Trip Notes for August 4-5: Whitney, Test, Yellow Ribbon, and more

Aug. 4

Saratoga
Test (race 8)

COMMENT: Separationofpowers was nearly champion 2-year-old filly last year as she easily won the Grade 1 Frizette. However, she then ran fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 4 and came out of that race with an injury. She wasn’t seen again until the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont on July 8 but stumbled badly at the start. To her credit, she ran on well to be a good fourth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths. She made no mistakes today and on a track that was listed as ‘Fast’ despite taking a ton of rain the prior day the daughter of Candy Ride got her second Grade 1 win. She broke much better than in the Victory Ride, sitting midpack from the start while staying wide and in the clear as Classy Act and Mia Mischief dueled through strong splits. She bided her time, came with a smart run into the lane to engage then-leader Mia Mischief to her outside, looked poised to surge past and go on to a clear victory but then had to battle a stubborn Mia Mischief to her inside to gamely prevail. Trainer Chad Brown said he’d likely stretch her out for her next start, and maybe that means a shot at the division’s leading lights, Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou, in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 22. The Grade 2 Prioress here Sept. 2 could be next. Mia Mischief dueled and paid the price in the Victory Ride, ending up fifth, but she got back to her best form here as she dueled form the start with Classy Act, was getting the better of that gal into the lane only to be immediately confronted by the eventual winner, but battled back gamely inside to just miss by a neck while well clear of the rest. The Grade 2 Prioress here Sept. 2 could be next. Kelly’s Humor lagged well back, remained inside to the far turn, came out into the lane, was still well back but finished well for third, though she was no danger to the top two. Minit to Stardom, unbeaten and untested in her first three starts but stepping up into graded stakes for the first time, stumbled at the start, still had the speed to stalk in third, remained a threatening presence to the top of the lane but then came up empty. Classy Act, second in the Victory Ride, dueled from the start with Mia Mischief, was still locked in battle with that foe into the lane while inside but paid the price for that early work, fading in the lane. A few of these figure to come back in the Prioress

Saratoga
Whitney (race 9)

COMMENT: A delay of about 40 minutes due to severe weather that turned the main track into a sea of slop didn’t bother Diversify in the least as the 5-year-old gelded son of Bellamy Road dominated the proceedings. Diversify was so big winning the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont on July 7 his connections assumed they’d have to wait for the Grade 1 Woodward here Sept. 1. However, when he kept tearing down his barn and had his bloodwork come back all good they opted to run him here and that proved the right move as he again used his speed to prove he’s the top older horse in New York. On a track listed as ‘Sloppy (Sealed)’ after sudden heavy rains, Diversify broke sharply, was hustled to the lead, set a strong pace as he’d done in the Suburban while holding a clear lead, took only modest pressure from West Coast raider Dalmore, shook loose turning for home and had more than enough left in the tank to keep a hard-trying Mind Your Biscuits at bay. Trainer Rick Violette said the Woodward is now out but the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 29, a race he won last year, figures next, and should all go well there, maybe a crack at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill in November, though they’re not sure about that as Diversify hasn’t handled that track all that well. Mind Your Biscuits, going 1 1/8 miles for the first time after a big Group 1 sprint win in Dubai and strong second in the Grade 1 Met Mile on June 9 when beaten just a nose, handled the trip just fine. He simply wasn’t good enough. The 5-year-old son of Posse showed enough speed to stalk while saving ground, looked briefly dangerous coming into the lane but couldn’t sustain his run enough to threaten the winner while managing to keep 38-1 outsider Discreet Lover at bay for second. While he didn’t win trainer Chad Summers said the Woodward is a possibility but that the Grade 3 Lukas Classic at 1 1/8 miles again at Churchill on Sept. 29 might be next to see whether they want to try to move on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic there or cut back to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Discreet Lover continued his good form as after running fourth in the Met Mile and third in the Suburban he lagged well back from the start, saved ground, pitched wide into the lane and put in a decent rally but no threat to the winner but kept on gamely to at least give the runner-up a few anxious moments in the drive. The Woodward is reportedly on his radar. Tapwrit, last year’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner, stalked the pace while saving ground, moved closer to loom a threat going to the far turn but flattened out. He ran decently but just doesn’t appear to be the same horse. Backyard Heaven was the disappointment. He was dazzling winning the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill on the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby undercard May 4 but then gave way to end up sixth as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster there June 16. Despite a freshening and some good works, the son of Tizway seemed in a good spot stalking the pace, was still in the mix going to the far turn but then came up empty. It may be back to the drawing board.

Mountaineer
West Virginia Governor’s (race 7)

COMMENT: Leofric was second in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn on Feb. 19, but well beaten by winner and today’s foe Hawaakom. After nearly five months off he came back to win an optional claimer at Prairie Meadows on July 6 and stepped up his game further to gain his revenge and notch his first graded stakes try as he handled the hot, humid conditions. The 5-year-old son of Candy Ride went right to the lead as the favorite, but got immediate pressure from Term of Art, volleyed up front with that foe through solid splits, held a narrow edge into the lane and battled on gamely to edge that rival in the final strides in a gritty effort. Term of Art, winner of an optional claimer at Ellis Park on July 14, his first start on 10 months, battled with the winner from the start to that foe’s outside, held a short lead on the turn and fought gamely with the eventual winner all the way to the wire only to come up just a neck short. Matrooh stalked in fourth, loomed ominously into the lane, got up alongside the top two by midstretch but couldn’t quite finish with those two in the final furlong. Hawaakom, the second choice, was slow into stride to be last early and never mustered any sort of run as he remained at the back of the pack throughout.

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Mountaineer
West Virginia Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: The race may have given us a 3-year-old to watch as Mr Freeze, before this a game second in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows on July 6 in just his third start, dominated the proceedings on a hot, humid day. The son of To Honor and Serve went right to the lead, took early pressure from Draft Pick and High North while saving ground, was still hounded by High North turning for home but then found a new gear, blowing the race open into the lane, opening up to win in a romp. A run like this could earn him a shot at deeper waters. Draft Pick, a sharp second to Once On Whiskey (beaten a head) in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby on July 14, dogged the eventual winner early, took back just a bit going into the backstretch, seemed comfortable stalking in third, kept to his task well in the lane and while no threat to the big winner was able to outduel High North for second. High North, who beat Mr Freeze in the Iowa Derby, pressed the winner through solid splits, proved no match for that foe when ‘Freeze threw down the gauntlet into the lane, stayed on decently but couldn’t quite outdo Draft Pick for second. Rugbyman, the 2-1 favorite off a fourth in Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont July 7, was disappointing as the son of Tapit was slow into stride to be well back early, saved ground but never mustered a run. After some promising work it may be back to the drawing board with him after this.

Del Mar
Yellow Ribbon (race 8)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed some when speedster Fahan Mura, winner of five of her last six in front-running fashion including the Osunitas here July 20, scratched. Cambodia won this race last year and then nearly won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on this course last fall, finishing a sharp third. Freshened off a better-than-looked seventh in the Grade 1 Just A Game II on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 9 (was beaten by just two lengths), the daughter of War Front continued her love affair with this course as she stalked the pace set by Sassy Little Lila under pressure from Ancient Secret while wide and in the clear, remained wide to the far turn, cruised to the lead under her own power and bounded clear when asked in the lane to win easily. She’s now 3 for 5 here. The Grade 2 John C. Mabee here Sept. 1, a race she won last year, is her likely next target. Madam Stripes, a strong third in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita May 26 (beaten just a neck), ran well again as she sat closer to the early pace than the eventual winner, raced in tandem with that rival going to the far turn and into the lane, kept on gamely but couldn’t keep up with Cambodia when it mattered and just held second in a blanket five-horse photo. The Mabee figures on her radar as well as she finished third in that race last year. Sophie P, 14-1 winner of the aforementioned Gamely but a dull sixth in the Grade 3 Wilshire at Santa Anita on June 24, bounced back to form as she lagged well back, came wide into the lane and finished strongly, ending up just a head behind Madame Stripes. Hallie Belle, invading off a third in the Grade 3 Modesty at Arlington on July 7, sat midpack, remained there to the top of the lane, came with a smart run between horses only missing second by a head and a neck. Storm the Hill, smart winner of the Wilshire, sat back just ahead of Sophie P, came wide into the lane, made a smart run to reach third by midstretch but couldn’t sustain her run.

Aug. 5

Saratoga
Troy (race 5)

COMMENT: Sandy’z Slew was claimed for $40,000 exactly a year ago and the 8-year-old has made that buy look great, winning here for his fourth win in his seven starts for his new connections and his first graded stakes victory. Coming off two romping wire-to-wire wins in turf sprints at Aqueduct and Belmont it was again his speed that proved lethal as the son of Limehouse shot right out to a clear lead, set a strong pace considering the Mellon Turf Course was still listed as ‘Soft’ after heavy rains the past couple days, saw Tombelaine creep closer to him on the far turn but then shot clear again into the lane giving him enough of a buffer to get to the line before a hard-charging Blind Ambition. The only bad news to come from this is he had to be vanned off, though he didn’t seem to be in any distress. Blind Ambition, back to sprinting after fading to sixth in the mile Forbidden Apple at Belmont on July 14 (after he nearly fell at the start), lagged back as he was racing without blinkers, remained toward the back going to the far turn, came out for room into the lane, finished gamely but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Disco Partner, winner of this in 2016 and the favorite having been among the elite turf sprinters in the country the past couple seasons and cutting back to this shorter trip after a fifth in the Forbidden Apple, stalked in third while saving ground, looked poised to make a run at the winner into the lane but was never able to threaten while finishing well enough to comfortably hold third. Holding Gold, who finished strongly to be fourth (to Disco Partner) in the Grade 2 Jaipur at Belmont on June 9 and third in the Grade 1 Highlander at Woodbine June 30, lagged back as is his custom, saved ground, remained inside on the far turn, was asked for run into the lane but the run never came.

Del Mar
La Jolla (race 3)

COMMENT: On paper River Boyne, a multiple stakes winner, appeared to hold the aces, and that’s the way it worked out on the turf course as the 3-year-old proved a handy winner. He bided his time early as Calexman set the pace, was boxed in behind the leaders going down the backstretch, forcing him to steady, was able to get back into stride between horses, came with a smart run into the lane and drew clear. He’s now five for his last six, the lone loss coming in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard, a race that was run in a bog. This sets him up for a shot at the Grade 1 Del Mar Derby here Sept. 2. Arawak, third to River Boyne in Santa Anita’s Rainbow June 16 and sixth in the Oceanside here July 18, sat last from the start, commenced a run on the turn, came wider still into the lane and finished well to get up for second. The Derby figures on his radar as well. Calexman, third to Restrainedvengence in the Oceanside after opening up a big early lead, set a modest early pace, slowed things down going down the backstretch forcing the field to bunch, still had gas in the tank when kicking on for home as he kept to his task well and while no match for the winner only missed second in the final strides. Restrainedvengence, who beat some of these in the Oceanside, lagged back just behind the eventual winner while off the rail a few lanes, was urged to get involved into the lane, had his rider lose his whip into the lane and was unable to threaten. Move Over stalked while saving ground, was boxed in along the inside down the backstretch as he had to steady off heels, got back into stride while remaining inside but never mustered a run. Surely being hindered in traffic didn’t help but while he can route he may be best as a late-running sprinter.

Del Mar
Sorrento (race 8)

COMMENT: Bellafina showed talent when second as the 1-2 favorite in her debut at Los Alamitos on July 4 and the $800,000 daughter of Quality Road validated her connections’ judgment to run in this graded stakes with the smart win. With blinkers added for her second start she went right out to the lead, took some pressure first from Lady Lucy and then from Reflect but remained clear, then blew the race open into the lane, opening up and cruising home while a couple lanes off the rail. The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante here Sept. 2 is next, though super impressive Jerry Hollendorfer debut winner Brill, three Bob Baffert fillies (Der Lu, Mother Mother, Chasing Yesterday) and the gal who beat her in that July 4 debut (Katieleigh) will be there waiting, and trainer Simon Callaghan said he might instead await the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita on Sept 29. Del Mar May, second to the aforementioned Brill in her debut here July 18, validated her talent as the daughter of Jimmy Creed lagged well back early, made some progress to the far turn while saving ground, moved off the inside and came home nicely to just get up for second though she was no danger to the winner. Boujie Girl, big winner over $80,000 maiden claimers in her debut here July 26, sat midpack early, moved closer going to the far turn while a few lanes off the rail, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, proved no match for that foe but stayed on well, just losing second in the final stride. Dragic, smart winner of her debut at Keeneland April 12, pressed the pace from the start while holding the fence, was still in the hunt turning for home while saving ground but failed to muster the necessary run in the lane while staying on the fence. Reflect, smashing debut winner at Santa Anita on June 7 (in which she beat the aforementioned Katieleigh by 5 3/4 lengths), was a bit slow into stride, made a strong early move to chase the winner going into the far turn but couldn’t sustain her run, flattening out to end up fifth. Summerland, romping winner of her first two starts at Hastings, stalked the early pace, was still within reach of the leader on the far turn but then came up empty.