Trip Notes for July 21-22: Diana, San Diego, and more

July 21

Saratoga

Sanford (race 8)

COMMENT: Highly promising Dream Maker scratched to await the Grade 2 Saratoga Special here Aug. 12. Sombeyay romped in his debut at Gulfstream on April 27 but was then undone by stumbling badly at the start of the Tremont at Belmont on June 2. To his credit, the $230,000 son of Into Mischief finished strongly that day for second and he validated his ability here with a game victory, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his seventh win in this race. From his rail slot he stalked the pace set by Strike Silver and Bano Solo, remained on the fence to the far turn, came off the inside turning for home, doggedly went after then-leader Strike Silver and was able to wear down that rival for the win. Certainly off this a race like the Grade 1 Hopeful here closing day Sept. 3 figures on his radar. Strike Silver, a game wire-to-wire debut winner at Churchill on June 14, again used his speed as the $275,000 son of Violence went right to the lead, was joined by Bano Solo to his inside, dueled with that rival through solid splits, got the better of that foe by midstretch only to be joined by the eventual winner and couldn’t quite fend off that rival in a fine try. He finished well clear of the others. The Hopeful could be in his plans as well. Whiskey Echo, a $225,000 son of Tiznow who easily won his debut at Belmont on June 10, sat fifth but not too far off the lead, tried to make a run at the top two in the lane, proved no match for them but kept on decently for third despite his rider losing his whip at about the sixteenth pole. Lexitonian, favored off a solid debut win at Belmont on June 27, was disappointing as the son of sprint champ Speightstown stalked in fourth, pitched very, very wide into the lane but could make no headway. Obviously it’s far too early to give up on this guy.

Saratoga

Diana (race 10)

COMMENT: It was more difficult than anticipated but Sistercharlie still got the job done and likely confirmed her status as the nation’s top turf distaffer. Coming off a second in the Grade 2 New York at Belmont last time when she nearly overcame a troubled trip, the daughter of Myboycharlie bided her time early from her rail slot as Hawksmoor set a modest pace, wasn’t nearly as far back as in the New York, moved off the rail on the first turn into the backstretch, bided her time in fifth while wide and in the clear, started her run on the far turn while wide, was asked for more turning for home while very wide into the lane, didn’t look as though she would get there but finally changed leads and surged late to edge Ultra Brat. Trainer Chad Brown, who was winning this for the third straight year and for the fourth time overall, said this filly is “strong and has a lot of constitution about her” so if she came out of this well he might bring her back quickly in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington on Aug. 11. Ultra Brat, coming off a romping win in the Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 19 when she reveled in bog-like conditions, showed she’s as good on firm ground. She had run 10th to Sistercharlie beaten 13 lengths in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on firm ground April 14 but has improved considerably as she sat second behind pacesetter Hawksmoor, crept closer on the far turn, engaged Hawksmoor into the lane, got the better of her, looked like the winner until Sistercharlie surged late. A Raving Beauty, stablemate of the winner and winner of her first two U.S. starts in impressive fashion including the Grade 1 Just a Game II on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 9, ran big in defeat as she saved ground while sitting midpack, not far in front of Sistercharlie, remained inside as she made a strong move on the turn, had to steady sharply when running into traffic losing position, got going again in the lane but it was too late. The Grade 2 Ballston Spa at a slightly shorter trip here Aug. 25 seems a logical spot. Hawksmoor, eliminated at the start of the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita on May 26 when she nearly fell at the start, broke alertly and was sent right to the lead, set a modest pace while clear of Ultra Brat, held the fence to the top of the lane when challenged by a few runners and couldn’t quite keep up in the final furlong. She didn’t run badly and the slightly shorter Ballston Spa may fit in her plans. New Money Honey, a multiple Grade 1 winner who gamely won a tough optional claimer in her first start of the year June 21, stalked the pace, loomed a threat with a wide move on the far turn, was just inside Sistercharlie and just outside her other stablemate A Raving Beauty in the lane, got squeezed a bit in midstretch and gave way. Four of her five wins have come on Belmont’s inner course and she just hasn’t been quite as effective elsewhere.

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Del Mar

San Diego Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when 8-5 ML favorite and defending champ Accelerate scratched as trainer John Sadler had entered him and two others from the same ownership (Catalina Cruiser, Curlin Rules) and said he didn’t want to run them against one another. Curlin Rules also scratched. Sadler said Accelerate would likely train up to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 18 (ran third in that last year). Catalina Cruiser flashed big-time ability in his first two starts, winning both easily. He continued that trend here as the son of Union Rags, who was making his first start around two turns, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under some pressure from Dr. Dorr and then blew the race open into the lane, drawing off to win easily. Sadler said he would not run Catalina Cruiser and Accelerate against one another, so ‘Cruiser may await the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita in the fall. Sadler said the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic is the main goal of Accelerate, while the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is Catalina Cruiser’s target. Dr. Dorr, coming off a disappointing ninth in the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont on July 7, chased the winner from the start, tried to keep close going to the far turn, proved no match for that foe from there forward but kept to his task well to hold second. Dabster, routing after finishing fifth in the Grade 2 San Carlos at 7 furlongs at Santa Anita on June 23, bided his time early, made progress in the lane to pass two rivals but was never a danger to the runner-up, much less the winner.

Del Mar

San Clemente (race 8)

COMMENT: A day after Fahan Mura led all the way to win the Osunitas, another speed horse succeeded on the turf course as War Heroine, stretching out off a frontrunning win over elders in a sprint on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on April 29, used the same tactics to stay perfect in three starts on grass. She went right to the lead, took early pressure from Ms Bad Behavior but soon was a clear leader, maintained a clear lead through solid splits and kept to her task gamely to get to the line before hard-charging Ollie’s Candy. Trainer Peter Miller and rider Tyler Baze foresee no problem with the added furlong of the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 18, her next target. Ollie’s Candy ran big while suffering her first loss in four starts. Stuck with a miserable far-outside post (No. 14) the daughter of Candy Ride was trying turf for the first time after a game win in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 16 and handled it well. She lagged back early, remained toward the back to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and finished strongly only to come up a neck short in a big try. The Del Mar Oaks is likely next for her as well. Ms Bad Behavior, second to War Heroine in Santa Anita’s Sweet Life (a sprint) on Feb. 11, then winner of the China Doll at a mile there March 10 and second in the Grade 3 Providencia at 1 1/8 miles there April 7, chased the winner from the start, doggedly kept after her throughout and stayed on well for third, beaten just two necks. Miss Sienna, a multiple stakes winner in France and fourth in the Grade 2 Honeymoon at Santa Anita on June 9 in her U.S. debut, added blinkers but after stalking the early pace gave way in the lane. Not only are the top three targeting the Del Mar Oaks, so too are fourth- through seventh-place finishers Ahimsa, Flammetta, Animosity, and West Palm Beach. Considering the first seven finishers were separated by just four lengths you can’t blame them for eyeing the Oaks. The Oaks will also likely include Paved, winner of the Grade 2 Honeymoon before she shipped east and finished eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 7.

July 22

Saratoga

Coaching Club American Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: The 3-year-old filly title seemed to hang in the balance before this race but Monomoy Girl shoved such notions aside as the pro-tem division leader had no trouble putting a hammerlock on her position atop the standings with an easy win over archrival Midnight Bisou. Coming off three straight Grade 1 wins the daughter of Tapizar was pushed out of the gate to go right to the lead, set a dawdling pace while staying inside taking some minimal pressure from Gio Game, dispatched with that foe into the lane as Midnight Bisou came at her but had plenty left to rebuff that rival and draw clear late. The Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 22 could be next and then it will be intriguing to see her take on such tough elders as Unique Bella, Abel Tasman, and Elate. Midnight Bisou, coming off a powerful win in the Grade 2 Mother Goose at Belmont last month, stalked in third but that put her at a distinct disadvantage as it left Monomoy Girl in control up front. She was asked to take up the chase on the turn, loomed a threat into the lane but couldn’t get on terms with the eventual winner and saw that rival edge farther clear in the final furlong. The Cotillion could be on her radar as well. Chocolate Martini, third in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 16, lagged back while saving ground, made a mile move to be just behind Midnight Bisou turning for home but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the lane while staying on decently for third. Eskimo Kisses got away slowly to be last early, remained at the back of the small field and never really mustered a run.

Del Mar

Eddie Read (race 8)

COMMENT: Catapult had shown class a couple years ago, winning a turf stakes at Aqueduct in November 2016. His form had been spotty since but he came here off a sharp second to top-class Sharp Samurai in a tough optional claimer at Santa Anita on June 17, his first start in nine months. Apparently he got what he needed out of that race as he stepped up in class and narrowly turned the tables on tough rival Sharp Samurai. The 5-year-old son of turf champ and top turf sire Kitten’s Joy lagged back early as Prime Attraction set a modest pace under some pressure from Sharp Samurai, remained toward the back to the top of the lane, still had work to do by midstretch but blasted home in the final furlong to edge Sharp Samurai and Prime Attraction while to their outside. The Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 19 figures next. Sharp Samurai, winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby here last summer and coming off a sharp optional claiming win at Santa Anita on June 17, his first start in seven months and in which he beat Catapult back into second, showed the speed to dog early pacesetter Prime Attraction as the tepid 3-1 favorite, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane to his outside, was getting the better of that rival late but couldn’t fend off the winner. The Del Mar Mile could be next or they could opt for the longer Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap (1 3/8 miles) the same day. Prime Attraction, making his first start since fading to sixth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 10, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under some pressure from ‘Samurai, battled back gamely when challenged by that foe into the lane while holding the fence but couldn’t quite rebuff him or the winner in a big try. He was fourth in the Del Mar Handicap last year so another shot at that race may be in the plans. Bowies Hero, winner of the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 10 and making his first start since finishing a close-up fifth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile there May 28, lagged back, came out for room into the lane, made a bid before having to steady when tight off heels in the final strides. True Valour, a European import who last won a Group 3 in Ireland, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane and to midstretch but then flattened out. Itsinthepost, a multiple Grade 2 winner, sat midpack but came up empty in the lane. This trip is surely short of his best and it serves as a stepping-stone to the longer Del Mar Handicap, a race in which he was a second (to Hunt) last year. Hunt, winner of this last year and freshened since a game win in the aforementioned Shoemaker Mile, was disappointing as he lagged back, just behind Itsinthepost, but not only didn’t make a move, actually gave way to end up last. Last year he went from a win in this race to then win the Del Mar Handicap so defending that title may still be in his plans, though surely this wasn’t the type of run expected of him.