Saturday, July 12 Belmont - Bowling Green (race 9) COMMENT: Hangover Kid, coming off a good second in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup going shorter (1 1/8 miles), stalked in third while saving ground as Horvat Clan set a snail-like pace. He bided his time there, looked in trouble when still hemmed in along the fence, found a seam turning for home when Boisterous shifted out some, bumping Grandeur, surged into contention, and just beat favorite Grandeur on the line. He may next go in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 17, and his long-term goal is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita in the fall. Grandeur, heavily favored off a rallying fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan here June 7, stalked the pace while staying wide and in the clear, moved up to challenge for the lead turning for home, bumped with Boisterous, got back in stride, and finished gamely but just missed. He will reportedly go back to Europe now after a nice three-race U.S. campaign. Sky Blazer sat fifth early but not too far off the pace, came wide into the lane, was still fifth in midstretch, but finished willingly to get up for third. Boisterous pressed pacesetter Horvat Clan through slow splits, shifted out into the lane, bumping with Grandeur as that rival moved up to challenge, was still there to midstretch, but weakened a bit late. Arlington - Arlington Handicap (race 7) COMMENT: Finnegans Wake posted the upset and really helped flatter the form of the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup June 8. The runner-up in that race, Hangover Kid, won Saturday’s Grade 2 Bowling Green at Belmont, while Finnegans Wake and Admiral Kitten, sixth and ninth, respectively, at Monmouth, finished 1-2 here. Finnegans Wake stalked pacesetter Avanzare through dawdling splits, kept gamely to his task on the outside, and just got to the line before hard-charging Admiral Kitten. While the water will be much deeper, he may well take a shot at the Grade 1 Arlington Million here Aug. 16. Admiral Kitten was last early, remained there to the top of the lane, and finished strongly to just miss. Considering the pace scenario, he ran splendidly. War Dancer, the favorite, stalked the pace while saving ground, moved closer into the lane, and stayed on gamely for third, beaten just a head and a half-length. Avanzare set a snail-like pace, then rebuffed a challenge from the winner until inside the eighth pole when he weakened some to finish fourth. Tough to believe anyone in here will have an impact on the Grade 1 Arlington Million next month. Arlington - Stars and Stripes (race 8) COMMENT: The Pizza Man continued his love affair with Arlington as he won for the seventh time in 10 starts on this course. He rallied for third in this race last year. After being sidelined eight months, he came back to win a statebred turf stakes here June 21, and that apparently gave him the foundation he needed to handle the step up in class here. He went right to the lead, did duck inward early forcing O’Prado Ole to steady, was straightened, got away with murder up front as though he was pressured by O’Prado Ole as he set incredibly slow splits, opened up into the lane, and then rebuffed a challenge from O’Prado Ole in the final furlong. He also had to rebuff a foul claim from the rider of that foe who cited the early shift inward as interference. The American St. Leger here Aug. 16 may be next. O’Prado Ole pressed the winner from the start, had to steady briefly when that foe shifted inward early, got back on track to press that foe, didn’t accelerate as quickly into the lane, but came home gamely in a good try. He may also go for the American St. Leger here on the Million undercard. Suntracer, the favorite, was last seen finishing a sharp second in the Grade 3 Louisville at Churchill May 24. He lagged back while saving ground, shifted out into the lane, and closed strongly for third, well clear of the others. Arlington - American Derby (race 9) COMMENT: Divine Oath, fourth behind top 3-year-old turfers Bobby’s Kitten, Global View, and Storming Inti, didn’t have to deal with those rivals and got more ground with which to work, and it all panned out for the son of Broken Vow. He sat back while Ghostly Wonder set a modest pace, commenced his run into the lane, surged through between horses, and outdueled game English import Our Channel in the final yards. Off this he probably deserves a crack at the Grade 1 Secretariat here next month, though that spot will surely be tougher. Our Channel, an English invader who was last seen running in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, showed enough speed to dog pacesetter Ghostly Wonder from the start, got the better of that tiring rival turning for home, moved out to a clear lead in midstretch as if on his way to victory, but then couldn’t quite fend off Divine Oath. Highball lagged back after an awkward start, swung wide into the lane, and finished well. Those two also will reportedly target the Secretariat. Schoolofhardrocks, favored shipping in from Santa Anita off his first turf win May 31, seemed in a great stalking position in third while saving ground, loomed a threat into the lane, but flattened out. Arlington - Modesty (race 10) COMMENT: I’m Already Sexy proved best in a thrilling finish and made it four wins in as many tries on this course, so she obviously loves this place. Coming off a good second in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at Churchill June 7, she used her speed to dog pacesetter I O Ireland in this large field, took over from that rival into the lane, pushed her lead out a bit inside the eighth pole, and then had to hold on for dear life to just edge a number of hard-charging rivals. While a race like the Grade 1 Beverly D. might be biting off too much, there’s no denying she loves it here, and she reportedly may get a shot at that race. Gulsary sat midpack, came through between horses in the lane, and finished strongly to just miss. Street of Gold lagged back, swung very wide into the lane, was still well back at the eighth pole but finished willingly to lose by just a neck and a nose. Every Way stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, and stayed on well. Embarr lagged back and finished decently. White Rose, the favorite, got bounced around at the start and never got involved. Delaware - Delaware Handicap (race 9) COMMENT: Just in case you needed a reminder about the danger of speed, Belle Gallantey provided it. Coming off a very nice fifth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont June 7 (beaten just 1 3/4 lengths by Close Hatches and Princess of Sylmar, only just behind two-time champion Beholder), Belle Gallantey used her speed to post the upset. From her rail slot, she went right out to the lead and set modest splits that left her more than enough fuel for the stretch run as she kicked clear to win smartly. After her Phipps run and this effort, she likely deserves another crack at the top gaps, maybe in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Personal Ensign Aug. 22. Not bad for a horse they claimed for $35,000 last December. Princess of Sylmar, the heavy favorite off that sharp second to Close Hatches in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, bided her time as usual, commenced her run going to the far turn, but was chasing a fresh horse and while able to edge past the others could not challenge the strong winner. The Personal Ensign is likely on her radar as well. Flashy American chased Belle Gallantey from the start, doggedly kept after her to midstretch, but weakened a bit late. Molly Morgan, romping winner of the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill June 14, stalked the early pace but gave way in a disappointing effort. Parx - Parx Dash (race 8) COMMENT: That wonderful old warrior Ben’s Cat, an 8-year-old, notched career win No. 27 and went over the $2 million earnings mark while capturing this race for a third straight year – but it wasn’t easy. Usually one with tactical speed, this time Ben’s Cat fell back to last early after breaking well. He bided his time, commenced a strong run on the far turn, and came home doggedly to get up to prevail by a nose in a three-horse photo. He just keeps on keepin’ on. The exacta was a repeat of the 2013 edition as Tightend Touchdown was second in this last year and suffered a tough defeat to finish second again this year. Coming off a game turf sprint stakes win at Penn National May 31, he dueled early with Sharp Sensation, fell back some as that foe and Bold Thunder took up the pacesetting duties, but found his best stride again late to close well along the inside to just miss. Marchman did nothing wrong in defeat as well. He bided his time early, swung out turning for home, and finished well between the top-two finishers but just couldn’t quite outfinish them to lose by a nose and a nose. Stormofthecentury got bumped and steadied going down the backstretch and never really recovered. Los Alamitos - Great Lady M. (race 7) COMMENT: Doinghardtimeagain was no match for Sagebrush Queen and Clearly Confused when fifth as they ran 1-2 in Santa Anita’s Desert Stormer June 15, but that was Doinghardtimeagain’s first race in 10 months and she apparently got what she needed out of it as she turned the tables and proved best here. There was no denying her quality – she won the Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks 13 months ago – but that long layoff was cause for some concern. She dispatched with such worries here as she stalked the pace, made a smart wide move into the lane, grabbed command in midstretch, and edged away for the win. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer took the blame for her Desert Stormer fifth, saying he didn’t have her tight enough. Obviously he didn’t make that mistake again. It’s also worth noting she got carried out very wide on the far turn by a rival who was falling out of contention. He said there are numerous options for her: the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar Aug. 2, or one of two races Aug. 17 at Del Mar, the Solana Beach (turf) or Rancho Bernardo (main track). Amaranth bounced right out to set the pace, battled back when hooked by the winner turning for home, couldn’t keep pace with that foe, but stayed on well for second, this despite having her saddle slip. Sagebrush Queen sat just behind the winner early, didn’t accelerate as quickly, found her best stride in the lane, and stayed on well for third. Heir Kitty, a Grade 1 winner last winter, was away slowly, made a mild move on the far turn, but flattened out in a disappointing run.