Trip Notes for July 16-17: Delaware Handicap, Indiana Derby, Eddie Read, and more

July 16

Delaware

Delaware Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: On paper I’m a Chatterbox appeared to hold the aces as she was a proven Grade 1-caliber filly and was coming off a return win over this track. Well, that’s the way it worked out on the track as well. She veered in several lanes and herded her rivals immediately after the start, got straightened out, stalked pacesetter Mei Ling through modest splits, moved up to challenge that rival turning for home, easily dispatched that tiring foe, rebuffed a challenge by Paid Up Subscriber into the lane, and drove clear. She did have to survive a claim of foul for her antics at the start, which was reminiscent of what Bayern did at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2014. Paid Up Subscriber, coming off two straight wins including the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill June 18, got bumped hard at the start and had her rear-end knocked out from under her. She got straightened out, sat just behind the eventual winner to the far turn, came with a run to briefly scare I’m a Chatterbox, and stayed on well to finish far clear of the others. Penwith, making her first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 6, stalked the early pace, pulled back to bit to be last going to the far turn, got going again and ran on decently to just get up for third.

Delaware

Kent (race 10)

COMMENT: American Patriot was 10th in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill May 7 on the Kentucky Derby undercard. But the son of top turf sire War Front added blinkers and won easily at Belmont June 25 and was victorious here. He stalked as He’ll Pay set a modest pace, was content to remain third to the far turn, reeled in a stubborn He’ll Pay to grab the lead by midstretch, and edged away late despite not changing leads, setting a course mark. He’ll Pay bounced out to a clear lead, maintained his edge into the lane, battled back when hooked by the winner, and only relented in the final half-furlong. Inspector Lynley lagged back and finished well, just missing second. Converge sat last to the top of the lane and finished well between horses.

Indiana

Indiana Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Family Tree continued notched her second straight graded win. Coming off a tally in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks, she broke well from her rail slot to get a stalking trip and quickly moved off the rail to the outside for clear sailing. She bided her time in third as first Sweet Legacy set the pace then Emmzy took over turning for home, moved up eagerly to challenge Emmzy in the early stretch, and drew off to win comfortably. This win was all the more impressive as she was coming back in two weeks from her Iowa Oaks win. Emmzy dogged pacesetter Sweet Legacy through modest splits, took over from that tiring foe turning for home, battled back when hooked by the winner into the lane, and stayed on well to be a clear second. Mines and Magic raced with Family Tree from the start, tried to make a run inside turning for home, but ran into a wall and had nowhere to go while the winner has surged clear. Mines and Magic moved out and ran on decently but was no threat. Dothraki Queen, 10th in the Grade 3 Regret on turf at Churchill June 18, was last to the far turn, swung very wide, and just missed getting third.

Indiana

Indiana Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: Cupid, fifth in Belmont’s Easy Goer June 11, got back on track. The $900,000 son of top sire Tapit broke a bit tardily from his outside post but rushed up to take the early lead, saw Pilot House move up the rail to take over pacesetting duties, dogged that foe through fast splits, and got the better of him on the turn. Cupid rebuffed a challenge from Cocked and Loaded, drifted out into the lane as The Player came up to challenge, opened up a clear lead by midstretch, then had to gut it out - all this despite not changing leads in the lane. The Player, trying stakes for the first time after an optional-claiming win June 3, sat a few lengths off the dueling leaders, came with a run to Cupid’s outside into the lane, got pushed further out as Cupid lugged out, seemed to lose his action and looked done, but then got back in stride and closed well to scare the winner. Star Hill, a rallying third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11, moved back to a route. He lagged back to the far turn and finished well, though he wasn’t really a danger to the top two. He may be better suited to the one-turn game. Cherry Wine, second in the Preakness and then seventh in the Belmont, was never a factor. He may be in need of a break after those two Triple Crown attempts.

Del Mar

Yellow Ribbon Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: She’s Not Here posted a 6-1 upset in this race last year but was no factor in five subsequent starts. Well, apparently she loves this place as she returned here and posted a 9-1 upset. She stalked the early pace of Her Emmynency, surged to a clear lead by midstretch and then fended off a hard-charging Fresh Feline. Fresh Feline backed up her third at 18-1 in the Grade 2 Santa Ana last time out March 26 with another good run off the layoff. She lagged back to the top of the lane, shifted out for room and powered home. Nancy From Nairobi, sixth in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita May 30 after three straight wins, was last into the lane and closed strongly just behind Fresh Feline. Prize Exhibit, second in this last year and sixth in the Grade 1 Just a Game on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11, sat fifth early, made a threatening move turning for home, but couldn’t sustain it. Her Emmynency, a Grade 1 winner last year, set the pace, seemed to be traveling comfortably but then fell apart when asked into the lane.

July 17

Del Mar

Eddie Read (race 9)

COMMENT: Midnight Storm, coming off a win in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 4, broke sharply and went right to the lead. He was quickly joined by Bolo, appeared a bit rank with the challenge, but then relaxed when allowed to move out to the lead again. Midnight Storm set modest splits from there, rebuffed a challenge from Bolo on the far turn, was taken on quickly by Si Sage to his inside and Ashleyluvssugar to his outside, looked in trouble when Si Sage poked his head in front in midstretch, but re-rallied to win. Ashleyluvssugar, third in Santa Anita’s Crystal Water June 11, his first start in 10 months, stalked in fourth, came with a strong run on the outside to challenge for the lead, but couldn’t outdo the winner. Flamboyant, making his first start since finishing fifth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf in late March against some of the world’s best, bided his time far back, came with a threatening run on the outside, came up just short. Finnegan’s Wake, third in this last year and coming off an optional-claiming win at Santa Anita June 16, was last into the lane and finished decently but was no threat. Ohio, an Argentine import who was impressive whipping lesser in a pair of turf mile races at Santa Anita this spring, sat midpack, pitched wide into the lane but then gave way. Bolo, freshened since a miserable trip when 10th in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, rushed up to challenge for the early lead, then settled a bit off Midnight Storm, made another run at that rival on the turn but then weakened, ending up last