Trip Notes for July 22-24: Coaching Club American Oaks, San Diego, Sanford

July 23

Saratoga

Sanford (race 3)

COMMENT: Bitumen, so impressive romping in his Churchill debut June 30, moved up in class and took a big step forward to win. He took back after breaking well, bided his time while saving ground, was asked for run on the turn to close in on the three dueling leaders, moved out for clear sailing into the lane, and drew clear late. He’s certainly eligible to train on, too, being a son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Random Walk and Bay Numbers dogged pacesetter Zartera after bumping at the start. Random Walk came with a run on the far turn with Bay Numbers to his outside to make a three-horse battle for the lead, bumped with Zartera, and couldn’t finish with the winner. Like the top pick he could train on, being a son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Zartera broke sharply from the rail to grab the lead, took heavy pressure from Random Walk and Bay Numbers, battled back when challenged by those two on the far turn and into the lane, got bumped by Random Walk at the top of the stretch, while still on the fence and tired a bit in the lane. There was an inquiry into the bumping but no change was made. Bronson, from the ever-powerful Todd Pletcher barn, was squeezed back at the start and had to steady sharply. He was last turning for home, but finished with good energy.

Saratoga

Diana (race 10)

COMMENT: Dacita, one of trainer Chad Brown’s four runners in here, proved best in a blanket finish. Dacita, coming off a sharp win in the Grade 2 New York at Belmont June 10, showed she prefers firm ground, and she got that here despite the fact rain started during the post parade. Dacita sat last of 10 as Isabella Sings set a strong pace while being chased by Onus and Mrs McDougal. She started to advance on the turn, pitched widest of all, and rallied strongly to reach contention. Her rider switched to a right-handed whip, and Dacita changed back to her left lead and surged to get up in the final stride. Recepta, second to freaky winner Celestine in the Grade 1 Just a Game, sat midpack, came with a run into the lane, grabbed the lead late with Rainha Da Bateria and Miss Temple City hounding her on both sides, bumped with Rainha Da Bateria, and was nailed late by the winner. Brown also got the third spot, with the longest-priced of his four runners, Rainha Da Bateria. She sat midpack, came with a run into the lane, got up alongside Recepta, bumped with that foe, then bumped with Dacita as well. Miss Temple City, who beat boys in the Keeneland’s Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile and was fourth in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge in England June 15, sat midpack. She started her move between horses going into the far turn, had to wait for room coming into the lane, found a seam, came through on the inside and finished smartly. While she ran well you wonder if she’s better at a shorter trip, at least at the highest level. Mrs McDougal, third in the Just a Game, stalked the pace, came with a run to challenge for the lead with Onus into the lane, but couldn’t sustain her run. The Grade 1 waters may be just a smidge too deep for her, at least at this trip. Weekela, the shortest-priced of Brown’s four runners and second in her first two U.S. starts, was slow into stride to be at the back of the pack with her winning stablemate while saving ground. She was asked for run at the same time as Dacita but had nothing. There was an inquiry regarding the bumping between Dacita and Rainha Da Bateria and between Rainha Da Bateria and Recepta in the final strides, but the result was allowed to stand.

Monmouth

Jersey Shore (race 8)

COMMENT: Front Pocket Money notched his first graded stakes win. He beat maidens on dirt at Oaklawn, beat winners on turf at Churchill, and was then a sharp second on turf there. Today, from the rail, he went right out to the lead, was immediately joined by Divine Warrior, quickly dispatched with that foe, but was promptly taken on by Colonel Sharp. He battled with that foe to midstretch, finally put him away and had enough to keep Yellow Chips at bay in the final half-furlong. Yellow Chips, stepping up off two straight wins over optional claimers, sat last early after being bumped and pinched back at the start, steadily improved his position while saving ground, continued up the rail, and couldn’t get to the winner. Colonel Sharp was third early, moved up to challenge Front Pocket Money going to the far turn, and battled with that foe to midstretch before weakening a tick late. Full Salute, the favorite, seemed in a good spot stalking the early pace but never made a run and was without an obvious excuse.

Del Mar

San Clemente Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: A freshening, a drop and return to turf added up to a bounce-back effort and victory for Mokat, a daughter of hot sire Uncle Mo. Her only win came on turf last fall, but a second to Songbird in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 9 on dirt earned her a shot at the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill May 6. She was no factor, finishing 13th. Today, Mokat bided her time early as Belvoir Bay set a solid early pace. She made a strong run on the far turn to reach contention, and shot on past leader Lady Valeur. Lady Valeur, fifth in the Grade 2 Honeymoon at Santa Anita June 19, dogged Belvoir Bay while saving ground, came with her run along the rail to grab the lead turning for home, was no match for Mokat, but kept on well for second. Stays in Vegas, beaten by a head when third in the Grade 2 Honeymoon, was well back early, angled out into the lane to start her run, angled back for a clear path, and finished well. Be Mine, second in the Honeymoon, sat midpack early, moved closer to get a nice stalking position, but was then fairly one-paced to the line.

Del Mar

San Diego Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: California Chrome, who hadn’t run since a powerful win in the Dubai World Cup March 26, and multiple Grade 1 winner Dortmund put on quite a show. California Chrome was content to sit just off the pace-setting Dortmund. He edged closer into the backstretch, moved up alongside Dortmund going to the far turn, and the two dueled the rest of the way with California Chrome finally getting the best of it. Dortmund ran wonderfully in his first start since Nov. 28, when he romped in the Grade 3 Native Diver here. He set a decent pace, remained inside as California Chrome drew closer, and battled back when challenged. He only succumbed in the final yards. Win the Space stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the top two, and finished far clear of the other two in the race.

July 24

Saratoga

CCA Oaks (race 10)

COMMENT: Winner and still champ. Many were interested to see how Songbird would react shipping all the way across the country after an illness to face one of the best 3-year-old fillies in Carina Mia. Well, consider the test passed, as she made it nine wins in as many starts and left little doubt she’s the best of her class. As expected Songbird went right to the lead from her rail draw. She set modest splits, rebuffed Carina Mia’s threat turning for home, and drew away to win comfortably. Carina Mia, romping winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles and the Grade 1 Acorn in her last two starts, chased the winner from the start, threw down the gauntlet turning for home, but had no answer when the winner found another gear. She’s good; Songbird is sensational. Flora Dora sat fourth early and plugged along to get third.

Monmouth

Boiling Springs (race 8)

COMMENT: Tin Type Gal, a Grade 3 winner on turf last September and making just her second start after a nine-month layoff, was coming off a rallying fifth in a Belmont stakes June 19. Today, she bided her time early as Winter set a modest pace, started to advance on the turn but ran into traffic troubles, found room along the rail, came out slightly in deep stretch, and edged Galileo’s Song. Galileo’s Song, part of the Chad Brown turf armada, was stepping up in class to stakes company for the first time after an optional claiming win at Belmont July 2. She sat just in front of the eventual winner, swung out for room to make her run, reached contention by midstretch, moved inward some in the final half-furlong, and missed by a neck. Verbouwen, last seen finishing ninth to Time and Motion in Belmont’s Wonder Again June 4, stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a big threat just behind the top two by midstretch, and steadied some in the final half-furlong.

Del Mar

Cougar II Handicap (race 4)

COMMENT: When likely favorite Hoppertunity scratched, that left Hard Aces the heavy favorite off his second in the Grade 2 Californian and third in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita. He came through, but it wasn’t a walk in the park. Usually a closer, Hard Aces bounced right out to a clear early lead, was pressured by Quick Casablanca after a half-mile, maintained a narrow lead through slow splits, and rebuffed that rival all the way to the line. Quick Casablanca kept the pressure on Hard Aces but couldn’t quite outdo him in a fine effort. Seven’s Road was last early in the small field, moved closer going to the far turn, and tried to make a run at the top pair into the lane. -Comments by Michael Hammersly