Trip Notes for Dec. 1-2: Cigar Mile, Hollywood Derby & more

Dec. 1

Aqueduct

Demoiselle (race 4)

COMMENT: Positive Spirit has every right to be a nice filly as she’s a half to 2017 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. She further enhanced her reputation here as, after her smart maiden win at Churchill Nov. 8, she overpowered this field, stamping herself a potential big player in the division. The daughter of Pioneerof the Nile broke alertly to get into stalking mode as Filly Joel set a slow pace toward the inside, remained widest as she moved closer to press the issue going to the far turn, came with a strong wide run turning for home, took command and drew off to win in a romp, staying off the rail throughout. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset balked a bit about the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. He said that while he’d love to go for that, she might be more of a Grade 1 Alabama-type filly (1 1/4 miles). But if the Kentucky Oaks becomes a main goal he said the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 6 could be her bridge to the Oaks. Afleet Destiny, coming off a maiden win at Parx on Nov. 11, was last after the break, bided her time and finished decently to beat all the others while no threat to the winner. Filly Joel, a daughter of Dialed In and a romping winner of maidens in her first route at Belmont on Oct. 25, moved to the inside going into the first turn to grab the lead, set a slow pace under some pressure, battled back briefly when challenged by the eventual winner turning for home but proved no match before plugging along for third. Of course, if the track is tilted toward the outside her position on the fence basically doomed her. Molto Bella, who shipped in from Kentucky after running second to highly regarded SoCal filly Mother Mother in the Rags to Riches at Churchill on Oct. 28, lagged back and never mustered a run. Enliven, the favorite after running second to big winner Oxy Lady in the Grade 3 Tempted here Nov. 2, broke well from her rail slot, moved off the fence, pressed the issue as Filly Joel came up her inside to grab the lead going into the first turn, pressed that gal through slow splits but fell apart when it mattered.

Aqueduct

Go for Wand (race 6)

COMMENT: Marley’s Freedom, a rallying fourth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill a month ago, tried a mile for the first time and succeeded, if only just. From her rail slot she broke a bit slowly, was urged to stay within reach of the leaders as Browse set a slow early pace, moved off the fence down the backstretch, moved up easily between horses going down the backstretch to pressure Browse who set a brisk pace while to her outside, was content to remain second, moved up easily to grab the lead on the turn as Browse fell away and Come Dancing ranged up alongside to her outside, battled gamely to the wire and just managed to fend off Come Dancing. The margin may not have been much but you got the impression they could have gone around a couple more times and Marley’s Freedom still would not relent. Trainer Bob Baffert said Marley’s Freedom may stretch out farther, and mentioned a race such as the Grade 2 La Canada at Santa Anita on Jan. 12 as a possible target. Come Dancing, back to a mile and dropping after fading to fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont on Oct. 6, stalked from her outside post, moved closer going down the backstretch while on the winner’s hip, ranged up alongside that rival on the far turn to engage her, battled gamely to the line but just couldn’t quite subdue her while well clear of the rest. Pacific Wind faded in three straight longer graded stakes, but here cut back to a distance at which she was 2 for 2. She broke well from her far outside slot, was content to pull back a bit to stalk the pace sitting just behind Come Dancing, remained just behind and outside that foe, started to advance while wide on the far turn but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the lane. Browse set a strong pace on the rail under pressure from Marley’s Freedom and gave way once headed into the lane.

Aqueduct

Remsen (race 8)

COMMENT: Despite romping in his first two starts there were questions as to Maximus Mischief’s quality as it was unknown what caliber of runner he beat in those two sprints at Parx. Well, there’s no longer a question as the $340,000 son of Into Mischief validated his quality, showed he could carry his speed, and proved a smart winner. He broke a bit inward but his natural speed carried up to contest the pace between horses with Gladiator King to his inside and Tax to his outside, remained between horses going down the backstretch while holding a narrow lead, was challenged by Tax to his outside turning for home, rebuffed Tax as he moved toward the rail once straightened away, opened up a clear lead and maintained his advantage. He’ll reportedly get a break, wintering at Gulfstream, before they pick a return spot, but trainer Butch Reid is already thinking Kentucky Derby, saying the horse may run twice before that, saying he might point to the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Feb. 2 or Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 2, then the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30. Network Effect, a nice second in the Grade 3 Nashua, got pinched back at the start to a few lengths back in fifth, crept closer going down the backstretch while between horses and on the heels of the eventual winner, remained there to the far turn, was asked to get closer while still in traffic on the turn, found room turning for home to get out of that pocket, didn’t respond immediately into the lane but got going in the final furlong as he moved to the outside to get up for second, though he was never really a danger to the winner. He’ll reportedly go to Florida for the winter with the bulk of trainer Chad Brown’s first string. Tax pressed the issue from his outside post while sitting outside the eventual winner, continued to dog ‘Mischief to the far turn, challenged in earnest on the turn, was still a danger into the lane but then couldn’t keep pace with the winner in the final furlong and lost second only in the final strides. He’ll reportedly stay in New York for the winter. The Jerome at a mile here Jan. 1 is a possibility, said trainer Danny Hargan, who claimed Tax for $50,000 at Keeneland on Oct. 21. There were some timing discrepancies in the main-track races before the Cigar Mile due to a timing beam that was blocked by an auxiliary gate, meaning the race clock didn’t start at the proper time. Trakus had the timing of the main-track races prior to the Cigar Mile much faster than the track’s official clocking.

Aqueduct

Cigar Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: Patternrecognition was very impressive winning the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont on Sept. 22, signaling he might not have been out of place had he gone in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Instead his connections awaited this race and were rewarded as the son of Adios Charlie was impressive again. From his outside post he broke sharply to go right to the lead, veered to the inside to get in front of 8-5 favorite Mendelssohn, set a brisk pace under pressure from Pat on the Back, dispatched with that foe into the lane, moved out to a clear lead and kept the closers at bay to the wire. The $9 million, Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream on Jan. 26 is reportedly an option. True Timber, second albeit well beaten (9 3/4 lengths) to No Dozing in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler here Nov. 2, lagged back, swung wide into the lane and finished well to close the gap on the winner though it never appeared he was going to get to him. Sunny Ridge, second to Patternrecognition in the Kelso, bided his time while inside, came with a rally up the rail to Mendelssohn’s inside in the stretch to get third, though he was never really a threat to get to the winner. Mendelssohn, the favorite off a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, broke a tad slowly from the rail, was asked for speed but was unable to make the early lead as expected as Patternrecognition beat him to the punch and came over in front of him to close that path, remained inside just behind the eventual winner as he was pinned there by Pat on the Back who was to his outside, came under a ride on the far turn while still on the winner’s tail, didn’t completely throw in the towel as he fought on to get fourth but was never really a danger to the winner in the lane. He’s been retired to stud and while he wasn’t a Grade 1 winner on dirt he did win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, was Group 1 placed on turf in Europe, Grade 1-placed on dirt in the U.S. and won the Grade 2 UAE Derby on dirt in Dubai (by 18 1/2 lengths, setting a track record to boot), so he showed ample quality. That and being kin to multiple-champion Beholder and Grade 1 winner and top sire Into Mischief figure to make him awfully popular at stud. Copper Town, the 2-1 second choice off a big return win at Keeneland on Oct. 13 after a year on the bench, got away poorly, lagged back toward the outside, was then asked to get closer going to the far turn while in behind True Timber, made a threatening move while wide on the far turn just behind True Timber, swung widest of all into the lane but came up empty. The auxiliary gate was moved prior to the running of this race so that the timer could be started as intended.

Del Mar

Hollywood Derby (race 7)

COMMENT: After a Grade 2 and Grade 3 win at Saratoga this summer Raging Bull looked like one of the three best 3-year-old male turfers around (we’d still rank Analyze It and Catholic Boy ahead of him) but then came an uninspired fifth in the Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont on Oct. 6. He was given some time since and bounced back here as the son of Dark Angel notched his first Grade 1 win and stamped himself a potential big player in the division come 2019. He was slow into stride while a phalanx of runners set the early pace. He remained toward the back while saving ground as Have At It finally assumed the role of early pacesetter, remained midpack as Carrick moved up to duel with Have At It, came off the inside for clear sailing and started to advance going to the far turn, moved wider still, commenced a strong run on the far turn while widest of all, finished with gusto to reel-in a stubborn River Boyne and edge past him late. River Boyne, the kingpin of the SoCal 3-year-old male turfers and coming off a smart win in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 (his fourth stakes win out West), stalked the pace while between horses, remained there to the far turn, came with his run into the lane to take the lead from Carrick, opened up a clear lead by midstretch as if poised to go on to victory, but then couldn’t fend off the winner, ending up second in a big try as he was clearly the best of the rest. He’s the real deal and figures to make noise in just about whatever path he picks. His rider indicated the horse may prefer a slightly shorter trip. Instilled Regard, a $1 million son of Arch who was trying turf for the first time, gave trainer Brown a one-three finish as he stalked the early pace, remained there to the far turn while a couple lanes off the fence, was asked for run to try and keep up with River Boyne who swept past him to his outside turning for home, was no match for that rival and his winning stablemate but stayed on gamely inside to edge Prince Earl for third. All things considered this was a very nice first turf try. One or both of the Brown runners could target the new $7 million, Grade 1 Pegasus Turf at Gulfstream on Jan. 26. Carrick, winner of the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington this summer before being no factor vs. elders on a bog-like course at Belmont in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf in October, bounced back as he stalked the pace between horses, moved toward the outside for clear sailing, came with an early run to challenge Have At It for the lead, actually took the lead midway down the backstretch, dueled with Have At It, battled with that foe while to his outside but then couldn’t keep pace with the top finishers in the lane. Have At It, who beat the winner when taking the Hill Prince at Belmont on Oct. 6 and then a good closing second to River Boyne in the Twilight Derby, didn’t repeat those good efforts as the son of grass champ and top turf sire Kitten’s Joy was part of a group of horses making the early pace, finally took control of pacesetter duties on the clubhouse turn while holding the fence, was then challenged by Carrick to his outside going down the backstretch, dueled with that foe into the lane but then gave way readily once headed.

Dec. 2

Del Mar

Matriarch (race 7)

COMMENT: A big weekend for trainer Chad Brown got even better. After running third in the Go for Wand, second in the Remsen, winning the Cigar Mile and running first and third in the Hollywood Derby all on Saturday, he ran one-three here with Uni using her powerful late gear to get the job done. After winning her only three prior starts this year, including a smashing tally in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont on Sept. 22, the 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready lagged far back (in fact was second-to-last) after breaking from a disadvantageous far outside post (No. 12), bided her time as Fahan Mura set a strong pace, started to advance on the far turn though she still had just one horse behind her with a quarter-mile to go, pitched wide into the lane and finished with a flourish to get up for the win. This looked a lot like stablemate Raging Bull won Saturday’s Hollywood Derby and maybe it’s no coincidence as rider Joel Rosario was aboard both. Brown, who this last year with Off Limits has now won seven stakes at Del Mar – six of them Grade 1s. Daddy Is A Legend, coming off a disastrous run in the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland on Oct. 19 when she was challenging for the lead before ducking to the inside and smashing through the inner rail (obviously she was OK), bounced back nicely as she sat midpack from the start, surged into contention on the outside on the far turn, surged to the lead inside the eighth pole and looked like the winner until Uni came storming past to her outside in the final half-furlong. Quidura, also from the Brown barn and coming off a dull seventh in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland on Oct. 6 where she stalked the pace as the favorite before giving way, also redeemed herself as she stalked Fahan Mura from the start, moved up to challenge on the far turn only to be immediately confronted by Daddy Is A Legend, battled on gamely and while unable to finish with the top two stayed on well for third while fending off Vasilika. Vasilika, the 2-1 favorite off eight straight wins including taking the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita on Sept. 29 and then rallying strongly to win the Grade 2 Goldikova there Nov. 4, stalked the pace in fourth, sitting not far behind Quidura, was asked for run into the lane on the inside, loomed a big threat by midstretch but couldn’t sustain her run. Her campaign and this run were still pretty darn nice for a filly who was claimed for $40,000 last Feb. 11. Dona Bruja, who nearly beat top-class A Raving Beauty in the aforementioned First Lady when a game second (and that gal came back to be a sharp third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf), lagged back, pitched wide into the lane and finished decently but was unable to threaten. Rymska, the third of the Brown triumvirate and coming off a big win in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont on Oct. 23, angled in after the start from her far outside post (No. 13) while well back, still a few lengths off her winning stablemate, came just off the rail as she moved closer going to the far turn and into the lane but was unable to get involved when it mattered. Mission Impassible, a smart second to top-drawer Brown 3-year-old filly Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland on Oct. 13, sat second well behind clear early leader Fahan Mura, moved up nicely to take the lead from that tiring rival into the lane but then couldn’t finish with the closers come furlong No. 8. Fahan Mura, who set the pace before finishing a stubborn second to Vasilika in the Goldikova, went right out to a clear lead from the start, as expected, set a brisk pace while holding the fence but gave way in the lane once headed.