Trip Notes for August 8-9: Whitney Stakes, Best Pal Stakes, Test Stakes

Aug. 8

Saratoga

Test (race 8)

Apparently it just took some time off and a return to New York to get Cavorting back on track. The daughter of Bernardini flashed big potential last summer when winning her first two starts, including the Grade 2 Adirondack here. But then came a poor run in the Grade 1 Frizette, more than four months off, a poor run in Gulfstream’s Grade 2 Davona Dale, and then another three-plus months off. After that, however, she came back to win a stakes at Belmont June 5 and stepped up her game further here to notch her first Grade 1 win. She sat well back as 2-year-old filly champ Take Charge Brandi, pressed by Bar of Gold, set a modest pace. She pitched wide on the far turn to commence her run and powered past her rivals and won going away. While she’s bred to route, one turn appears her best game. She might next go in the Grade 2 Prioress at 6 furlongs again against 3-year-olds only here Sept. 6 and could run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland this fall. Bar of Gold pressured Take Charge Brandi from the bell, got the better of that rival turning for home, was a clear leader by midstretch but had no answer for the winners’ charge. By the Moon sat back just in front of the eventual winner, made her move into the lane to loom a threat but couldn’t sustain her bid. Angela Renee lagged back and never made a run. Take Charge Brandi, making her first start since Jan. 31 after suffering an injury caved in once headed, and basically was eased. She almost certainly needed this outing but the severity of her fade gives cause for pause.

Saratoga

Whitney (race 9)

So apparently the question has been answered: Honor Code is not just a one-turn horse as he beat what has to be the strongest group of handicap runners this year. He was very slow into stride, sitting far back early as Liam’s Map set a strong pace. He started his run going to the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear and sustained it all the way to the line to just get up and beat Liam’s Map. The Grade 1 Woodward here Sept. 5 could be next. With Shared Belief and California Chrome on the sidelines this guy surely has to rank as the top elder. Liam’s Map, winner of 4 of 5, ran splendidly in defeat. He went right out to the lead, took pressure from defending champ Moreno and Noble Bird while setting a strong pace, dispatched with those foes coming into the lane, looked like the winner in midstretch but noticeably tired late. If he recovers well the Woodward seems like a logical next spot for him. Tonalist, the tepid favorite, sat well back but could make only modest headway for third. Tonalist is now 0 for 3 at Saratoga. Wicked Strong lagged back, came with a nice run on the far turn to reach contention but couldn’t sustain it. Lea stalked, made a mild move on the turn but flattened out. Moreno and Noble Bird pressed Liam’s Map from the start, with Noble Bird weakening first going to the far turn and Moreno giving way turning for home. It was announced the next day that Moreno has been retired.

Saratoga

Waya (race 10)

Goldy Espony continued her ascent and just adds to the turf distaff riches for trainer Chad Brown. A Group 3 winner in France in 2014, she came to the U.S. last summer fall and had mixed results. This year, she won an optional claimer at Belmont May 8, a stakes there July 5 and then captured this. As with her last two wins she went right out to a clear lead. She was able to dictate the pace through slow splits, shot out to a long lead in the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. She likes distance so the Grade 3 Glens Falls at 1 3/8 miles here Sept. 4 may be next. Eastern Belle, coming off a rallying second in the Grade 2 New York at Belmont June 5, was second again. As in her other starts she bided her time early and finished well. White Rose, fifth behind Eastern Belle in the New York and fourth behind Goldy Espony in the River Memories, sat well back, came with a smart run into the lane and lost the place in the final strides. Kitten’s Point, winner of the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland April 24 and third in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware last time out July 11, sat midpack, came with a threatening run into the lane, and faltered in the final furlong. Danza Cavallo, the favorite who was making her first start since a fifth in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita May 25, was rank and pulling from the start and then gave way badly in the lane.

Ellis Park

Groupie Doll (race 9)

Call Pat, coming off a second in a stakes, notched her first stakes win. From her rail slot, she was very slow into stride, sitting last of 12. She started to advance going to the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear and blasted home. Fioretti bounced right out to the lead, opened up on the far turn, still held a clear advantage by midstretch but couldn’t fend off the winner. Pistolpackinpenny stalked the pace, made a run turning for home, and couldn’t close the gap on the runner-up in the final half-furlong. Willow Hills seemed in a good spot stalking the pace but gave way in the lane. Flashy American showed speed to stalk early but quickly backed out of it.

Del Mar

Best Pal (race 5)

Nyquist, a son of 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo who cost $400,000 at auction, dogged pacesetter Found Money from the start, had no trouble taking command from that tiring foe turning for home, quickly opened up and extended his advantage. He’s one of the favorites now for the Grade 1 Del Futurity Sept. 7. An hour earlier, firster Young Brian won by over 10 lengths, covering his 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.10. Nyquist still went faster (1:16.84). Swipe, winner of the Summer Juvenile at Los Alamitos July 12, was eager while boxed in behind the leaders, finally got out and finished well. Being by Birdstone, the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont and Grade 1 Travers, he has every right to get better as the furlongs add up, and with a cleaner trip could challenge in the Futurity. Annie’s Candy, second to Nyquist when they met at Santa Anita June 5 and then a romping winner at Los Alamitos July 11, stalked in fourth, made a run at the winner into the lane and then lost second in the final half-furlong.

Del Mar

John C. Mabee (race 8)

Elektrum stalked in fourth as Fanticola set the pace. Elektrum came with her run between horses and outfinished Queen of the Sand and a few others in a blanket finish. You get the feeling that if you ran this race five times you might get five different winners. Trainer John Sadler said the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon here Sept. 6 and the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Sept. 26 are options for Elektrum. Queen of the Sand, second in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine (to Fanticola) at Santa Anita June 27, lagged back, came wide into the lane and finished smartly to just miss. She won an allowance race, a restricted stakes and was second in the Grade 1 Matriarch in her only three prior tries on this course, so she likes it here. Emotional Kitten, invading off a fourth in the Perfect Sting at Belmont July 3, was just behind the eventual winner early, accelerated with that foe into the lane, actually grabbed the lead in midstretch, but just couldn’t quite finish with the top two. Fanticola, favored off a string of strong outings, set modest splits, still had energy when challenged into the lane and was beaten just a head, neck and neck. Personal Diary, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks here last year, stalked the pace, was in tight in midstretch and was beaten just a head, neck, neck and neck.

Aug. 9

Del Mar

La Jolla (race 8)

At one point this spring Prospect Park was among the top West Coast Triple Crown candidates. He moved to grass here for the first time and flourished, stamping himself the early favorite for the Grade 1 Del Mar Derby here Sept. 6. He stalked in third as 7-5 favorite Om set a modest pace, surged past that foe into the lane, and opened up a clear lead in deep stretch. Om set a modest pace under some pressure from longshot Pain and Misery, dispatched with that foe into the lane but was quickly tackled by Prospect Park. Om stayed on well to be a clear second. Royal Albert Hall sat midpack and came with a nice run on the inside for third, though he was never a danger to the top two. Papacoolpapacool lagged well back early and made steady headway.