Trip Notes: Canadian International, Fayette, Bold Ruler, and more

Saturday, October 26

Belmont
Bold Ruler (race 8)

Clearly Now, facing elders for the first time with blinkers added, showed he may be a force to reckon with come next year’s big sprints. The son of Horse Greeley stalked the brisk pace of Strapping Groom, surged his way to a clear lead into the lane and kept the closers at bay fairly comfortably. He’ll now be pointed for a Gulfstream campaign. Forty Tales showed much more speed than usual as he stalked the pace. He was unable to accelerate with the winner but kept to his task doggedly to be a clear second. Saturday’s Charm bided his time early and made modest headway. Strapping Groom, the favorite, bounced right out to a clear lead, was well clear of the others turning for home, had no answer to the winner’s surge into the lane, and then weakened from there.[bc_video_id:308574:]

Belmont
Turnback the Alarm (race 9)

Stanwyck returned to dirt after nearly three months off, and despite the hefty class hike flourished, posting the 21-1 upset while notching her first graded win. The daughter of Empire Maker was a bit slow into stride, was content to lag back while saving ground, came with a smart run into the lane, continuing on the inside, got the better of pacesetter Fantasy of Flight and then held off favorite Centring for the narrow win. Centring lagged back, came with a strong run into the lane but just couldn’t get to the winner, ending up second best, well clear of the others. She did nothing wrong. She just got beat. Fantasy of Flight went right to the lead, set a solid pace, battled back when hooked by Stanwyck, and then relented late once headed. Street Secret stalked the pace but never mustered a run.

Keeneland
Fayette (race 9)

Nikki’s Sandcastle was 0 for 6 on synthetic coming into this (he did have three seconds) but that didn’t matter as he went one better than last year’s second-place finish to post the 11-1 upset. He bided his time early, as is his custom, while under a snug hold. He remained inside to the far turn, moved out for room into the lane, and came home smartly to win going away. Winning Causeway sat back with the winner, accelerated more quickly to loom a big threat into the lane, but then couldn’t finish with Nikki’s Sandcastle in the final furlong. You Know I Know was last early, remained there to the far turn and finished well, though he never once looked a threat to get to the top two. Lea stalked the pace but came up empty when it mattered. Willcox Inn, the favorite, was midpack early but steadily retreated from there to end up last in a disappointing effort.[bc_video_id:308575:]

Santa Anita
Autumn Miss (race 8)

Wishing Gate is the real deal. Coming off a Grade 2 win at Del Mar and a Grade 1 second there, she flourished with a distance cutback on the hillside course. She bided her time early, moved closer going down the hill, loomed ominously over the dirt crossing, snatched the lead by midstretch and edged away late. Journey On, coming off three straight big wins, the last two on turf, went right out to the lead, looked done when passed by Need You Now coming across the dirt, but fought back against that rival only to be taken on by Wishing Gate. She battled on gamely, and while unable to stay with the winner showed some guts by keeping second. Charlie Em stalked the pace, moved inside coming off the hill, came out into the lane, and finished well. She just wasn’t good enough. Need You Now stalked the pace, moved up to grab the lead coming across the dirt as if she might go on to win, but couldn’t sustain her run. Oscar Party was a bit unlucky. She was well back early and tried to make a run a couple times, only to check twice. She kept to her task well to pass some rivals and get fifth.

Sunday, October 27

Woodbine
E. P. Taylor (race 8)

When Tannery came to the U.S. from Ireland last summer she was expected to have an impact on the turf distaff division. Well, it didn’t happen in 2012 but it looks as though it was worth the wait as she gamely notched her first Grade 1 win to continue her ascent in the division. She won the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay at Belmont May 25, was a solid fourth vs. males in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 17 and then a sharp second in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Sept. 28 to show she’s the real deal. She validated it all here as she sat last early in the field of 10, bided her time, started her move on the far turn, came with a strong run between horses, and gamely outfinished Euro raider Fitful Skies. She figures tough this winter in the Florida races. Fitful Skies, coming off a Group 3 win in Germany, sat midpack, didn’t accelerate as quickly as the winner, but found her best stride in the lane while inside Tannery. She doggedly kept after the winner, but just couldn’t get past. Moment in Time, another Euro shipper, sat back with Tannery, couldn’t accelerate with that rival but ran on nicely. Minakshi, winner of the Grade 2 Canadian, the traditional prep for this race, stalked in third, loomed a threat into the lane but couldn’t finish with the top three. Irish Mission, who nearly beat the boys when fourth in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer here Sept. 15, stalked the early pace but backed out of it turning for home.[bc_video_id:308576:]

Woodbine
Canadian International (race 10)

Euro shipper Joshua Tree won this race for the third time in the last four. Coming off being overmatched in the Group 1 Arc de Triomphe (ran 13th), he found these slightly less deep waters to his liking. He stalked the pace early on a course rated as yielding, as Stormy Len set the pace. Joshua Tree came with a smart run along the rail into the lane, surged to a clear lead and really didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. He’s won this race under three different trainers (first with Aidan O’Brien, then with Marco Botti before this year with Ed Dunlop). Hyper lagged back and finished with good energy to get second. Seismos, another talented Euro raider, bided his time and finished well. Now We Can, another well-regarded Euro raider, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain his run. Slumber, the favorite, stalked the pace but gave way. Forte Dei Marmi was well back early but could make only modest headway.[bc_video_id:308577:]