Trip Notes for August 27-28: Travers, Sword Dancer, Personal Ensign

Aug. 27

Saratoga

Personal Ensign (race 6)

COMMENT: Cavorting won her second straight Grade 1 and confirmed she is at the top of the East Coast older distaff heap. Coming off an easy win over Forever Unbridled in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont June 11, she bided her time early at the back of the five-horse field as I’m a Chatterbox set a slow pace. Cavorting remained behind the others turning for home, and came with a strong run on the outside to roll past her rivals and outfinish Curalina and Forever Unbridled. Curalina dogged I’m a Chatterbox from the start, and was taking over from that tiring rival in deep stretch when the winner surged past. Forever Unbridled, second to Cavorting in the Phipps, stalked in third, moved closer to challenge turning for home, was right alongside Curalina in midstretch, but was unable to get past. I’m a Chatterbox set a slow pace while on the rail, still had the lead at the eighth pole, but then weakened a bit.

Saratoga

Ballerina (race 7)

COMMENT: Haveyougoneaway continued her ascent, notching her first Grade 1 win. She was an easy winner over New York-breds at Belmont July 3, then edged Paulassilverlining to win the Grade 2 Honorable Miss here July 27. Today, Haveyougoneaway sat midpack, swung wide on the far turn to make her run, and finished well to reel in the tiring leaders. This was her seventh win in her last 10 starts. By the Moon, winner of the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses at Belmont at Belmont June 25, stalked the pace just in front of Haveyougoneaway while to her inside, made her move in tandem with that foe turning for home, had to move to the inside for clear sailing, and couldn’t finish with the winner. Carina Mia, a 3-year-old who shortened up to face elders for the first time after finishing second to Songbird in the Grade 1 CCA Oaks here July 24, dueled early with Paulassilverlining through modest splits, got the better of her in the lane, but drifted out and tired. Wavell Avenue, last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner and impressive victor of the Shine Again here Aug. 3, was hindered at the start when Sarah Sis ducked out. She ended up toward the back, moved inside, tried to make a run on the turn while cutting the corner, but was unable to get involved. Sheer Drama, fifth in the Grade 1 Phipps at Belmont June 11, sat just behind the eventual one-two finishers but never mustered a run. She won this last year so the distance isn’t an issue. She may have lost a step or two. Many of these figure to go at it again in Belmont’s Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Oct. 1.

Saratoga

King’s Bishop (race 8)

COMMENT: Drefong had shown major speed and potential out West and he continued his ascent here with a handy win. The race was basically over after the first quarter-mile, as Drefong shot right out to a clear lead while able to go a first quarter in a slow 23.11. He held a narrow lead over pace-pressing Noholdingback Bear to the far turn, but had plenty in reserve to open up into the lane. While he’s by distance horse and champion Gio Ponti, it looks like he’s a top sprinter and the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint figures on his radar. Economic Model, second to Fish Trappe Road in the Grade 3 Dwyer at a mile at Belmont July 9, sat midpack, came wide into the lane to make his run, and closed for second. Noholdingback Bear pressed the winner from the start, moved closer going to the far turn, couldn’t keep up when Drefong hit the gas into the lane, but stayed on for third. Summer Revolution, romping winner of his two starts but stepping well up in class here, stalked in third after an awkward start, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and narrowly missed getting third. Fish Trappe Road, winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer at a mile at Belmont July 9, stalked the pace, tried to move closer into the lane but flattened out. Tom’s Ready, freshened since winning the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at this trip on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11, was last, as expected, pitched very wide turning for home and was unable to get involved. Surely the slow pace played against him. Mohaymen, once considered among the elite of this class, lagged back and never made a move.

Saratoga

Forego (race 9)

COMMENT: A. P. Indian confirmed he’s the East’s top sprinter as he notched his fourth straight victory. Coming off wins in the Grade 3 Belmont Sprint and the Grade 1 Vanderbilt here, he pressed early pacesetter Chief Lion though solid splits, had no trouble putting away that rival on the turn while still not being asked, then opened up a big lead into the lane through six furlongs in 1:08.80. While runner-up Tamarkuz cut into that gap, the issue had already been put to bed. Tamarkuz, sixth in this race last year and cutting back in distance after finishing ninth in the Grade 1 Met Mile, lagged well back, and came with a smart run between horses in the lane. Stallwalkin’ Dude, winner of the Tale of the Cat here Aug. 12, was midpack early, made a run at the eventual winner on the far turn and into the lane, and flattened out in the final furlong. Limousine Liberal pressed the early pace, was still in stalking position turning into the lane but then weakened in the final furlong. Marking scratched.

Saratoga

Sword Dancer (race 10)

COMMENT: Flintshire overcame a slow pace and traffic to romp in the Grade 2 Bowling Green here July 30. This time he again overcome traffic. He sat last early as Roman Approval went out to the lead before being joined by Flintshire’s stablemate and “rabbit” Inordinate, who blew the start, had to be rushed up, and set a very strong pace. Flintshire started to advance along the rail, but found himself in a box and looking for room, which materialized when his tiring stablemate came off the rail, giving him a lane. Flintshire shot through and that was that. Money Multiplier gave trainer Chad Brown the exacta. Second in consecutive Grade 1’s this spring and summer before winning a strong optional claimer here Aug. 5, he bided his time midpack. He moved into contention on the far turn, came with a run in the lane, and got yet another second in a Grade 1. Twilight Eclipse, who had finished third twice and second once in three prior tries in this race, sat back with the winner and tried to keep that rival boxed in along the rail. Twilight Eclipse made his run in the lane as Flintshire shot through an opening on the fence, was no match for Flintshire, and couldn’t finish with the runner-up. Grand Tito, second in the Bowling Green, stalked in fourth, made a nice run to grab the lead turning for home, but was overwhelmed by the top three.

Saratoga

Travers (race 11)

COMMENT: There’s a new kid in town as Arrogate put up a dominating performance in his first stakes effort, romping home by over 13 lengths and setting a track record on a day the track wasn’t playing particularly fast. A son of Unbridled’s Song, Arrogate broke sharply and was urged by rider Mike Smith to compete for the lead. By the clubhouse turn he was narrowly in front of stablemate American Freedom with Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Laoban on the outside. He held a narrow lead through modest splits with American Freedom still close and Gun Runner and Destin just in behind, was asked for run once into the lane, and drew off. American Freedom sat on Arrogate’s hip throughout, tried to go after him into the lane, stayed on to be second. Gun Runner was just in behind the first flight, moved closer on the turn, had to check turning for home, got going again, and ran on well for third. Gift Box sat midpack, came between horses on the turn and into the lane, and finished decently. Creator, winner of the Belmont, lagged well back and could make only modest headway. Exaggerator, last seen winning the Grade 1 Haskell in the slop at Monmouth July 31, was slow into stride to be last early, was still well back going to the far turn, swung very wide on the turn, made some progress, but then gave way and was eased. This may confirm that he’s best on wet going.

Saratoga

Ballston Spa (race 12)

COMMENT: Lady Eli, unbeaten and making her first start since a near-fatal bout with laminitis in both front feet last year, came back to run well but had things spoiled by talented longshot Strike Charmer. Strike Charmer was last early as Sympathy carved a brisk pace, remained last while saving ground to the far turn, moved outside into the lane, and finished strongly to go past four battling rivals. Lady Eli, making her first start since winning the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in July 2015, sat fifth early, moved closer on the turn, came with a run to grab the lead by midstretch, but was unable to fend off Strike Charmer in the final half-furlong. She had every right to be a little rusty and could well move forward. Sentiero Italia, a multiple Grade 2 winner last year and making just her second start of this year, stalked the pace while saving ground, came off the inside to make her run into the lane, was right up alongside Lady Eli but couldn’t get past her. Onus, sixth in the Grade 1 Diana here July 23, usually shows speed but here she lagged back, just in front of the eventual winner. Onus moved to the inside to make her run in the lane, and ran on well. Miss Temple City, fourth (beaten just a neck) in the Grade 1 Diana here July 23, stalked the pace, came with her run to grab the lead into the lane, was soon tackled on both sides by other challengers and was pinched in between horses and forced to steady late.

Monmouth

Philip H. Iselin (race 11)

COMMENT: Baccelo was claimed for $62,500 off a win at Santa Anita June 10, came back to win again in the slop at Saratoga July 31, stepped up in class here, and became a Grade 3 winner. He stalked pacesetter Mr. Jordan through modest splits, was asked to challenge Mr. Jordan into the lane, got the better of him by midstretch, but did drift in some, forcing Mr. Jordan to check and switch to the outside. Baccelo had to survive an inquiry and claim of foul. Mr. Jordan, coming off thirds in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile and Grade 2 Monmouth Cup, set modest splits under minimal pressure, battled back when hooked by Baccelo into the lane, and ended up well clear of the rest. Watershed, winner of a tough optional claimer at Saratoga July 25, was last early, still well back turning for home, and came with a run to get third. Cowboy Rhythm, romping winner of an optional claimer in the slop here July 31, stalked the pace while saving ground but never mustered the necessary run.

Del Mar

Pat O’Brien (race 3)

COMMENT: With two of the original five entrants scratched, this turned into little more than a paid workout for Mashochistic. Coming off a romping win at Santa Anita July 8, his first start since being injured in last fall’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland, he bounced out to a clear lead, set a decent pace under his own energy, put the race away into the lane, and cruised home to win under wraps. Vyjack, racing for new connections after some good work as a turf miler back East, was last of the trio to the far turn before producing a nice rally. Indexical, a well-beaten third by Masochistic July 8 and second to Lord Nelson in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby here July 31, chased the winner from the start and weakened.

Aug. 28

Del Mar

Torrey Pines (race 8)

COMMENT: Belvoir Bay, who had raced only on turf, tried dirt for the first time and led all the way to win. She went right out to the lead, was immediately pressured by 7-10 favorite Bellamentary, opened up some on her into the lane, and kept her at bay. Bellamentary got close to Belvoir Bay going down the backside but could never get back on even terms with her. She’s a Warrior stalked in fourth, kept to her task well, but was never really a danger to the top two. The 4-5 morning-line favorite Enola Gray was scratched.