Trip Notes for July 19 & 20: Diana, Arlington Oaks, Eddie Read and more

Saturday, July 19

Saratoga
Sanford (race 7)[bc_video_id:330628:]

Big Trouble overcame just that to shoot to the fore of the 2-year-old male set here with a game victory. The son of Tiz Wonderful was an impressive winner of his debut at Belmont June 1. Here he bided his time early while a number of rivals dueled through hot splits. He commenced a smart wide run coming into the lane, got bumped hard in deep stretch by then-leader Mr. Z but gathered himself, showing some athleticism, and kept to his task well to still go past that rival. The Grade 1 Hopeful here Sept. 1 is the “logical” next stop, according to trainer Anthony Dutrow. Mr. Z, a son of Malibu Moon (sire of 2013 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Orb), did little wrong in defeat. Winner of his lone start at Churchill June 28 he showed the ability to rate as he sat back just in front of the eventual winner, came with a smart run into the lane, got the better of the tiring leaders, was immediately tackled by Big Trouble, shifted out and bumped that foe soundly, continued on well but couldn’t fend off the resurgent winner. The Hopeful may be next for him, too. Cinco Charlie pressed a hot pace, proved best of the speed as she still has the lead in midstretch but weakened a bit late. Nonna’s Boy, impressive debut winner at Belmont June 13, stalked the pace, came with a menacing run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it.

Saratoga
Diana (race 10)[bc_video_id:330706:]

The turf distaff division continues to be a revolving door at the top and this time it was Somali Lemonade who proved she’s indeed a Grade 1-caliber mare. Coming off a good 3rd in the Grade 1 Just a Game II on the Belmont undercard June 7, she again used her speed, this time to get a nice stalking position while saving ground. She bided her time, came off the rail for room into the lane, closed well to grab the lead and had enough to fend off a hard-charging Stephanie’s Kitten. The Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Aug. 16 might be next, or trainer Matz said she could instead wait a week for the Grade 2 Ballston spa here Aug. 23. Stephanie’s Kitten looked like her old self here. A strong 3rd in this race last year but coming off a couple less-than-stellar outings this year she got back to her best form as she lagged back, swung wide into the lane and came with a strong run but just couldn’t quite outduel the stubborn winner. The Beverly D. is on her radar as well. Discreet Marq went right out to the lead, set a modest pace while pressured first by Tannery and then Alterite, dispatched with those foes turning for home, still had the lead to inside the final furlong but couldn’t quite finish with the top two. The Yaddo for NY-breds at Saratoga Aug. 24 may be next, primarily as a prep for the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland in early October. Abaco was last early, still there turning for home and finished well. Alterite, making her first start since being sidelined after last running 3rd in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf last Nov. 2, was eager early, prompted the pace, was still a threat into the lane but then tired. Her trainer had said she might be a tad short for this and that appeared the case. She can improve with this run under her belt. That next run may be in the Beverly D. Emollient, coming off a near-miss 2nd in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita May 26, got bumped early to be well back, was rank and never made a move. Turns out she had a shoe come loose during the race.

Arlington
Arlington Oaks (race 7)

Aurelia’s Belle continued her love affair with synthetic footing as she’s now 3 for 3 on Polytrack and all 3 came at different tracks. Coming off a win by DQ in the Grade 3 Regret on turf at Churchill June 14, she added blinkers. She broke well, got a nice trip stalking in 3rd, came with a strong run into the lane, surged to a clear lead and had enough to get to the line before hard-charging Stellaris. She’s proven quality on grass, too, and trainer Wayne Catalano said her next go may be the Grade 3 Pucker Up on turf here Sept. 13. Stellaris sat midpack, remained there to the top of the lane and finished well but just ran out of ground. She was much the best of the rest (4 1/4 lengths clear of 3rd). She’s Offlee Good ran 2nd behind runaway pacesetter Phaniebdancing, tried to go with the winner as both rolled past that tiring pacesetter but was unable to keep pace with the top two in the lane. Interrupted stalked in 4th while saving ground but never mustered a run.

Del Mar
San Clemente (race 9)[bc_video_id:330729:]

Another testament to the absolute importance of speed. Istanford led all the way to beat boys in the Grade 3 Arlington Classic at Arlington May 24 but after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Regret (vs. fellow 3-year-old fillies) on the Churchill turf June 14 she gave way readily to finish 7th. She had no such problems today as she went right out to the lead, set a brisk pace, remained clear into the lane and had more than enough gas left in the tank to keep the closers at bay. Off this she may return for a shot at the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 16. Oddly enough, the filly who finished just behind her in 8th in the Regret, Tepin, got closest to her again today as she finished a nice 2nd. She sat midpack, came out into the lane, doggedly chased after the winner but couldn’t get to her. My Conquestadory, a proven top-class turf filly, raced near Tepin from the start while racing wide, remained wide into the lane and finished well. Surely the far outside post was a big hurdle. Diversy Harbor, a smart 2nd in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita May 31, lagged well back and finished smartly up the inside. Sandiva, a European raider who was coming out of a couple Group 1’s, was last early after a slow start, was still well back turning for home and could make only modest headway.

Saturday, July 20

Saratoga
CCA Oaks (race 10)[bc_video_id:330727:]

Stopchargingmaria, heavily favored off a freshening after her Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan win at Pimlico May 16, showed she’s got ample class as she had little trouble handling these as she loves this nine-furlong trip. She won her prior 2 starts at this distance (Grade 2 Demoiselle last fall and the Black-Eyed Susan) and made it 3 for 3 as she stalked the pace, came with a strong sweeping move on the far turn in tandem with Unbridled Forever to take command, dispatched with that foe in the lane and drew away to win easily. Good as she looked, she doesn’t want anything to do with Untapable and it’s good news for her and the rest of the 3-year-old filly division that Untapable is slated to take on boys next. That may mean the Grade 1 Alabama here Aug. 16 may be a similarly good spot for this filly. Unbridled Forever, coming off thirds in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Acorn, stalked the pace with the winner, was last early, made a strong run on the far turn in tandem with Stopchargingmaria, couldn’t keep up with that filly but stayed on to be a clear 2nd. She obviously has quality but apparently the top of the division is just a bit too much for her. Still, with no significant power in the division outside of Untapable there’s no reason the Alabama shouldn’t be on her radar as well. Miss Besilu, stepping back up in class after a solid 2nd vs. elders in an optional claimer at Belmont June 19, set a modest pace but was no match for the top two in the lane. Still, the $2.6 million sales buy has plenty of work to do to live up to the expectations that come with such a price tag. Start was delayed some as Courageous Julie returned to the paddock to be reshod after rearing on the way to the track and losing a hind shoe. However, she couldn’t be reshod properly, so she raced for purse money only.

Del Mar
Eddie Read (race 5)[bc_video_id:330728:]

Tom’s Tribute has really come into his own and his continued progress has now turned him into a Grade 1 winner. Admittedly, this wasn’t the strongest Eddie Read renewal (no Obviously, no Winning Prize) but that’s not Tom’s Tribute’s fault. Coming off a rallying 3rd in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita June 14 his emergence had coincided with a style change – that he would sit back and make one run. Not so today. Instead, he sat 2nd off clear pacesetter Horizontalyspeakin, who set a solid pace, had no trouble going past that tiring foe into the lane, took command, rebuffed a bid by favorite Summer Front and was actually pulling further clear late. Next could be the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Aug. 24 – though there he’d expected to run into Obviously and Winning Prize, and possibly get another challenge from Summer Front, who may prefer that shorter trip. Summer Front, the heavy favorite who shipped back West after running 2nd in the Shoemaker Mile, sat 3rd just behind the eventual winner, went after that foe into the lane but just couldn’t get to him. While he’s a real nice horse it seems nine furlongs may be a smidge beyond him, at least at this level. Cutting back to a mile in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile here Aug. 24 may be the ticket. Spring Up lagged back and came with a decent rally though he was never really a threat. Horizontalyspeakin set the pace, as expected, but weakened in the lane.