-pack

Saratoga
Forego (race 9)

COMMENT: Drefong, last year’s sprint champion by virtue of wins in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop here a year ago and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 5, showed he was fully back on track after a disastrous return to action when he lost his rider in Del Mar’s Grade 1 Bing Crosby July 29. He broke sharply from the outside post, moved right to the lead, and got over to the rail by the far turn. He opened up into the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. While his quarter and half splits were actually slower than what 3-year-olds did about 20 minutes earlier in the H. Allen Jerkens, he came home strongly and his final time was faster than Practical Joke’s in the Jerkens. This stamps him the one to beat in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 4. Awesome Slew, second to Mind Your Biscuits in the Grade 2 Belmont Sprint July 8, sat well back early, came with a strong run while cutting the corner, and finished with good energy to be a clear second. Tom’s Ready was last going to the far turn, came with a run, but was never on the winner’s radar. Divining Rod stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and lost third in the final strides. Mind Your Biscuits, the second choice after two Grade 1/Group 1 wins and a Grade 2 win in his last four starts, stalked the pace, seemed in a good spot turning for home, but came up empty. Trainer Chad Summers had reported a couple weeks prior that Mind Your Biscuits wasn’t really training as well as he desired, but entered here after encouraging recent work. Apparently the initial signs were correct.

Saratoga
Sword Dancer (race 10)

COMMENT: Much of the attention went to the two European invaders Erupt and Idaho, but the American contingent did itself proud, led by a strong finish by Sadler’s Joy to punch his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Coming off a third in the Grade 2 Bowling Green here July 29, Sadler’s Joy broke very slowly, sitting last as longshot Frank Conversation set a slow pace. He remained at the back to midstretch, but then blasted home to get up in the final strides. The Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Oct 7 is likely next, and should all go well there, a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 4. Money Multiplier, a sharp winner of the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes July 30, his first start of the year, bided his time early in fifth, came with a sharp run to grab the lead inside the furlong pole, but couldn’t fend off the winner. The Joe Hirsch could be next for him as well. Bigger Picture, second in the Bowling Green, stalked in fourth, came with a wide run to be a big threat by midstetch, but couldn’t quite sustain his bid. Hunter O’Riley, winner of the Bowling Green, sat back with the eventual winner, rallied with that foe into deep stretch but was unable to maintain his rally. Erupt, coming off a ninth in a bog in a French Group 1 July 2, stalked in third, loomed a threat turning for home, but came up empty in a disappointing run. Idaho, favored off a Group 2 win and Group 1 third in England this summer, pressed the pace, moved up to challenge Frank Conversation for the lead going down the backstretch, was still locked in battle with that foe turning for home, but gave way. This marks his second try in North America and second time he was no factor in the lane, so could be he doesn’t fare well when shipping away from his European base.

Saratoga
Travers (race 11)

COMMENT: Last year trainer Bob Baffert unleashed Arrogate, and he dominated his rivals in front-running fashion. This wasn’t quite the same tour de force, but the Baffert-trained West Coast also wired his rivals. Coming off an easy win in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby July 15, he went right out to the lead while inside, was able to set a modest pace under some pressure from Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, dispatched with that rival turning for home, was confronted by Irap and Gunnevera in to the lane, but rebroke and drew clear for the easy win. The Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 23 or the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Oct. 7 could be next. Gunnevera, freshened after running seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Preakness, and then an easy winner of a stakes at Gulfstream Aug. 6, got bumped hard at the start to be well back early. He steadily advanced to the backstretch, came with a sharp wide run on the far turn to reach contention, loomed a big threat into the lane, and ended up well clear of the rest. He did bear in on third-place finisher Irap in the lane, forcing that runner to steady some and then swing out. There was an inquiry into the incident and the stewards allowed the result to stand. He’ll reportedly train up to the Grade 1 Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 4. Irap, easy winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby last month, stalked the pace, moved up to West Coast’s hip on the far turn, but then couldn’t stay with that rival, had to steady, and ended up a clear third. Tapwrit, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont, sat midpack, came with a threatening move turning for home, but flattened out. Irap and Tapwrit will both reportedly eye the Pennsylvania Derby. Good Samaritan, favored off a rallying win in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here July 29, was last going to the far turn while saving ground, swung out into the lane, and finished with good energy. McCraken, second in the Grade 1 Haskell, lagged back, crept closer by the far turn, but failed to make a bid. Cloud Computing, winner of the Grade 1 Preakness and fifth in the Jim Dandy, stalked the pace while inside but never got involved. The Pennsylvania Derby is also on his radar. Always Dreaming, the Kentucky Derby winner, chased West Coast from the start but was done by the far turn. He’ll reportedly get a break and full exam as his connections mull their next step with him. Girvin, winner of the Haskell, lagged back but never made a move.

Saratoga
Ballston Spa (race 12)

COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown had originally planned to keep Lady Eli in the barn and await the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Oct. 8, but he opted to send her out and she validated his confidence. She stalked the pace set by Dickinson while saving ground, was stuck behind rivals coming into the lane, but moved outside and found a seam, and ran down Dickinson. She’s the confirmed favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Brown said the Flower Bowl remains a target. Dickinson set a very comfortable pace, had plenty left when taken on by On Leave turning for home, but was no match for the winner in the final furlong in what was a fine try. Roca Rojo, making her first start since finishing seventh and last in the Just a Game, checked soon after the start to be last early, saved ground while being restrained by her rider, came off the inside turning for home, and fell a neck short of the runner-up. Antonoe, a troubled third to stablemate Lady Eli in the Diana, stalked the pace to the top of the lane but came up empty.

Monmouth
Iselin (race 7)

COMMENT: Just Call Kenny was no match for top-class Sharp Azteca when third to that foe in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup here July 30. But with no one like that lined up against him here he got an easy win. He sat third as Conquest Big E shot out to set the pace under pressure from Mr. Jordan, came with a run into the lane, and blew past the two tiring pacesetters. Eagle, the favorite in the small field after a stakes win at Indiana Downs July 15, bided his time in last, a few lengths behind Just Call Kenny, and got going late to get up for second. Mr. Jordan dogged pacesetter Conquest Big E through modest splits, and both came up empty when it mattered.

Del Mar
Pat O’Brien (race 9)

COMMENT: Giant Expectations, still eligible for a first-level allowance race, notched his first stakes win. He bided his time early as 3-1 favorite Moe Candy went out to set the pace from his rail slot, crept closer by the far turn, stayed wide for clear sailing, and swept past his rivals and win going away. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct. 7 could be next. Calculator, back to dirt and sprinting after a third in the grassy Wickerr at a mile here July 23, was away slowly and sat back early, made an early run on the far turn to reach contention, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t finish with the winner. Silent Bird, making his first start since a fourth in the Grade 1 Triple Bend at Santa Anita March 11, stalked the pace and kept to his task in the lane. Moe Candy broke a bit slowly before rushing up to take the lead, took pressure from Mr. Hinx through fast splits, and gave way once headed. Likely favorite Danzing Candy suffered an injury galloping the day before, necessitating his retirement.

August 27

Del Mar
Torrey Pines (race 6)

COMMENT: This marked the much-anticipated return of Paradise Woods, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks by 11 3/4 lengths April 8 but then ended up 11th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 5. But while Paradise Woods finished off the board, Munny Spunt finished second and was elevated to first by the stewards. Claimed for $25,000 at Santa Anita June 30, Munny Spunt was away slowly to be last early, steadily advanced while staying wide as Zapperkat set a modest pace, loomed a big threat to Zapperkat’s outside, got floated out as that rival drifted out and bumped her, and finished a head behind that rival. After an inquiry the stewards disqualified Zapperkat and placed her second. Zapperkat, off since an optional-claiming win at Santa Anita May 4, took some pressure from heavy favorite Paradise Woods down the backstretch, maintained a narrow advantage as Chocolate Coated challenged her on the far turn, battled back when taken on by Munny Spunt into the lane, drifted out, and held a narrow edge to the line. Bernina Star, who finished strongly from well back to win an optional-claiming sprint here July 29, was well back early and had to check going into the far turn. She got going in the lane and plugged along to get third. Paradise Woods stumbled at the start but still had the speed to get a nice pace-pressing trip, moved up nearly alongside Zapperkat going down the backstretch, but came under a ride to keep up turning for home and gave way.