Trip Notes for August 9-10: Fourstardave, Monmouth Oaks, Gardenia, Adirondack, John C. Mabee and more...

Saturday, Aug. 9

Saratoga - Fourstardave Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Seek Again stalked the pace in fourth, tried to start a run coming into the lane but was blocked, had to wait for room, moved to the inside and then had to check when blocked again, found a seam and surged through to get the win while setting a course mark. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile now seems his main target, with the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile at Woodbine or Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland as the bridge to that race and another crack at two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, whom he nearly beat this spring. Grand Arch stalked the pace, came with a smart run in the lane, grabbed the lead in midstretch and continued on smartly but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. This validated his game Grade 2 King Edward win at Woodbine June 22. Jack Milton was slow into stride to be last early, was still well back coming into the lane, had to wait for room inside the final furlong but finished gamely once it materialized. Silver Max, the favorite, set the pace, battled back when hooked turning for home but then gave way readily in a rare dull try.

Monmouth - Monmouth Oaks (race 11)

COMMENT: Cassatt, a $300,000 daughter of top sire Tapit, flashed big potential with romping wins at the Fair Grounds and at Delaware, and showed she’s the real deal with a smart victory here. She went right out to the lead, set modest splits, rebuffed a challenge from Aqua Regia into the lane and kicked away to win easily. The Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx could be next, though there she would run into likely to game’s two best 3-year-old fillies Untapable and Sweet Reason. Off this big run she likely deserves such a shot, however. Aqua Regia sat midpack early, started a smart run but in doing so lugged in and bothered Saintly Joan on the far turn, scared the winner coming into the lane, and stayed on well to be a clear second. She was disqualified and placed third for her move on the far turn. Saintly Joan stalked the pace, had to check when in tight after being bothered by Aqua Regia on the turn but gathered herself and kept to her task well. She was moved up to second after the disqualification of Aqua Regia. Ria Antonia, the favorite, lagged back and made only modest headway late. Her win in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, which was earned via the disqualification of eventual champ She’s a Tiger, looks more fluky as time goes on. Size scratched to go in the Grade 1 Alabama next week instead.

Ellis Park - Gardenia (race 8)

COMMENT: Molly Morgan, the heavy favorite as she was dropping off a fifth in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap July 12, stalked the pace set by Livi Makenzie, moved up to challenge that rival on the turn, got the better of her but was immediately taken on by Tapit’s World and gamely persevered to edge that rival. Tapit’s World lagged back, came with a strong run coming into the lane to challenge Molly Morgan, but just couldn’t get past. Livi Makenzie set the pace, tried to battle back when hooked by the winner on the turn and then by the eventual runner-up coming into the lane, couldn’t keep pace. Frivolous sat back, not too far off the pace, angled out on the far turn to start her run, was then blocked but even once she got clear was unable to mount the necessary bid.

Del Mar - La Jolla Handicap (race 5)

COMMENT: Enterprising, coming off a smashing win in the Oceanside here July 17, proved he is indeed the West Coast’s top 3-year-old turf male with another smashing performance. Using his new style of lagging back early and finishing strongly, he was last early, edged a bit closer going down the backside to be fifth, found a seam between horses into the lane, surged through, grabbed command and drew away late. The Grade 1 Del Mar Derby here Sept. 31 is likely next, and he figures to be favored there after this powerful win. I’ll Wrap it Up stalked the pace while saving ground, came out into the lane to make his run, and stayed on well for second. Sammy Mandeville was just behind I’ll Wrap It Up from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that runner but found his top gear late to finish smartly. Schoolofhardrocks went right out to the lead, set a solid pace, opened up into the lane but weakened in the final furlong.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Saratoga - Adirondack (race 9)

COMMENT: Cavorting, a daughter of champion 3-year-old Bernardini, made quite a splash when she won her debut at Belmont by 11 lengths July 3. She more than validated that win here and stamped herself a girl to watch with a very professional performance. Unlike in her debut when she went wire to wire, this time the $360K sales buy bided her time early, moved closer going into the far turn when staying wide and in the clear, made her run at the leaders into the lane, took command late and drew off. She ran slightly faster than the 2-year-old boys did 20 minutes later. Angela Renee chased pacesetter Vivian Da Bling, moved up with the eventual winner to challenge into the lane, battled with that gal for a while but couldn’t keep up late. Still, it was a promising run and like the winner she’s by Bernardini so she’s bred to run on. Wonder Gal stalked the pace, made a threatening run into the lane while inside, had to check sharply when in a bit tight when pacesetter Vivian Da Bling tired and veered in on her, and couldn’t keep pace with the top two while running on decently for third.

Saratoga - Saratoga Special (race 10)

COMMENT: I Spent It, a $600K son of red-hot sire Super Saver, was game winning his debut at Belmont July 2 and took a nice step forward to post an impressive victory here. He stumbled breaking from the rail but gathered himself to get position stalking while saving ground. He remained stuck behind horses on the turn, still lacked room when straightening away, but then finally found a seam and shot clear to win easily. His time was a slower than what filly Cavorting did earlier but these guys had a right to be tired in the lane as they went much faster early. The Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Oct. 4 may be next. Mr. Z lagged back, came with a smart wide run into the lane, was in the thick of it in midstretch, and stayed on well to be second, well clear of the rest. W V Jetsetter sat midpack and came with a steady run to get third, though he was no real threat. Cinco Charlie dogged pacesetter Nonna’s Boy early but weakened in the lane.

Del Mar - John C. Mabee (race 8)

COMMENT: Moulin de Mougin, coming off a nice third in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita June 28, notched her first stakes win in smart fashion. She bided her time early, remained behind much of the field turning for home, fund a seam between horses, moved through, went to the rail and finished strongly to edge past stubborn pacesetter Wishing Gate. Off this she may have earned a shot at the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive on the Santa Anita turf Sept. 27. Wishing Gate utilized a new style and it nearly worked. Usually one to come from just off the pace or even well off the pace, this time she went right to the lead, set modest splits, rebuffed a challenge from Cozze Up Lady in the lane, battled back when hooked by the eventual winner late but couldn’t quite fend off that rival. Cozze Up Lady chased Wishing Gate from the start, kept after her doggedly but just couldn’t get to her. Miss Serendipity, the favorite off her win in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita May 26, stalked the pace, appeared to be making a bid in the lane when she was in tight, had to steady and failed to recover. There was an inquiry into the stretch run but no change was made.