Trip Notes for July 22-23: Sanford, Diana, San Diego, Coaching Club American Oaks

July 22

Saratoga
Sanford (race 9)
COMMENT: Firenze Fire, winner of his debut June 18 at Monmouth, showed he’s the real deal, handling new surroundings and tougher company in game fashion. He sat fourth early as Baffin set a solid pace under pressure from Direct Dial, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a wide run to challenge turning for home, opened up by midstretch, and favored Fee Drop Billy at bay in the final furlong. The Grade 2 Saratoga Special here Aug. 13 or the Grade 1 Hopeful here Sept. 4 could be next. Free Drop Billy, a $200,000 son of Grade 1 Belmont winner Union Rags and a rallying winner of his debut at Churchill last month, was a bit slow to start. He crept closer going to the far turn, came with a nice run into the lane, kept after the winner, and finished far clear of the others. The Saratoga Special and Hopeful figure on his radar as well. Psychoanalyze, a debut winner at Belmont June 14, stalked in third while saving ground and was basically one-paced throughout and. Direct Dial, romping winner of his debut April 26 at Keeneland and second in the Tremont at Belmont June 9, pressed the pace but fell away early.

Saratoga
Diana (race 10)
COMMENT: It took a bit of work, but Lady Eli showed again she’s the best turf distaffer in the land. She broke open the gate prior to the start when stablemate Antonoe, to her inside, broke through the gate and ran off. After that she bobbled at the start to get away poorly. Lady Eli sat fifth as Quidura set a modest pace, crept closer going to the far turn, came with a run in the lane to go after leader Quidura, lugged in brushing with Quidura, and fought on for the narrow win. Trainer Chad Brown said she might go in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa here Aug. 26, though it’s more likely she’ll await the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Oct. 8, and from there another swing at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 4. Quidura ran splendidly in defeat. Coming off a second to Hawksmoor in the Grade 2 New York at Belmont June 9, she set modest splits, battled back when hooked by Lady Eli while holding the fence, but couldn’t quite fend her off. Trainer Graham Motion said she’ll target the Grade 3 All Along at Laurel Sept. 16 as a bridge to the Breeders’ Cup. Antonoe, winner of the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont June 10, broke through the gate and ran about half a furlong before being collared. She was reloaded, and when the gate opened she stalked the pace while saving ground just in front of Lady Eli and just behind Dickinson. Antonoe was asked for run into the lane, cut the corner into the stretch, and was making up ground along the rail inside Lady Eli and Quidura when she had to steady late when Quidura was forced in by Lady Eli. There was an inquiry regarding the stretch run but the stewards let the result stand. The Ballston Spa may be next for Antonoe. Dickinson sat second behind Quidura, moved closer on the far turn as if ready to challenge, but couldn’t sustain her bid. The Flower Bowl could be on her radar as well, as might the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

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Del Mar
Eddie Read (race 4)
COMMENT: Hunt didn’t do much when fifth in the Grade 3 American at Santa Anita July 4, but that was his first start in over seven months and it apparently did him a world of good. Today, he stalked as Kenjisstorm set a modest pace, looked ready to pounce into the lane but came up on a wall of horses and had nowhere to go. Hunt found room it in midstretch and burst through between horses to grab the lead and get his first graded stakes win. Trainer Phil D’Amato said that either the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles here Aug. 19 or Grade 2 Del Mar Mile here Aug. 20 would be next. Ashleyluvssugar, coming off a win in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at Santa Anita May 28, raced alongside Hunt from, moved a bit earlier to challenge for the lead by midstretch, looked poised to win, but couldn’t finish with the winner. The Del Mar Handicap, a race he won last year, figures next. Mr. Roary dogged pacesetter Kenjisstorm, moved up between horses to take the lead from that tiring rival by midstretch, but couldn’t finish with the top pair.

Del Mar
San Diego (race 9)
COMMENT: Arrogate, the top-rated horse in the world, finished fourth and lost some of the luster off his gaudy reputation. Accelerate, coming off a well-beaten third in the Grade 3 Precisionist at Santa Anita June 24, broke sharply from his rail slot, and managed to avoid El Huerfano, who stumbled badly at the start, causing his rider to lose his irons. Accelerate set a solid pace under pressure from Donworth and Cat Burglar, took pressure from El Huerfano going to the far turn, and kicked away into the lane to win with ease. He’s 3 for 3 at Del Mar. Trainer John Sadler said he’d consider the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 19, though Accelerate’s main goal is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here in November. Donworth stalked the pace, proved no match for Accelerate, but stayed on well for second. Cat Burglar, best known as Arrogate’s workmate, stalked the pace and ran on evenly to hold third. Arrogate seemed comfortable about six lengths off the pace while on a long rein, was being urged going to the far turn, but didn’t respond. He cut down to the rail and briefly appeared to be finding his stride, but came off the fence and immediately flattened out, ending up off the board for the first time in his career. Trainer Bob Baffert didn’t said the horse “laid an egg” and that he might not have trained Arrogate hard enough. Baffert added the horse seemed fine the following morning and provided everything was okay would come back in the Pacific Classic.

July 23

Saratoga
CCA Oaks (race 10)
COMMENT: She had to work hard, but by capturing this race Abel Tasman made it three straight Grade 1 wins and may have put a stranglehold on the 3-year-old filly championship, even if many think Unique Bella may the most talented in the crop. Abel Tasman was relaxed early as longshot Summer Luck shot out to set the pace. Abel Tasman made a swooping wide move going down the backstretch to get abreast of Summer Luck, took the lead going to the far turn, was challenged briefly by Berned, then fended off Elate, who came up her inside. Abel Tasman moved inward and crowded Elate, and there was an inquiry, but the stewards let the result stand. Elate, coming off a romping win in a stakes at Delaware June 15, stalked the pace while saving ground, battled with Abel Tasman the length of the stretch, was in tight late, and couldn’t get by. Trainer Bill Mott said the Alabama is next. Salty, second to Abel Tasman in the Grade 1 Acorn and fifth to her in the Kentucky Oaks, leapt when the gates opened to get away poorly. She bided her time toward the back, remained wide and in the clear going down the backstretch, move wider into the lane to loom a threat, but couldn’t go with the top two. Daddys Little Darling, second in the Kentucky Oaks and fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on turf July 8, stalked the pace and was unable to threaten.

Del Mar
San Clemente (race 7)
COMMENT: Madam Dancealot had seemed most effective sprinting, but she moved to this longer trip and posted the 21-1 upset. Coming off a second in a stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita June 11, she was slow into stride from her outside post and sat last as Lull set a strong pace. Madame Dancealot was asked for run going to the far turn, responded with a powerful burst to reach midpack by the top of the lane, and powered past Lull to win going away. The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks here Aug. 19 figures next. Lull, who last ran second, beaten a nose, in a stakes at Belmont May 20, went right to the lead and set a strong pace while under a bit of a hold. She was given more rein into the lane, opened up a clear lead by midstretch, and stayed on well for second. Sircat Sally, the favorite and undefeated in seven starts, got a nice trip stalking in fourth, and nearly caught Lull for second. She was vanned off after the race. Kenda, who beat Madam Dancealot at Santa Anita June 11, chased Lull, loomed a threat turning for home, but couldn’t sustain her run. Enthrall, winner of two of her three starts, all in France, broke in the air to be well back early and never made a move.