Trip Notes for December 5-6, 2020: Cigar Mile, Remsen, and more

Dec. 5

Aqueduct
Remsen (race 4)

COMMENT: Main track was sloppy and sealed after steady rain that ceased just before first post. Brooklyn Strong, bought for just $5,000, showed he was probably the best New York-bred juvenile and proved here he fits vs. open company. He got a nice trip stalking in fourth early as favorite Ten for Ten set a modest pace. Brooklyn Strong advanced while headed to the far turn, came up to Ten for Ten’s hip on the turn, engaged that rival, and prevailed a long, hard stretch battle. He’ll reportedly winter at Parx, with the Grade 3 Withers here Feb. 6 a possible early season goal or he could get a freshening and target the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream March 27. Ten for Ten, favored off a romping win in slop at Belmont Oct. 16 and then a second in the Grade 3 Nashua here Nov. 8, went right out to a clear early lead and set a modest pace. He battled back gamely and only relented in the final yards while finishing well clear of the rest. Known Agenda, favored off a maiden win on this track at this trip Nov. 8, got bounced around at the start, was still able to establish a stalking position while saving ground, came out turning for home as if poised to make a run, but then finished one-paced for third. Pickin’ Time, who beat Ten for Ten in the Nashua, pressed the early pace while saving ground, came off the inside turning for home, but never mustered a run.

Aqueduct
Go for Wand Handicap (race 6)

COMMENT: Track still sloppy and sealed. Sharp Starr looked like a new horse when romping by 15 3/4 lengths at this trip vs. NY-bred N1X foes here Nov. 7, earning this big step up in class. She wasn’t as dominant but still got the job done, notching her first graded stakes win. The daughter of Munnings sat second as Portal Creek set a solid pace. Sharp Starr was content to sit off that rival to the far turn, made a run into the lane to get on that rival’s hip, and persevered to get the narrow win. Her trainer, Horacio DePaz, said he might point for similar mile events such as the Heavenly Prize here March 6 or the Biogio’s Rose (for statebreds) here March 7. Portal Creek, stepping up in class after winning three of her last four vs. lesser at Parx, set a solid pace taking modest pressure from Sharp Starr, battled back when confronted by Sharp Starr into the lane, and only relented in the final few strides while finishing far clear of the others. Nonna Madeline, the heavy favorite off a third in Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm here Nov. 7, stalked in third while saving ground to the far turn and was unable to challenge the top two while plugging along to hold third. Graceful Princess, a daughter of top sire Tapit and Horse of the Year Havre de Grace and coming off a fifth in the Turnback the Alarm, stalked in fourth just behind Nonna Madeline, remained wide and came up empty in the lane.

Aqueduct
Demoiselle (race 9)

COMMENT: Track still sloppy and sealed. Malathaat, a $1 million daughter of Curlin and very impressive winning her first two starts including the Tempted here Nov. 6, kept her record unblemished. From her rail slot she stalked while saving ground as Traffic Lane set a modest early pace, was boxed in turning for home, came out for clear sailing, and finished resolutely many lanes off the rail to wear down Millefeuille. The manner of the win was most impressive, though the final time wasn’t any great shakes. She’ll winter in South Florida for trainer Todd Pletcher, who said he would have two races before a swing at the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks April 30. Millefeuille, an impressive maiden winner at Belmont Oct. 23, sat second early behind pacemaker Traffic Lane, applied pressure down the backstretch, took command into the far turn, extended her margin into the lane while taking the fence as if going on to a big win, only to have Malathaat surge past to her outside late. She got beat but showed her quality and figures on the Kentucky Oaks trail as well. Malibu Curl stalked the pace a few lanes off the rail, crept closer on the turn, tried to make a run at Millefeuille into the lane, and stayed on for third. The result gave sire Curlin, the two-time Horse of the Year, a sweep of the top three positions. Cafe Society, third in the Tempted more than 10 lengths behind Malathaat here Nov. 6, bided her time early while a few lanes off the rail, remained wide on the far turn and into the lane, and was never really a factor.

Aqueduct
Cigar Mile Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Track still sloppy and sealed. True Timber ran second in this race in 2018 and third in this race in 2019, but the third time was the charm. From his outside post he showed speed to stalk in third as first King Guillermo and then Mr. Buff set a solid pace. True Timber moved up nicely while wide on the turn to take command, quickly opened up into the lane, moved to the inside and extended his margin to win easily. Off this he may take another swing at the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 23, though he hasn’t fared too well in that race the past two runnings, finishing seventh in 2019, eighth in 2020. He’s also winless in eight attempts going two turns. Snapper Sinclair sat just behind True Timber while inside, tried to go with that rival on the far turn, pitched wider out into the lane, and finished gamely to fend off heavy favorite Performer for second. He’ll go to his trainer’s string at Oaklawn for the winter. Performer, heavily favored off five straight wins including an optional-claiming win at Belmont Oct. 17 in his only start of 2020, didn’t break that alertly from the rail. He was sluggish early, not showing his usual tactical speed, and was last while saving ground. Performer came off the inside into the far turn, started to advance while wide, but flattened out in the stretch. He reportedly stays in training for 2021. King Guillermo, a 3-year-old who was making his first start since running second in the division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby May 2, broke sharply, went right to the lead, took immediate pressure from Mr. Buff to his inside, relented pacesetting duties to that rival down the backstretch, and was basically one-paced from there to the wire. Considering the layoff and that it was his first start vs. elders, this was a huge ask. Mr. Buff, coming off a romping win over the best NY-breds in the Empire Classic at Belmont Oct. 24, pressed the early issue inside of King Guillermo, soon assumed pacesetting duties from that rival, set a solid pace while on the fence, was still there turning for home,l but gave way once headed into the lane. Firenze Fire, Mind Control and Majestic Dunhill all scratched.

Los Alamitos
Starlet (race 5)

COMMENT: Varda, a $700,000 daughter of Distorted Humor, ran second to stablemate Princess Noor in the Grade 2 Chandelier at Santa Anita Sept. 26 and was beaten by 8 1/4 lengths. She took advantage of her stablemate being pulled up and well-regarded Astute running poorly as she notched her first graded stakes win. From her outside post, Varda sat last early as another stablemate, Kalypso, went out to a clear lead early lead. Varda remained in last while well off the rail as Princess Noor took up the running down the backstretch. Varda shifted wider on the far turn as she started her run and finished resolutely down the stretch to reel in leader Kalypso to her inside and move past for the clear win. Kalypso went right to the lea from her rail slot, looked in trouble when Princess Noor moved past heading to the far turn, inherited the lead when Princess Noor was pulled up on the far turn, had a clear lead into the lane, but couldn’t fend off the winner who went past to her outside. Nasreddine stalked just a couple lanes off the rail and was basically one-paced throughout. Astute, a $425,000 daughter of Speightstown who was well backed after two wins to start her career, including a romping win in the Desi Arnaz at Del Mar Nov. 14, was disappointing. She stalked while saving ground, remained there to the far turn, but came up empty. Her trainer, Richard Mandella, told DRF’s Steve Andersen that she came back with a knot on her side and that she was a uncomfortable cooling out but was better the next morning. Princess Noor, favored off wins in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and the Chandelier before running fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 6, sat second just behind early pacesetting stablemate Kalypso. Princess Noor moved up nicely outside that rival to take over heading to the far turn, but was soon pulled up. She walked to the van under her own power. She suffered a soft-tissue injury to her left fore and was subsequently retired.

Dec. 6

Los Alamitos
Bayakoa (race 5)

COMMENT: Proud Emma was no factor in a turf stakes at Del Mar last time out Oct. 31, but the daughter of Include moved back to dirt here and it paid off with her first graded stakes win. She bided her time early as Miss Stormy D set the early pace, remained a few lengths off the lead into the backstretch as Stellar Sound assumed pacesetting duties, advanced and was widest of the four fighting for the lead into the lane, and moved past Message in the final half-furlong for the win. Message, the 2-1 second choice coming off a dead-heat win with Proud Emma in a restricted stakes at Del Mar Aug. 28, stalked the pace, came with a run just outside of leader Stellar Sound turning for home, and was soon confronted by Proud Emma to her outside. Message battled inside Princess Emma but finally relented in the final half-furlong. Stellar Sound, the 6-5 favorite off a seven-length win over optional claimers at Santa Anita Oct. 2, her first start in eight months, sat second behind early pacesetter Miss Stormy D. Stellar Sound soon assumed pacesetting duties, battled back when challenged by Message to her immediate right and by Proud Emma wider out into the lane, but couldn’t keep up with the top two in the lane. Miss Stormy D, making her first start since a romping win over optional claimers at Santa Anita Feb. 29, went right to the lead from her rail slot, soon relented pacesetting duties to Stellar Sound to her outside, continued to press that rival to the far turn, was on the rail as the foursome fighting for the lead turned for home and then gave way.