Trip Notes for July 25-26, 2020: Eddie Read, Vanderbilt, and more

July 25

Saratoga
Ballston Spa (race 3)

COMMENT: Starship Jubilee continues to be one of the game’s great claims. Haltered for a mere $16,000 in February 2017, she now has eight graded stakes wins and over $1 million earned since, as she upset heavily favored former distaff grass champion Sistercharlie. Freshened since an easy win in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa March 7, she broke well from her outside post, sat third just outside and behind Call Me Love as North Broadway, stablemate of Sistercharlie, shot out to a huge early lead. Starship Jubilee remained in third, not far behind Call Me Love with Sistercharlie in her wake, came with a smart run on the far turn between horses, challenged Call Me Love to her inside for the lead into the lane, grabbed a narrow advantage and kept to her task to rebuff a hard-trying Call Me Love. The Grade 1 Diana here Aug. 23 figures next. Call Me Love, a bit disappointing when a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 2 New York at Belmont June 27, got back on track as she sat second early on the rail as North Broadway cleared off to a huge early lead, remained there going down the backstretch as she put a little space between herself and the eventual winner, came with her run on the far turn, battled for the lead with Starship Jubilee to her outside into the lane as North Broadway fell away, and fought on bravely inside Starship Jubilee to be a good second. Sistercharlie, the 2018 turf distaff champion making her first start since running third in last fall’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and coming out of that race with some bone bruising, bided her time just behind Starship Jubilee, seemed to travel comfortably in that girl’s wake, started a run on the far turn, remained in Jubilee’s wake into the stretch, pitched out wider, made some headway to close the gap, but couldn’t get to the top two. She didn’t show her usual punch but likely needed this race after the long layoff. She figures tighter – and tougher – for the Diana. Of course, she’d better be as the top two from this race, multiple graded stakes winner Mean Mary, and top-class multiple Grade 1 winner stablemate Rushing Fall are pointing for that as well.

Saratoga
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Things were eventful prior to the start as first Whitmore broke through the gate and was quickly caught. He was heading back to the gate when Lexitonian flipped in the gate and was scratched. None of that deterred heavy favorite Volatile who, coming off a dazzling win (his fourth in five starts) in a stakes at Churchill June 6 where he earned a big Beyer (112), broke well went right to the lead, set modest splits under some pressure from Mind Control to his outside, rebuffed that foe into the lane and kept on gamely to maintain a clear lead, keeping hard-trying rival Whitmore at bay in the final furlong. He’s not yet Mitole but he’s headed in that direction. The Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 29 could be next for Volatile, though that 7f race would be his first try beyond 6fs. If they prefer to stay at this 6f trip they might instead target the Grade 2 Phoenix at Keeneland in October, not only because it’s at this same 6f trip but that’s where the Breeders’ Cup is to be held in November. Whitmore, a veteran 7-year-old freshened after two big sprint stakes wins at Oaklawn a few months ago, broke through the gate prior to the start, was quickly caught, reloaded, broke well to sit behind the eventual pacesetting winner while last, though not far at all off the tepid pace, remained in that rival’s wake to the far turn, started to advance into the lane while holding the fence to be just behind Volatile, came off the fence in the stretch to go after that rival, gamely chased the winner, but couldn’t get to him in what was, all things considered, a fine try. The 7f Forego may fit into his plans. Mind Control, who gave way to be sixth in the Grade 1 Carter on a very sloppy track at Belmont June 6 and proven here (2 for 2 coming into this), broke well from his outside post, dogged Volatile from the start to his outside, tried to move closer on the far turn, couldn’t get on terms with that rival, was then unable to finish with Whitmore to his inside while gamely holding third. Firenze Fire, fourth in this last year and a smart winner of the Grade 2 True North at Belmont last time out June 27, bided his time early, though he wasn’t far off the modest pace while widest of the quartet, made a smart, threatening run on the far turn while still widest of the four, loomed a threat into the lane, but then flattened out. Both Mind Control and Friesen Fire could be good fits in the longer Forego, though there’s the threat top-class Vekoma could show up there as well.

Del Mar
San Clemente (race 9)

COMMENT: Laura’s Light had pretty much established herself the top 3-year-old turf filly on the West Coast with three stakes wins under her belt, including the Grade 3 Honeymoon at Santa Anita last time out May 30. She cemented that status here with another professional win. The daughter of young sire Constitution (best known as sire of Grade 1 Belmont winner and early Grade 1 Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law) used her tactical speed to sit second as Florida raider Cheermeister shot out to a clear early lead while setting sharp splits, remained in second chasing that foe to the far turn, surged up alongside that rival to her inside turning for home, quickly overtook that gal into the lane, opened up some by midstretch, and stayed on well to keep a few hard-trying chasers at bay. The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks here Aug. 22 figures next and with many of the East’s top 3-year-old fillies eyeing the Saratoga Oaks that same weekend things shouldn’t be significantly tougher for this gal. Guitty, fifth to Laura’s Light in the Honeymoon, broke slowly from her outside post to be far back early (in fact, she was last), remained well back racing with Warren’s Showtime, started a wide run on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished well for second. Warren’s Showtime rallied in tandem with Guitty while saving more ground, came out some into the stretch and continued to rally well between horses in a good try. Both the second- and third-place finishers figure to eye the Del Mar Oaks as well. She’s So Special, moving to a route after two turf sprint wins at Santa Anita, both over males, including a stakes, showed speed to stalk in third just behind the eventual winner, was just off the rail throughout, tried to go after the winner into the lane, couldn’t keep pace and tired just a bit in the final furlong. She ran well but this may show this mile trip is a tad beyond her best, at least at this level.

Del Mar
San Diego Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: This race was rescheduled after being part of the canceled July 18 card. Sharp Samurai scratched to go instead in the Grade 2 Eddie Read on turf Sunday. Maximum Security, who’s been part of a lot of drama, came back victorious in his first start for trainer Bob Baffert – but it wasn’t easy. Making his first start since gamely beating champion Midnight Bisou and other top-class runners in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup Feb. 29 (Benbatl, Mucho Gusto, Tacitus, McKinzie), the son of New Year’s Day and reigning 3-year-old male champion dueled from the start with Midcourt to his outside, soon dropped back relenting pacesetting duties to Midcourt, came off the rail to move up outside Midcourt into the backstretch, came under a ride into the far turn but didn’t seem to be going anywhere, drifted out some into the lane as his rider continued to urge him hard, finally got going once straightened away, and persevered and just got up in the final strides outside Midcourt for the win. It wasn’t pretty but he got the job done, and for all his foibles there’s no denying his heart. You can pooh-pooh the final time but the track played quite slow this day. The Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 22 is his next target. Midcourt, a dull fifth (was basically eased) in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 6, went right to the lead out of the gate with blinkers reapplied, set a modest pace under some pressure from Maximum Security, battled back along the inside when challenged by that foe into the lane, and fought on all the way to the wire to just miss in a fine try. The Pacific Classic is likely next for him as well as he’s now 2 for 3 here. Higher Power, second in the Hollywood Gold Cup, stalked early in third, moved closer inside Maximum Security to press Midcourt down the backstretch, remained in stalking mode as Maximum Security went past him again to his outside on the far turn and was basically one-paced to the line and no real threat to the top two in the lane. In his defense, he surely prefers more ground and the race of his life came when he won the Pacific Classic here last year, so he figures to target a title defense. Ax Man, game winner of a tough optional claimer at this same trip at Santa Anita June 20, didn’t show that same speed as he instead stalked in fourth, made a mild wide run turning for home but flattened out and was unable to make a dent thereafter.

July 26

Saratoga
Bernard Baruch Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Somelikeithotbrown was an excellent third in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy at Belmont June 6, a run that was flattered when the horse he chased, Instilled Regard, came back to win the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont in early July. There was very much the prospect of a duel from the start here, however, with the sharp and speedy Halladay in the lineup, but the duel never materialized and Somelikeithotbrown took advantage. He broke well, went right up to assume pacesetting duties with Good Governance to his inside and Halladay on his flank, soon had a clear lead while able to set a slow pace, maintained a clear advantage while still going slow, leaving him more than enough fuel to rebuff a run from Halladay into the lane and keep the others at bay. He dumped his rider after the race but safely made his way to the winner’s circle. Off this a shot at the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard Sept. 5 could be in the cards. Mr Dumas, stepping up off a third in an optional claimer at Churchill June 26, stalked in fourth, just behind Halladay and outside of Good Governance, remained there to the far turn, drew closer turning for home while staying wide, kept after the winner, and while unable to get to him was able to grab second. Good Governance, favored off a monster allowance comeback win at Belmont June 26, his first start in 10 months, broke very sharply, was comfortable allowing Somelikeithotbrown to quickly assume pacesetting duties, basically followed that horse while staying on the fence, remained in the winner’s wake to the far turn, moved closer while seemingly full of run, found his path blocked by the eventual winner in front of him and few closers to his outside, finally found a seam inside late, came with a run but it was far too late as he just missed second. Halladay, winner of three of his last four including a stakes at Gulfstream May 9, broke well from his outside post, didn’t go up to duel with Somelikeithotbrown to his inside, seemed quite comfortable stalking/pressing the rival to his outside, was urged to get closer on the far turn, tried to challenge into the lane, but flattened out in the final furlong. Olympico, fifth in this last year and making his first start since a second in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker at Aqueduct Oct. 14, lagged back, as is his custom, a few lengths behind the leading quartet, started to advance while wide on the far turn, continued a wide run in the lane to make up ground, just failing to get a minor award while no real threat to the winner.

Del Mar
Eddie Read (race 8)

COMMENT: This race was rescheduled after being part of the canceled July 19 card. United continued his stellar form, and a game win here, his third in as many starts this year, may send him into uncharted waters next. Coming off two Grade 2 wins at Santa Anita this winter/spring, the 5-year-old gelding again utilized his versatility and handled this shorter trip, sitting second not far off pacesetter Neptune’s Storm who set modest splits, continued to hound that foe to the top of the lane, challenged that rival into the stretch, got the better of him inside the eighth pole and stayed on to get to the line before Sharp Samurai, who rallied smartly up the rail. United’s HOF trainer Dick Mandella said that since the horse was doing so well he might try dirt for the first time in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 22. He’s by Giant’s Causeway, a European HOY who came up just a head short of winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt. If they change their mind there’s always the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf the same day, obviously a game he’d relish. Sharp Samurai, second and fourth in this race the last two seasons, bided his time early at the back of the pack, remained at the back to the far turn, angled to the inside on the turn, remained on the fence into the lane, and finished strongly but just couldn’t quite get to the winner to his outside. Neptune’s Storm, game winner of the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate June 14, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under some pressure from United, continued with a narrow lead on the far turn, battled back gamely when hooked by the eventual winner into the lane, finally relenting in the final half-furlong while staying on to be a game third. Bowies Hero, the defending champ and coming off a sharp rallying second in the Grade 3 American at Santa Anita June 21, stalked in fourth while saving ground, moved closer on the far turn, swung out into the lane for room, loomed a threat by midstretch, stayed on gamely, but wasn’t quite good enough. Originaire, well backed off a sharp third to United (moved up to second via disqualification) in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at Santa Anita May 23, bided his time early toward the back of the pack, came with a run into the lane to loom a threat, but was unable to sustain his bid.