Trip Notes for July 25-26: Sanford, Diana, Bing Crosby, CCA Oaks, and more...

Saturday, July 25

Saratoga - Sanford (race 9)

COMMENT: Uncle Vinny romped in his Belmont debut May 21 and was then heavily favored against many of these in the Tremont there June 5, but after getting bumped at the start finished sixth. The son of 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo rebounded to get the win this time – though he got some help from the stewards on a questionable DQ of original winner Magna Light. Magna Light went right out to the lead, took early pressure from He’s Comin in Hot, and moved clear of that tiring rival turning for home. Magna Light had Percolator come at him into the lane, ducked out in midstretch, then back in, causing Percolator to check briefly, remained clear and got to the line comfortably in front of Uncle Vinny. It seemed that while Percolator did check he was already a beaten horse and wasn’t even going to hold second. Uncle Vinny, who was awarded the win, sat midpack, pitched wide on the turn and came home with good energy. Percolator weakened a bit in the lane after being forced to check. Cocked and Loaded, the favorite off a win in the Tremont at Belmont June 5, lagged back, was in a bit tight while inside turning for home and never mustered a run thereafter.

Saratoga - Diana (race 10)

COMMENT: Hard Not to Like won a thrilling renewal and her success keeps the turf distaff division without a clear leader. She stalked in fourth as Kitten’s Queen set a brisk pace, was still fourth in midstretch, and surged in the final half-furlong to get up and win a three-horse photo. Her main target is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland Oct. 31. Tepin lost nothing in defeat here. Winner of the Grade 2 Distaff Mile at Churchill and the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont, she showed she could handle the 1 1/8 miles. She and My Miss Sophia dogged pacesetter Kitten’s Queen. Tepin stayed in a battle with those two into the lane, saw My Miss Sophia fall away inside the sixteenth pole and just got the better of Kitten’s Queen only to get nipped by the winner. Kitten’s Queen set a strong pace under pressure, still had the lead inside the eighth pole and only succumbed in the final yards to lose by just a nose and a neck. Stephanie’s Kitten, the favorite, lagged back early, as is her custom, saved ground, pitched very wide into the lane for clear sailing but could make only modest midway.

Del Mar - San Diego Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Rider Gary Stevens took the blame for Catch a Flight’s third in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 27, saying he moved the horse to the lead too soon. He was determined to time his move better and things worked out nicely as Catch a Flight showed that he may be the West’s best handicap horse, at least from a mile to 1 1/8 miles. He stalked the pace as 7-5 favorite Bayern and Appealing Tale volleyed up front through modest fractions, was still third with work to do coming into the lane but kept to his task to get up and edge the stubborn Appealing Tale. The Grade 1 Pacific Classic here Aug. 22 will reportedly be next. Appealing Tale dueled from the start with Bayern through decent splits (track played on the slow side), got the better of that rival by midstretch and looked like the winner until Catch a Flight wore him down. It was still a super try. The Pacific Classic may be out of his realm distance-wise, but he could run in the seven-furlong Pat O’Brien Aug. 22. Bayern, last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner but coming off dull outings in his only two starts of 2015, showed some of his old speed to duel with Appealing Tale from the start. He battled with that rival while inside but couldn’t keep up with the top two in the final half-furlong. His rider Martin Garcia said it felt as if the horse “didn’t try.” Hoppertunity, second in the Grade 1 Gold Cup, stalked inside, came out for room into the lane, and just missed catching stablemate Bayern. Maybe the longer trip of the Pacific Classic will play better for him. Regardless, if this is the handicap power of the West Coast then the Pacific Classic could very well be in play for some talented invader.

Sunday, July 26

Saratoga - CCA Oaks (race 10)

COMMENT: A tough opening weekend as two of the three graded stakes were decided by the stewards, including in this race. This looked like the right call, however, as original winner I’m a Chatterbox had her number taken down after lugging out late. That gave the win to Curalina, who was coming off a win in the Grade 1 Acorn after a terrible start. In this race, she stalked in third as I’m a Chatterbox set the pace under pressure from Conquest Eclipse. Curalina moved up to challenge I’m a Chatterbox into the lane, had that rival drift out and brush with her, got going again and finished gamely to just miss, but was awarded the win via DQ. I’m a Chatterbox, making her first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 1, set a modest pace, battled back when taken on by Curalina, but drifted out and brushed that foe while holding the lead to the line. Include Betty, romping winner of the Grade 1 Mother Goose, had no early speed, swung wide turning for home and put in a run for third. The Grade 1 Alabama here Aug. 22 figures on the radar for all these. Keen Pauline, winner of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan (over Include Betty) when last seen May 15, sat fourth, moved closer turning for home, but then gave way in a disappointing try.

Del Mar - Bing Crosby (race 6)

COMMENT: Masochistic looked poised to firmly entrench himself atop the sprint heap out West, but Wild Dude had other plans. Winner of the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita March 7, Wild Dude was a well-beaten third to Masochistic in the Grade 1 Triple Bend there June 27. In this race, he bided his time early as Distinctiv Passion and Caminetto dueled through hot splits, remained in fourth to the top of the lane, swung out and blew past the tiring leaders to win going away. The Grade 2 Pat O’Brien here Aug. 22 figures next. Masochistic, the heavy favorite after big wins in the Grade 2 Kona Gold and Grade 1 Triple Bend at Santa Anita this spring, seemed in an ideal spot just behind the dueling pacesetters, surged past those tiring rivals into the lane to grab the lead, but couldn’t fend off Wild Dude. Maybe being fairly close to those hot splits left him a little low on fuel late. He might await the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at Santa Anita Oct. 3. Kobe’s Back was devoid of speed, sitting last from the start. He remained there into the lane and ran on decently for third, though he was never a danger to the top two. Caminetto and Distinctiv Passion both weakened once headed by Masochistic in the lane.