Trip Notes for July 27-28, 2019: Jim Dandy, Bing Crosby, and more

July 27

Saratoga
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Imperial Hint won this last year in dazzling fashion, but you had cause to wonder if he was the same horse as he came into this off three straight losses, last seen finishing a decent third in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen March 30. Well, he answered those questions about his current form with resounding affirmation as the 6-year-old son dominated a very tough bunch, setting a track record in the process. He broke well and had the speed to just off dueling leaders Strike Power and Mitole to his inside, bided his time on their hips, moved up strongly on the far turn under his own power outside those two to go right on past, surged to a clear lead into the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Last year after winning this he awaited the Grade 1 Vosburgh at this same 6-furlong trip at Belmont in September and trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said they would follow that path again. Regardless, he’s fully back and could be set for a third crack at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November. Diamond Oops, a rallying winner of the Grade 3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream June 29, lagged back well off the strong pace, steadily advanced with a wide run on the far turn, continued on with good energy and while no danger to the big winner kept on well to be a clear second. The Grade 1 Forego at 7 furlongs here Aug. 24 could be next. Mitole, the heavy favorite off seven straight wins including a stirring win in the Grade 1 Met Mile last time out June 8, a race considered by many the best dirt race of the year, broke sharply from his rail slot, moved up eagerly inside fellow speedster Strike Power to duel with that rival through strong splits, remained locked in battle with that foe to the far turn while seemingly traveling well but then had no answer when the winner blew on past to his outside, plugging along to hold third while coming off the rail but was also no danger to the runner-up. Surely the duel didn’t help and the inside was not the place to be on this day, but could be that huge Met Mile effort took a bit more out of him than we thought. If he does bounce back well, the Forego, which may be a better trip for him, is a possibility. Firenze Fire, fifth in the Met Mile, sat a couple lengths off the pace, moved to the inside coming into the lane as if poised to make a run but was unable to make a dent, finishing inside Mitole. Once he moved to the rail his run evaporated, though he was never going to get to the winner regardless. Strike Power, a sharp second in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont June 7 (to top-class Catalina Cruiser), broke sharply, went right to the lead with Mitole to his inside, dueled hard with that rival to the top of the lane but gave way once Imperial Hint blew past to his outside. He wasn’t going to beat the winner even with a head start, but surely the duel with top-class Mitole left him running on fumes in the lane.

Saratoga
Bowling Green (race 10)

COMMENT: Channel Cat had always shown ability but the son of grass champion and crack grass sire English Channel has put it all together and to become a force in the turf distance division. Coming off a good third in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth at this same trip (1 3/8 miles) June 22, the colt took advantage of the lack of other speed as he went right to the lead from his outside spot, held a clear edge while setting a solid pace, took some pressure first from favorite Channel Maker and then from Argonne down the backstretch, looked in trouble when Channel Maker came at him to his outside and Ya Primo surged up alongside on the rail but gamely rebuffed those rivals for the win. The Grade 1 Sword Dancer at 1 1/2 miles here Aug. 24 figures next. Ya Primo, making his first start in the U.S. after three straight wins in Chile this winter, the last two being romps in Grade 1, gives trainer Chad Brown yet another beast in the turf division as the colt stalked while saving ground, remained inside through biding his time, found a seam along the rail turning for home, burst into contention to Channel Cat’s inside, looked as if he was going to just blow on past that foe but couldn’t counter the winner’s rerally. Considering this was his first start in the U.S. and first start in almost five months this was a splendid run. The Sword Dancer figures next for him as well. Arklow, coming off sharp seconds in the Grade 1 Man o’ War and Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup, broke outward from his rail slot to bump Sadler’s Joy, got position midpack, closer than usual, while saving ground from his rail slot, tried to follow Ya Primo and finished well while coming off the rail some. Channel Maker, the defending champ and favorite moving to this longer trip after running fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan, seemed very comfortable stalking the winner from the start a couple lanes off the rail, bided his time there, came with a strong run to challenge into the lane but seemed to flatten out in the final furlong. Sadler’s Joy, making his first start since finishing third behind those monster fillies Enable and Magical in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, got bumped by Arklow to his inside at the start to get away poorly, lagged back as is his custom while saving ground, came with a run in to the lane on the inside behind Arklow, had to wait a bit for room in midstretch, moved to the rail and finished well. Many of these figure to come back in the Sword Dancer.

Saratoga
Jim Dandy (race 11)

COMMENT: Trainer Danny Gargan had been telling anyone who would listen of late how wonderfully Tax was doing, that he was over some foot issues which hindered him this spring. Well, he was spot on as the 3-year-old son of Arch popped up with the biggest win of his career. He was a dull fifteenth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby but came back to be a decent fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont June 8. He broke well to dog pacesetter War of Will, continued to hound that foe to the far turn, surged to a clear lead into the lane as that rival fell away and gave himself enough of a cushion to withstand the charge of unlucky 8-5 favorite Tacitus to his inside. The Grade 1 Travers here Aug. 24 figures next and that’s turning into a mouthwatering event. Tacitus was very unlucky. Sent off the favorite after a good second in the Belmont Stakes last time out, he stumbled badly at the start to get away last. He remained at the back of the pack early, was a bit eager and pulling, moved his way toward the inside on the first turn, advanced smartly going down the backstretch, was content to remain there to the far turn, started his run in earnest, finished well along the fence while inside the eventual winner but just couldn’t quite get to the him. It wouldn’t be a long walk to think he was best, but hey, the winner did what was required so while Tacitus had a terrible start you can’t take anything away from Tax. The Travers figures next for Tacitus as well and with the likes of Maximum Security, Game Winner, Code of Honor, Everfast, Mr. Money, Tax, Tacitus and maybe a couple more from this field and a couple from the Curlin run here earlier in the week that’s shaping up a mouthwatering renewal. Global Campaign, smart winner of the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont May 11 (beating Sir Winston back into second, and that rival came back to win the Belmont), was a bit slow into stride, moved closer down the backstretch to stalk in third, was a few lanes off the rail on the far turn, pitched wider out still into the lane and finished decently, though he was no danger to the top two in the lane. War of Will, winner of the Grade 1 Preakness before fading to ninth in the Belmont, went right to the lead, was a bit anxious and pulling on the first turn, cleared off some, moved toward the inside while setting a modest pace, battled back when hooked by the eventual winner turning for home, was still in the mix into the lane but then gave way.

Del Mar
Bing Crosby (race 8)

COMMENT: With sprint champ Roy H still on the sidelines, the sprint division out West has been something akin to musical chairs and this time when the music stopped it was Cistron who notched his first Grade 1 win. The son of The Factor proved quickest in a race seemingly loaded with speed. However, he broke sharply, took the early lead while taking pressure from Chief Cicatriz and Recruiting Ready, soon cleared off going to the far turn, held a clear lead into the lane and doggedly kept to his task to keep hard-trying Desert Law at bay in the final half-furlong. Actually, he likely has been the best of the West Coast sprinters as he nearly won the Grade 3 San Simeon when second on turf at Santa Anita March 31, romped in the Grade 2 Kona Gold on dirt there April 20 and then just missed by a head when a sharp second in the Grade 2 Triple Bend there May 25. The Grade 2 Pat O’Brien at 7 furlongs here Aug. 24 figures next. Desert Law, coming off a smashing win in the restricted Thor’s Echo at Santa Anita June 15, showed that run no fluke as he stepped up in class here and performed well again, stalked the pace from his rail slot (got the rail after initial rail horse Calexman scratched), came off the inside on the far turn, gamely went after the winner, closed the gap well but just couldn’t quite get to him while ending up well clear of the rest. The Pat O’Brien figures on his radar as well. Jalen Journey, now in the Peter Miller barn after some super form in Florida including a sharp second in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream June 29, broke a bit slowly to be toward the back from the start, bided his time there, came with a nice run into the lane but flattened out some in the final furlong while unable to really scare the top two. The Pat O’Brien may be a good spot for him as well. Remember, he’s run just six times so there’s plenty of room for further growth. Recruiting Ready, favored off a game third to top-class Catalina Cruiser (beaten just a half-length) in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont June 7, broke well, pressed the early pace from the start while a few lanes off the rail, was still there to the far turn but then couldn’t keep up when it mattered in the lane.

July 28

Saratoga
Amsterdam (race 11)

COMMENT: Trainer Jorge Navarro is on record saying Shancelot is the best horse he’s ever trained, this from a man who handled the likes of top-class sprinter/milers Private Zone, Sharp Azteca and X Y Jet. Well, for all those who were aquiver over Imperial Hint’s Vanderbilt win the day prior, this $245,000 3-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby was even more impressive as he made his trainer look spot on, thoroughly dominating some nice peers with a dazzling win. He broke sharply from his outside post, shot right out to a clear lead, set sizzling splits under no real pressure, extended his advantage going into the far turn and blasted clear into the lane and through the final furlong to win in a romp, storming home nearly 13 lengths clear. To give you an idea how fast he ran, his 6-furlong split (1:07.63) was quite a bit faster than the track record set by Imperial Hint the day prior (1:07.92). Off this he’s the overwhelming favorite for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at 7 furlongs here Aug. 24 – and now one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in early November. Nitrous, a strong rallying second at 17-1 in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 8, lagged back, as is his custom, finished with good energy to get up for second but was never on the winner’s radar. The Jerkens figures next for him as well but he’s got a lot of work to do to cut into, negate or overcome that big gap between him and the monstrous winner. Honest Mischief, who loomed a big threat in the Woody Stephens before dying on his run to end up sixth, was midpack early, tried to make a run at the leader into the lane, proved no match but kept to his task to get third. Super Comet, a son of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and winner of his first two starts at Churchill, blew the start, going to his nose, thus was well back early, just behind Nitrous, didn’t get going quite as early or strongly as that foe but finished decently to get fourth, though he was never really a factor. Wendell Fong, fifth in the Woody Stephens, chased the winner from the start but that effort took its toll and he gave way from the far turn to the line

Del Mar
Clement L. Hirsch (race 7)

COMMENT: Ollie’s Candy showed significant talent in 2018 but after a setback, long layoff and barn change she came back a so-so seventh in the Grade 1 Gamely on turf at Santa Anita May 27. She moved forward to then run second in the Grade 3 Wilshire on turf there June 22 and with a return to dirt here got back to peak form, posting her first Grade 1 win. The daughter of Candy Ride showed speed from the start, holding a narrow lead while dueling with Queen Bee to You through a solid pace, dispatched with that foe turning for home, opened up a clear lead, looked in trouble when favorite Secret Spice surged up alongside and actually took the lead from her to her outside but rerallied gamely to get her head in front at the line. She handles any footing but with her proven dirt form this may mean the Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita is next, and should all go well there maybe a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff there in November, though surely the water will be much, much deeper with the likes of Midnight Bisou, Elate, Wow Cat and maybe last year’s Distaff winner and reigning 3-year-old filly champ Monomoy Girl eyeing that race as well. Secret Spice, favored off a good second in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3, stalked in third, moved closer to the eventual winner going down the backstretch while moving off the fence, was asked for run on the far turn when Ollie’s Candy kicked clear, got into stride, rushed into contention into the lane taking a narrow lead from Ollie’s Candy to her outside by midstretch but then couldn’t outduel that rival in the final furlong. La Force, smart winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita June 1 and second in this last year, was slow into stride from her rail slot, as is her custom, bided her time at the back, came with a decent run into the lane, passed a few rivals and ran on for third but was never really a danger to the top two. Both she and the runner-up figure to target the Zenyatta as well. Paradise Woods, who was much troubled when second in the Santa Maria as the 1-5 favorite, broke slowly again here, bided her time toward the back ahead of only La Force, made headway on the far turn while saving ground to loom a threat but flattened out.