Trip Notes for July 15-16: Delaware Handicap, Indiana Derby, Los Alamitos Derby

July 15

Delaware
Kent (race 8)
COMMENT: Frostmourne was the heavy favorite off an impressive win in the Grade 2 Penn Mile June 3, and had little trouble validating that form at a longer trip. The son of Speightstown sat second as longshot The Tortoise, despite his name, shot out to a clear early lead. Frostmourne began to close the gap on that rival at the midpoint of the backstretch, quickly moved clear, and extended his margin to win while being geared down. Since he handled this 1 1/8-mile trip that could mean a shot at some of the division’s best in Arlington’s Grade 1 Secretariat at 1 1/4 miles Aug. 12. Master Plan, winner of the Stanton on this course June 10, sat third, just behind Frostmourne, tried to go with Frostmourne going to the far turn, was still within reach by the top of the lane, but then proved no match while running on well for second. Adonis Cree, second in the Stanton, made a threatening move turning for home and flattened out a bit to end up behind Master Plan again.

Delaware
Delaware Handicap (race 9)
COMMENT: It wasn’t as easy as many expected, but 1-20 favorite Songbird still got the job done. The two-time champion, with only that nose loss to Beholder in last fall’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff to keep her from being unbeaten now in 14 starts, went right out to a clear lead, set modest splits, appeared to be in control going to the far turn, was given a scare when longshot Martini Glass came up nearly alongside turning for home, but kept to her task to keep that rival at bay. While it wasn’t an overwhelming win it was still nice considering she was asked to go 1 1/4 miles with just one race under her belt this year and after shipping across the country twice. Of course, she’ll have to do better when she runs into fellow champ Stellar Wind down the line. She has all sorts of options, though trainer Jerry Hollendorfer did mention Saratoga as a definite target, likely meaning the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Aug. 26. Martini Glass stalked the pace, came up to threaten the champion coming into the lane, and stayed on gamely to make Songbird work. Line of Best Fit stalked the pace and plugged along for third while no danger to the winner.

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Indiana
Indiana Oaks (race 8)
COMMENT: Overture was trying stakes for the first time and was up to the task. Coming off a third to Unchained Melody in an allowance race at Belmont June 1 (Unchained Melody came back to win the Grade 2 Mother Goose), she went right to the lead, got away with slow splits while holding a narrow advantage over longshot I’mluckysgirl, dispatched with that foe turning for home but was immediately taken on by favorites Majestic Quality and Mopotism, and held those two at bay to the wire. Mopotism, the favorite coming off a second in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita June 17 (beaten just a head), stalked the pace, had to check and steady going down the backstretch, got back into stride, angled wide into the lane for clear sailing, made a run into the lane, but couldn’t get to the winner. Majestic Quality, a rallying fourth (was awarded third via disqualification) in the Summertime Oaks, stalked in third, loomed a big threat into the lane, and finished third, well clear of the others.

Indiana
Indiana Derby (race 9)
COMMENT: Irap, winner of the Grade 2 Blue Grass and Grade 3 Ohio Derby, sat midpack early while wide and in the clear as Wild Shot set a solid pace under some pressure from Han Sense. Irap pitched wider turning for home to surge to the lead, opened up a commanding lead by midstretch, and cruised home without a worry. This may have earned him another shot at the division’s best in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Travers Aug. 26. Colonelsdarktemper, second in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs June 17 to top-class McCraken, stalked in third, loomed a threat into the lane, and kept to his task well to be second. Untrapped, 12th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and then third to Irap in the Ohio Derby, raced in tandem with the winner early in the race, got going in the lane to be third by midstretch, and finished evenly. Wild Shot, winner of the Grade 3 Pat Day and stretching back out after fading to seventh in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens, took pressure from Han Sense while setting the pace on the rail, battled back briefly when hooked by the winner turning for home, but soon gave way.

Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos Derby (race 7)
COMMENT: West Coast had flashed big-time potential, winning three of his first five starts including a stakes win at Belmont June 10. He continued his ascent here with an easy win. The $425,000 son of Flatter bided his time early as Cistron set a modest pace under pressure from Klimt. West Coast remained toward the back while wide, was third at the eighth pole, and then powered past his rivals. Trainer Bob Baffert said this makes him a prime candidate for the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 26. Klimt, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity but making his first start fading to eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last Nov. 5, sat second dogging pacesetter Cistron, moved up to challenge for the lead into the lane along with B Squared, but couldn’t finish with the winner. B Squared stalked the pace, came with a wide run into the lane, poked his head in front by the eighth pole, and just lost second at the wire. Kimbear stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a threat into the lane, but faltered. He may be best playing a shorter game, at least at this stage of his career.

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