Trip Notes for July 14-15: Delaware Handicap, Indiana Derby, and more

July 14

Delaware
Kent (race 8)

COMMENT: Golden Brown showed turf talent in his first try on grass when second in a stakes at Monmouth last time out June 17 (it was also his first route). The son of Offlee Wild validated that run and then some, moving forward here to post a 15-1 upset. He showed speed to chase early pacesetter Archaggelos, got shuffled back some between horses on the far turn but came with a smart run in the lane to reel-in the leaders and edge clear. This doesn’t mean he’s ready for the likes of Catholic Boy, Analyze It and company, but it shows he can do damage in the right spots. Hot Springs stalked the pace, got crowded when pacesetter Archaggelos drifted inward into the lane but kept to his task gamely and while unable to finish with the winner showed grit to get second. Carrick was pulled back early as he was restrained while seemingly trying to bear out, managed to settle, steadily advanced to the far turn and finished well. Archaggelos went right out to a clear lead while setting a modest pace, was still clear turning for home but drifted inward to crowd Hot Springs into Untamed Domain into the lane and couldn’t finish with the top three thereafter. He was disqualified from fourth to sixth, behind Untamed Domain. Untamed Domain, the favorite, was slow into stride to be last from the start, started to advance along the inside on the far turn, then had to steady sharply again when crowded by Archaggelos into Hot Springs and was unable to recover.

Delaware
Delaware Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Elate, one of last year’s top 3-year-old fillies but making her first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar last Nov. 3, made a smart return to action here as she dominated her overmatched rivals. She was slow into stride to be last early but quickly moved closer into stalking position going down the backstretch as her rider sensed the slow pace, crept closer going to the far turn, moved up easily to challenge for the lead on the turn, blew the race open with a smart run to midstretch and cruised home. They cut into her margin a bit in the final furlong but the issue had already been put to bed. This makes for a mouth-watering clash with champions Unique Bella and Abel Tasman down the road, not to mention multiple Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods and the top 3-year-old fillies. First things first, though, as trainer Bill Mott said the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 25 could be next, though there she could run into Abel Tasman. Sneaky Betty, third in the Obeah here June 16, the traditional local prep for this race, but sent off at a hefty 85-1, lagged back from the start, made her move with the eventual winner on the turn, proved no match for that gal but kept to her task gamely to hold second. Teresa Z, winner of the aforementioned Obeah, lagged back with Sneaky Betty as 127-1 longshot Proper Discretion set a slow pace, made her move with ‘Betty while just behind her, was no match for the winner and while able to close the gap on ‘Betty in the final half-furlong couldn’t quite get to her for second. Unbridled Mo, winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom this spring and coming off a third to Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 9, stalked in third, seemed in a good spot and to be traveling well but came up empty when it mattered. Mopotism, third in the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis at Churchill on June 16, showed speed to sit second to pacesetter Proper Discretion, made a mild move on the turn and into the lane but had little left in the final furlong.

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Indiana
Indiana Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Talk Veuve to Me was an overwhelming 1-10 favorite off a second to division leader Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on June 9 and validated that judgment while never giving her backers a moment of worry. She broke well to sit second just behind longshot 58-1 pacesetter Molecules, who set a brisk early pace, assumed command from that rival on the far turn under her own energy, opened up a clear lead into the lane and maintained her sizeable advantage to the line without really being pressed by her rider. She’s developed into a top filly and this could earn her another shot at Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou. Figarella’s Queen, coming off a nice optional claiming win when moved back to dirt at Churchill on June 3, bided her time early, steadily advanced to the far turn, came with a nice run in the lane and while no danger to the winner finished far clear of the others. Kelly’s Humor sat back with the eventual runner-up, didn’t move as early or as quickly but plugged along to get third while never a danger to the top two.

Indiana
Indiana Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: Axelrod dueled and stayed on decently for second in the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita June 10, beaten by Draft Pick who came back earlier this day to be a good second in the Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby. Axelrod further flattered the Affirmed form with a game tally. The son of Warrior’s Reward lagged well back while saving ground as Trigger Warning set a modest pace under pressure from Blame the Rider and Givememinit, remained at the back going down the backstretch, was still trailing the field going into the far turn, came off the inside into the lane as he started his run, surged between horses and just got up in the final jump to nip Trigger Warning on the line. Trigger Warning, a good third in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown at 86-1 last time out, showed that run was no fluke as the son of Candy Ride did everything right only to just miss, leading every step save the last one. He went right out to the lead while holding the rail, took some pressure while setting a modest pace, dispatched with the pacepressers into the lane, opening up as if going on to victory only to get nailed by Axelrod in the final stride. Title Ready, fourth in the Ohio Derby, sat midpack, moved closer on the turn while wide, came with a decent run in the lane but couldn’t finish with the winner and was unable to get to the runner-up. King Zachary, a $550,000 son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, coming off a smashing victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill on June 16, was disappointing as the 8-5 favorite as he lagged back, came wide into the lane and was actually head to head with the eventual winner but couldn’t stay with that rival and could make only modest headway thereafter. Dark Vader, a sharp third in the Easy Goer at Belmont on June 9, stalked the pace, loomed a threat inside turning for home but flattened out in the lane. Blame the Rider, back to dirt after a stakes win and stakes-placing on turf at Santa Anita in recent months, pressed the early pace but gave way when the real racing began. The $320,000 son of Jimmy Creek appears more effective on turf at this stage of the game so it’s likely back to that footing for him.

Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Most figured that if trainer Bob Baffert ended up posing for pictures it would be with his highly regarded Ax Man, who went off the heavy 7-10 favorite here. It was, however, his other runner, Once On Whiskey, who posted the upset. The son of Bodemeister who was stepping up in class after running third in an optional-claiming sprint at Churchill on May 5, was not only facing tougher, but routing for the first time. It didn’t matter to the $150,000 sales buy as the colt gamely prevailed. He bided his time early as stablemate Ax Man set a solid pace under pressure from Draft Pick, remained toward the back to the far turn, came with a wide unimpeded run into the lane to engage the leaders and gamely prevail over stubborn rival Draft Pick. He may not be up to the level of stablemates Justify, McKinzie or Solomini, but showed here he’s got sand. Draft Pick, coming off a big win in the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita on June 10, stalked the early pace, moved closer to pressure Axman going down the backstretch, continued to hound that rival to the far turn, got the better of that foe into the lane but was immediately taken on by the eventual winner, battled gamely but just couldn’t quite outdo ‘Whiskey while finishing far clear of the rest. Ax Man, smashing winner of the Sir Barton at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 19 but a well-beaten third (12 3/4 lengths) in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill on June 16, went right to the lead, took immediate pressure first from King Cause and then Draft Pick while setting a slow pace, held a narrow lead to the top of the lane while saving ground but then proved no match for the top two in the lane. Could be that while he’s bred to route this trip is outside his comfort zone. Blended Citizen, winner of the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont on May 12 and then ninth in the Grade 1 Belmont on June 9, was slow into stride, sat back between horses, moved to the inside on the far turn but came up empty when it mattered. Considering he was dull here and has had a busy few months he could be due for a break.