Trip Notes for December 2-3: Cigar Mile, Remsen, Bayakoa, and more

Dec. 2

Aqueduct
Go for Wand (race 6)

COMMENT: Indulgent had not won in more than 10 months and was well beaten by Lucy N Ethel in a stakes here Nov. 5. However, she validated the optimistic class hike given her as the daughter of Bernardini and half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Frosted posted the upset. From her outside post she showed speed to grab the early lead, volleyed for that lead with Lucy N Ethel through solid splits, got the better of that rival into the lane, opened up a bit by midstretch and held on gamely while drifting out some to fend off a couple of hard-charging rivals. Her status will be determined as to whether she is retired now that she’s a graded stakes winner or if she’ll continue to race. If it’s the latter, she won her only prior start on the inner track here, so she handles that track as well, meaning races such as the Interborough at seven furlongs Jan. 15 or Ladies Handicap at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 21 could be on her radar. Highway Star bounced back from a disappointing run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, where she stalked the very fast pace before fading to 10th. Back in her sandbox (she’d won all three of her prior starts on this track), she stalked the pace while saving ground sitting just behind the eventual winner, came off the inside into the lane to loom a big threat but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. She reportedly stays in training. Verve’s Tale, a sharp second in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm at Belmont on Oct. 28, raced with Highway Star just behind the eventual winner, seemed in trouble as she lost ground and position turning for home while shifting out wide but got going again in the final furlong to close well. Going for Broke, back up in class after rallying well for second in an optional claimer at Belmont on Sept. 28, was slow into stride to be at the back of the pack from the start and was unable to get involved. Jamyson ‘n Ginger, favored off a powerful win over optional claimers here Nov. 9 at this trip, failed to duplicate that outing as she was away slowly from her rail slot, saved ground, was asked for run on the far turn - but the run never came.

Aqueduct
Demoiselle (race 8)

COMMENT: Wonder Gadot wasn’t going to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies but a slow start and traffic trouble likely cost her some placings as she ended up sixth. She bounced out of that race nicely, though, as evidenced by a strong win here, stamping herself one to watch on the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks trail. The $325,000 daughter of Medaglia d’Oro broke alertly, was content to dog pacesetter Daisy from the start, remained on that foe’s hip throughout as Daisy set a dawdling pace, crept closer on the far turn while still well hand, was asked for run once straightened away, quickly opened up and went on to the easy win. She’s now won on turf, synthetic, and dirt, from 7 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, so they have all sorts of options with her. She’s part of a powerful contingent of soon-to-be 3-year-old fillies for trainer Mark Casse (Heavenly Love, Road to Victory, Win the War, Miss Mo Mentum, and Gio Game) and while the Kentucky Oaks is her main goal, he said, he wasn’t sure where she would winter as he looks to keep all those nice fillies separated. She might even base in SoCal. Maura Power, winner of her first two starts, both sprints, ran well in defeat as the $180,000 daughter of Violence stalked the pace while saving ground, sitting just behind pacesetter Daisy, remained there to the far turn, seemed set to unleash a run but was trapped behind the leaders, came off the fence, moved between horses, doggedly chased the winner though she was no match. Still, this was a very nice first route. Layla Noor, winner of an optional claimer at Laurel on Nov. 10, sat back a few lengths off the pace while between horses, made a run on the turn, pitched out wider into the lane, ran on decently for third but was never really a danger to the winner. Daisy, romping winner of her first two starts including the Grade 3 Tempted here Nov. 3, went right to the lead from her rail slot, was immediately kept company by Wonder Gadot to her outside, set a very slow pace while the eventual winner continued to dog her, held a narrow edge on the far turn, was asked for run into the lane, was no match for the winner and gave way once headed.

Aqueduct
Remsen (race 9)

COMMENT: Catholic Boy made his name on turf including winning a Grade 3 and being a good fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last month, but he looked even better here on dirt as he stamped himself as one to watch on the Triple Crown trail. Trained by former Todd Pletcher assistant Jonathan Thomas, Catholic Boy sat midpack while wide and in the clear as longshot Bandito set a modest pace, bided his time there to the far turn, came with a smart wide run to grab the lead into the lane, opened up a big lead and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. It looks like they have a potential Kentucky Derby horse, and thus trainer Thomas said he’d likely stay on dirt for the time being. He’ll winter in Florida, be freshened and they will figure out a plan from there. Avery Island, favored off a big win in the Grade 2 Nashua here Nov. 5, stalked the pace while between horses, was in a bit tight going down the backstretch while behind the leaders, remained in a stalking position to the top of the lane, came through between horses but never really looked ready to go on to victory, plugging along to get second while no danger to the winner. Vouch, a $230,000 son of Yes It’s True who was a romping winner of his debut at Laurel on Oct. 30, broke well to get a nice stalking trip, loomed a big threat turning for home with a nice wide move but flattened out in the lane. Alkhaatam, a maiden who rallied smartly for third in his only start at Belmont on Oct. 25, was away slowly and devoid of speed, as in his debut, started to advance going into the far turn, pitched very wide into the lane, was able to pass a few rivals but was never a factor. Biblical, a smart maiden winner at this trip here Nov. 17, was well back from the start, made some headway inside but was unable to get involved. Bandito broke sharply from the rail to take the early lead, set slow splits under pressure from Millionaire Runner, was asked for run on the far turn but gave way once headed.

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Aqueduct
Cigar Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Sharp Azteca, who has been a stalwart at the highest level, finally got his Grade 1 win and did so in smashing fashion, not only validating his talent but showing his versatility. Coming off a game second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, he broke alertly, as usual, but instead of making the running, was content to stalk as Seymourdini set a strong pace under pressure from Americanize. He remained in third to the far turn, moved closer to the two pacesetters, had no trouble blowing past them into the lane where he quickly opened up a commanding lead and had no worries in the final furlong. The Grade 1 Pegasus at Gulfstream on Jan. 27 could be next and that’s a mouth-watering concept what with the likes of Horse of the Year favorite Gun Runner, top-class mare Forever Unbridled, Grade 1 Clark winner Seeking the Soul, top sophomore West Coast, Grade 1 winner Collected and SoCal graded stakes winner Prime Attraction reportedly all eyeing it as well. Mind Your Biscuits, third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, showed the mile suits him just fine as from his rail slot he broke well, was content to sit midpack a few lengths behind the leading trio, steadily advanced to the far turn, came up just behind the leaders turning for home, moved out for room to make his run and while no match for the big winner ran on nicely to be a clear second. He’ll reportedly crank up for 2018 and, while there’s a remote chance for the Pegasus, a performance like this likely means a race such as the Grade 1 Met Mile in the spring is a primary goal. Practical Joke, making his final career start, broke poorly to be at the back of the pace, started an early run up the rail to try to get into the race, ended up not far behind Mind Your Biscuits going into the far turn, kept to his task but was never a factor after the slow start left him with far too much to do. Americanize broke well, was urged out of the gate to dog Seymourdini through fast splits, got the better of that foe turning for home to actually take the lead, but tired from his early toils and was no danger to the top three in the lane. Tom’s Ready, like Practical Joke making this his career swan song, sat back from the start, not far behind Mind Your Biscuits, remained just behind that foe as he moved closer on the far turn, but could make only modest headway in the lane and was never really a factor. Seymourdini, fourth in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Belmont on Oct. 28 (though he won his only two prior starts here), broke sharply, went right to the lead, took constant, heavy pressure from Americanize while setting strong splits and gave way readily once headed into the lane.

Dec. 3

Los Alamitos
Bayakoa (race 8)

COMMENT: This race resumed its spot on the fall Southern California schedule after a two-year hiatus. Majestic Heat raced only on turf in her first 14 starts, and did plenty well with five wins including a couple stakes triumphs. She tried dirt for the first time in a statebred sprint stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 12 and won easily. They tried dirt again here, this time at a longer trip, and she showed she might actually be better on this footing as she easily notched her first graded stakes win. The daughter of Unusual Heat bided her time early as Champagne Room set a brisk pace, steadily improved her position while staying wide and in the clear, came with a smart wide run into the lane, surged past then-leader Champagne Room into the lane, opened up and won easily. Trainer Dick Mandella said her newfound dirt prowess gives her all sorts of options for 2018 – though it must be noted the dirt distaff division figures particularly brutal what with the likes of Abel Tasman, Unique Bella, Paradise Woods, Elate, Vale Dori, and others. Champagne Room, last year’s 2-year-old filly champ primarily on the strength of her win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and coming off a sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, went right out to the lead, took some pressure from Shenandoah Queen while setting solid splits, opened up some turning for home, had no answer for the winner’s charge but stayed on smartly to be a clear second. Madame Stripes, a winner on dirt in her native Argentina but who raced strictly on the turf in the U.S. to this point, sat back just in front of the eventual winner, moved with that rival on the far turn, but couldn’t keep pace with that rival and flattened out in the lane. Pacific Wind, the 5-2 favorite off an impressive optional claiming win at Santa Anita on Oct. 21, her first try on dirt, was slow into stride, saved ground as she lagged toward the back but could make only modest headway in the lane while never really a factor. Shenandoah Queen, winner of Del Mar’s Tranquility Lake on Aug. 25 and then sixth in the Grade 2 Chilukki at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4, dogged the pacesetter from the start, tried to make a run at her on the far turn, was unable to challenge and weakened thereafter. Constellation, good enough to be a Grade 1 sprint winner a year ago and multiple Grades 1-2-3 placed sprinting this year, routed for the first time in this spot but the $800,000 daughter of Bellamy Road stalked the pace to the far turn but then gave way readily. This marks a second straight dull outing (ran 14th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. 4) so it may be back to the drawing board.