Trip Notes for July 1-2: Mother Goose, United Nations, Smile Sprint, and more

July 1

Belmont
Mother Goose (race 9)

COMMENT: Unchained Melody, a daughter of Smart Strike, continued her ascent, notching her third win in four starts and her first graded stakes win. She went right out to the lead, took modest pressure, first from Spanish Harlem and then Vexatious, but was always traveling comfortably, opened up some on the turn and into the lane, and held a clear lead to the line despite drifting out many lanes in the stretch. The Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga Aug. 19 may be next. Lockdown, third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks last time out May 5, stumbled at the start, was content to bide her time toward the back, came with a nice run to briefly look threatening into the lane, but couldn’t close the gap on the winner while finishing well clear of the rest. The Alabama figures on her radar as well. Moana, fifth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico May 19, her first start against winners, stalked in fourth, was wide on the turn and plugged along to get third while never a threat to the top two. She’s run just four times now so there’s some upside here. My Miss Tapit, winner of her two starts, both sprints at Gulfstream, sat midpack, made a mild move into the lane, but couldn’t sustain her bid. This may have been a bit too much too soon for this $550,000 daughter of Tapit. Vexatious, freshened since finishing fourth in the Kentucky Oaks just behind Lockdown, showed more speed than usual to press the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, but then came up empty and drifted out badly in the stretch. Lights of Medina, a rallying second in the Black-Eyed Susan, was last early while saving ground, swung out turning for home and never mustered a run.

Monmouth
United Nations (race 11)

COMMENT: Bigger Picture was eighth in this race last year but has obviously improved. After winning two Grade 3’s in the past eight months he can now count himself a Grade 1 winner with his victory here. The 6-year-old, who was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Mike Maker in November 2015, sat well back early as Itsinthepost and Beach Patrol volleyed up front through strong splits. Bigger Picture remained well back to the far turn, launched his bid inside, and powered home to just get up in the final strides. While he ran very well (he set a course record), it didn’t hurt that he got such a nice setup from the dueling pacesetters. The Grade 1 Arlington Million Aug. 12 is a possibility for his next start. Can’thelpbelieving, a non-factor fourth in the Grade 3 Red Bank most recently and fifth in this race last year, sat midpack, looked poised to win as he was getting the better Itsinthepost and Beach Patrol in the stretch, but couldn’t fend off the surging winner. Beach Patrol, the favorite off a string of good Grade 1 efforts (three seconds and a fourth), dueled up front with Itsinthepost while staying inside to midstretch, was finally getting the better of him late, but couldn’t counter the charge of the top pair. Today’s 11th furlong may be a tad beyond him, and surely dueling through those strong splits didn’t help him stay. All that being said, he could still be a player in the Arlington Million at a shorter trip. He won the Grade 1 Secretariat on that course last summer. Itsinthepost, winner of the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at Santa Anita March 25 and Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland April 22 before finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Whittingham at Santa Anita May 28, inexplicably rushed out to duel with Beach Patrol from the start while just outside that rival. He was still in the thick of that battle to deep stretch before weakening a bit in the final half-furlong. Messi, a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner and coming off a third in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at Belmont May 6, bided his time early, swung wide turning for home as if poised to make a run, only to come up empty.

Gulfstream
Carry Back (race 11)

COMMENT: Three Rules flirted with the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, but he returned to sprinting. He was third in a sprint stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 20, but returned to his favorite track and got back on the beam. He didn’t break all that alertly so he was forced to sit midpack as Mo Cash set a decent pace. He steadily advanced to the top of the lane, drifted out coming into the stretch to lose some momentum, but got going again and edged past the stubborn pacesetter. He could target the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (formerly the King’s Bishop) at Saratoga Aug. 26. Mo Cash, winner of his first three starts before finishing second in the Big Drama here May 20, ran splendidly in defeat. He popped right out to the early lead, fought back when confronted in the lane, and finished far clear of the others. He continues to progress. Benefactor, second in a stakes here June 9, his first start against winners, plugged along from midpack to get third but was never a danger to the top two. Blind Ambition, a $400,000 son of all-world sire Tapit and coming off two easy wins here, stalked the early pace but gave way going to the far turn.

Gulfstream
Princess Rooney Handicap (race 12)

COMMENT: Curlin’s Approval looked on her way to a super season after wins in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie and Grade 2 Royal Delta here this winter, but then she had two dull outings. Well, she bounced back in a big way with a strong performance here. She sat second as Kinsley Kisses set a solid pace, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, and drew away to win with ease. She could target a race like the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga in late August, and her main focus is on getting to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in early November. Distinta, sidelined since posting an upset win in the Grade 2 Inside Information here over some of these March 18, stalked in fourth, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and held second. Lightstream, who invaded off a third to By the Moon in the Grade 3 Bed O’ Roses at Belmont June 9, was midpack early, got shuffled back going to the far turn, angled in for the stretch run, and finished well. Dearest, freshened since running third in the Inside Information, stalked in third, tried to go with Curlin’s Approval in the lane, and flattened out in the final furlong.

Gulfstream
Smile Sprint Handicap (race 13)

COMMENT: Imperial Hint won three straight over the winter, including the Grade 3 Gen. George at Laurel Feb. 18, but after shipping to Dubai for the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen March 26 he got ill and was unable to race. Well, based on this big effort he’s back and good as ever. Instead of going to the lead, as usual, he stalked Awesome Banner, who shot out to set a fast early pace. Imperial Hint advanced inside Awesome Banner when that rival drifted off the rail on the far turn, and drew clear. He’ll reportedly target Saratoga’s two Grade 1 sprints this summer (the Vanderbilt July 29 and the Forego Aug. 26). Awesome Banner, coming off a third behind Whitmore and A. P. Indian in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico May 20, was urged out of the gate and set a strong pace under pressure, came off the rail a bit turning for home, and kept on to hold second. The 134-1 Very Very Stella, stepping up after a second vs. optional claimers, was last early, steadily advanced, but was never a danger to the top two. Delta Bluesman, the defending champ and adding blinkers after a third in a stakes on a sloppy track at Monmouth May 13, dogged Awesome Banner from the start, was still in the hunt turning for home, but weakened. He hasn’t won now since September, and you wonder if, at age 7, he’s lost a step or two. Quijote, winner of the Big Drama here May 20, stalked the pace, crept closer on the turn with a wide move, angled to the inside once straightened away, but was unable to muster the needed rally.

Santa Anita
San Carlos (race 4)

COMMENT: Danzing Candy coming off two route wins, including the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap May 28, dueled for the lead with Coastline, got the better of that rival turning for home, but was immediately confronted by Ransom the Moon. He battled with that foe and narrowly prevailed. His ultimate goal is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 4. Ransom the Moon, winner of the Grade 2 Kona Gold here May 20, stalked in third, moved closer going to the far turn, and finished far clear of the others. Kobe’s Back, the defending champ but winless for nearly 16 months, showed no speed, as usual, to be last early, and plugged along to get third. It looks as though he’s lost a step or two. Cool Cowboy, an invader from Dubai who last ran fifth in the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen there March 25, sat fourth early and ended up last.

Santa Anita
Wilshire (race 8)

COMMENT: Enola Gray dueled for the lead and paid the price in the Grade 2 Monrovia down the hill here May 27, fading to fifth. However, that speed served her well on the stretch-out here. A winner of her only prior route (on dirt), she shot out to a clear lead, set sizzling splits while in complete command going down the backstretch, saw the field move closer turning for home, and kept Madame Stripes at bay through the lane. She can sprint and route so a race like the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar Aug. 5 could be next. Madame Stripes, coming off a second at this trip here June 11, sat third early, crept closer going to the far turn, came with a nice run, and finished well clear of the rest. The Yellow Ribbon could be on her radar as well. Juno chased the winner while saving ground, closed the gap some going into the far turn, but couldn’t sustain her bid. Prize Exhibit sat back, made a mild move into the lane, but came up empty. She was good enough to win the Grade 3 Megahertz here earlier in the year but hasn’t been competitive in her last four starts, so maybe she’s in need of a break.