Trip Notes for July 28-29: Haskell Invitational, Bing Crosby, Jim Dandy, and more

July 28

Saratoga
Amsterdam (race 7)

COMMENT: Main track was still listed as ‘good’ after rain the prior days. Two things helped Promises Fulfilled immensely as he won for the first time since taking the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in early March: the scratch of fellow speed horse World of Trouble and a change of tactics from confirmed frontrunner to stalker. This time the son of Shackleford who dueled through sizzling splits before tiring to third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 9 showed tractability as he took back a bit to allow Strike Power to set the pace, then moved outside that foe, stalking him through sizzling splits, engaged that rival on the turn, took over from that tiring foe into the lane, drifted to the inside some in the stretch but was clear and had no trouble keeping even-money favorite Engage at bay to the line. The Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at 7 furlongs here Aug. 25 is next. Engage, heavily favored off a second in the Woody Stephens, appeared primed to get a good trip again but the pace duel didn’t really materialize as he bided his time not far behind the eventual winner, came with a steady run but was never really a danger to the winner while finishing far clear of the rest. The H. Allen Jerkens figures on his radar as well. Barry Lee, stepping up after a third in an optional claimer at Churchill on June 23, hit the gate at the start to get away last, sat at the back of the pack while saving ground, pitched very wide into the lane and plugged along to get up for third in the final strides, though he was never a danger to the top two. Strike Power shot right out to the lead, set a sizzling pace under some pressure from the eventual winner, battled back briefly when confronted by Promises Fulfilled turning for home but then tired, losing third in the final strides.

Saratoga
Vanderbilt (race 8)

COMMENT: Main track still listed as ‘good’. On paper Imperial Hint dominated this race and that’s the way it played out on the track as last year’s runner-up in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and coming off a game win in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont on June 8 put on a dazzling display. He stalked in fourth early as Switzerland set a strong pace, crept closer going to the far turn while staying wide and in the clear, cruised to the lead coming into the lane, opened up and won for fun despite never being asked and being geared down nearly to a walk at the wire. Trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. said he would keep Imperial Hint at 6 furlongs, meaning the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 25 at 7 furlongs likely off the table and instead either the Grade 3 De Francis Dash at Laurel on Sept. 15 or Grade 1 Vosburgh at 6 furlongs at Belmont on Sept. 29 are his bridge to another shot at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Warrior’s Reward, third in a stakes at Churchill last time out June 30, was just behind the eventual winner early, remained fifth as that rival advanced, was still fourth with work to do coming into the lane but finished resolutely to get second while no danger to the winner. Sweetontheladies hit the gate at the start to be last early, remained last to midstretch before closing decently to get third, though he was never really a factor. Switzerland, stepping up after four straight wins including the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 19, shot right out to the lead from his rail slot, set a brisk pace first under pressure from Mr. Crow and then from Imperial Hint and weakened in the lane. Done Deal, winner of his last four including a stakes at Prairie Meadows on July 18, stalked the pace, remained there to the far turn but then gave way.

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Saratoga
Bowling Green (race 9)

COMMENT: The inner turf course was listed as ‘soft’. The footing proved a boon to Channel Maker and Glorious Empire as the two finished on even terms on the line. Channel Maker, a deceptively good eighth in the Grade 1 Manhattan when rallying from well back to be beaten by just 1 1/2 lengths, was taken under a strong hold while saving ground, sat midpack, bided his time there, pitched wide on the turn and into the lane to make his run and kept on resolutely to Glorious Empire’s outside to just get up and hit the wire simultaneously with that foe. Glorious Empire, stepping up after a big win in a Delaware optional claimer June 28, went right to the lead, got away with dawdling fractions while taking little pressure from stalkers Hi Happy and Manitoulin, dispatched with those two into the lane, opened up some as if ready to go on to post a big upset only to have Channel Maker finish strongly in a dead heat. The Grade 1 Sword Dancer here Aug. 25 could be the rematch. Sadler’s Joy, a strong rallying second in the Manhattan and third in this last year, filled the same spot as the son of Kitten’s Joy lagged back, as is his custom, moved out for room on the turn and into the lane, moved back toward the inside and finished smartly between the two winners. Bigger Picture, second in this last year and a good rallying third in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth on June 30, was last from the start while saving ground, still last on the far turn when he switched out wide to make his run and finished well just outside Channel Maker. Hi Happy, third in the Manhattan, stalked/pressed Glorious Empire from the start, was asked to go after that foe turning for home but seemed to flounder on the soft footing and not only couldn’t make a run but couldn’t keep a minor award. Manitoulin, a sharp fourth in the blanket finish that ended the Manhattan, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the pacesetter turning for home but then gave way readily. While the top four ran well you almost get the feeling if you ran this race 10 times you’d get five different winners. A number of these figure to follow the two winners to the Sword Dancer.

Saratoga
Jim Dandy (race 10)

COMMENT: Main track was upgraded to ‘fast’ for this race. It wasn’t the prettiest piece of work by Tenfold but the son of Curlin got the job done. Freshened since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont June 9, the colt tracked pacesetter Flameaway through modest splits, engaged that rival into the lane, looked on his way to a clear victory by midstretch when he drifted out significantly but got straightened out and back into stride late allowing him to hold on for the score as Flameaway and Vino Rosso were bearing down on him. The Grade 1 Travers here Aug. 25 is almost certainly next, though he’ll have to do a lot better there. Flameaway went right to the lead from his rail slot, set a solid pace under some pressure from Tenfold, battled back when hooked by that foe into the lane, couldn’t keep up with that foe into the lane but saw his chances improve when that foe drifted out significantly, allowing him to close the gap again, though he wasn’t quite able to get there. Vino Rosso, fourth in the Belmont, lagged well back to be last, was still last turning for home, finally got into gear in the final furlong to make a run and nearly get second, though his finish seemed to be aided by the winner’s antics in the lane, allowing this guy and the runner-up to get back in the game. The Travers is in his plans we well. Sporting Chance, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful here last year and coming off a sixth in the Grade 1 Preakness, sat fourth a few lengths off the lead, was urged to try to get closer on the far turn, swerved out turning for home, bore out farther into the lane and was pulled up. He did walk off under his own power. He’ll reportedly get a complete physical and be turned out for a few months with plans for a 2019 season.

Del Mar
Bing Crosby (race 9)

COMMENT: Ransom the Moon won this last year but probably didn’t get the credit he deserved as runner-up and eventual sprint champion Roy H was significantly hampered during the running by the riderless Drefong. Well, he’ll get his due here as he ran maybe the best race of his life to defend his title. Cutting back to sprinting after running fifth in the Grade 1 Met Mile on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 9, was taken well back (rider Flavien Prat said that was intentional as he wanted to sit and blast home), remained toward the back to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and powered home to win going away, easily beating rival and sprint champ Roy H. The Grade 2 Pat O’Brien here Aug. 25 could be next, or they could repeat last year’s campaign when he got some time off and didn’t resurface until the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in the fall. Roy H, making his first start since a sharp third in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on March 31, stalked in fourth outside of pacesetters St. Joe Bay and American Pastime who dueled through fast splits, came with a run into the lane to loom ominously, bumped with Touching Rainbow but was no match for the winner in the final furlong. Considering this was his first start in four months he didn’t run badly at all. Last year after this race he skipped the Pat O’Brien, awaiting the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, which he won before capturing the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Touching Rainbows, who grabbed a quarter when a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita on June 23, rebounded nicely as he stalked the pace, moved up to challenge into the lane, bumped with Roy H but then couldn’t finish with the top two. The stewards looked at the bumping between him and Roy H but did not alter the order of finish. Edwards Going Left lagged and finished well, ending up a head behind Touching Rainbows.

July 29

Saratoga
Shuvee (race 9)

COMMENT: This looked like the coming-out party for unbeaten Chilean champ Wow Cat, who was making her first start in the U.S., and while that filly ran very well it was Farrell who reminded that when she gets the right type of pace she can do some real damage. The daughter of Malibu Moon, last seen running second in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill on June 16, went right to the lead, as is her custom, was able to clear off and set a comfortable, easy pace, remained well clear into the lane and doggedly kept to her task to just get to the line before hard-charging rivals Wow Cat and Verve’s Tale. This doesn’t mean she’s ready for the likes of Unique Bella, Abel Tasman, and Elate, but as noted in the right situations she can be scary. Wow Cat, unbeaten and for the most part untested in eight starts in Chile, ran very well in defeat. She showed enough speed to sit second a couple lengths behind the eventual winner, seemed content to bide her time there, tried to close the gap into the lane, didn’t make an immediate impact but got going late to just miss. Considering it was her first start in the U.S. and first action of any kind this year, she ran quite well. Verve’s Tale, freshened since a fifth in the Grade 3 DuPont Distaff in the slop at Pimlico on May 18, was away slowly, sat last while saving ground to the far turn, came off the inside to start her run, remained wide into the lane and finished well to just miss by a neck and a head. The Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Aug. 25 at this same trip may be the target for all three, though there they could run into Abel Tasman and/or Elate. Ivy Bell, second in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 9, stalked in fourth, moved closer going to the far turn, loomed a threat while wide into the lane but flattened out. This trip may be a tad beyond her, at least at this level. Pacific Win, fourth in the Phipps, sat just behind Ivy Bell from the start, got shuffled back while wide on the far turn, went wider still into the lane and failed to muster a run. After the Phipps and this it may be back to a shorter trip for her (won the Grade 2 Ruffian at a mile at Belmont May 6).

Monmouth
Oceanport (race 7)

COMMENT: Synchrony had been talked about as a potential Grade 1 Arlington Million horse but his connections opted for a shorter trip and softer spot and were rewarded with a smart victory by the son of Tapit. Synchrony got bumped at the start, lagged back while saving ground as Mo Maverick went out to a clear lead setting a modest pace. Synchrony bided his time in sixth while saving ground, advanced on the far turn, had to wait for room into the lane but found room along the rail in the stretch, shot through and drew clear. Doctor Mounty, stepping up off a third in an optional claimer at Delaware on June 28, showed speed to sit second behind the pacesetter, went after that foe into the lane, was getting the better of him just inside the eighth pole but had no answer to the winner’s charge. Irish Trait got bumped at the start, was content to sit midpack, came wide into the lane and finished decently though he was no match for the big winner. Force the Pass, a former Grade 1 type but who was coming off being only sixth in the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont on June 17, stalked the pace, seemed in a good spot stalking in fourth to the top of the lane but then came up empty.

Monmouth
Monmouth Cup (race 8)

COMMENT: Name Changer was stepping up in class after a decent third in an ungraded stakes at Delaware on July 14 and was up to the challenge as the son of Uncle Mo gamely prevailed. He stalked in third as Phat Man set a solid pace under pressure from Remembering Rita, remained in third to the far turn, came with his run into the lane with favored Zanotti making his bid to his outside, brushed with that rival into the lane but battled on gamely and was actually edging away slightly in the final strides. Zanotti, favored as he dropped off a sixth in the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont on July 7, bided his time early, steadily advanced to come nearly abreast of the eventual winner on the turn, fully engaged that rival into the lane to his outside, bumping with that foe, fought on bravely but just wasn’t good enough while finishing far clear of the rest. Page McKenney, second in the Grade 3 Iselin here June 30, stalked in fourth while saving ground, remained close up going to the far turn, came off the inside for clear sailing, kept to his task to get third but was no threat to the top two in the lane. Remembering Rita dogged early pacesetter Phat Man from the start, took over from that foe on the far turn but couldn’t keep up with the top three when it mattered.

Monmouth
Matchmaker (race 9)

COMMENT: If it’s a graded turf stakes for distaffers then it’s Chad Brown’s world and we’re just living in it as he ran one-two. Elysea’s World, third in the Grade 3 Eatontown here June 30, a race won by stablemate Dream Awhile, got her revenge on that foe as she bided her time early as Viva Vegas set a decent pace, remained in fifth to the top of the lane, came out for room and surged home to beat her more-fancied stablemate. Dream Awhile, the 7-10 favorite after beating many of these in the Eatontown, stalked in fourth just ahead of Elysea’s World, got first run on that foe on the turn and into the lane, surged to a clear lead by midstretch as if going on to a big win but couldn’t quite repel her surging stablemate while finishing far clear of the rest. Special Even, third in the Eatontown, chased pacesetter Viva Vegas to the top of the lane, couldn’t finish with the two Brown runners but kept on gamely to get third. Lift Up, winner of the Ms. Liberty here June 9, was slow into stride while saving ground, remained inside but was unable to get involved.

Monmouth
Molly Pitcher (race 10)

COMMENT: Berned found the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps waters at Belmont on June 9 too deep (ran sixth) but some class relief and a nice pace set-up helped her rebound. The $550,000 daughter of Bernardini lagged back early as favored Divine Miss Grey dueled with Unchained Melody through solid splits, crept closer going to the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear to make her run, surged past the tiring pacesetters into the lane and then had enough to fend off a hard-trying Dreamcall in the final furlong. This also makes her perfect in three start here so you know she likes this place. Dreamcall, winner of her last three including two stakes at Prairie Meadows, sat last from the start, improved her position going to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and finished strongly to give the winner a scare, while far clear of the rest. Divine Miss Grey, the heavy 4-5 favorite off a win in the Lady’s Secret here June 30, broke alertly to go right to the lead, was immediately joined by Unchained Melody to her outside, dueled with that rival through solid splits, was still deep in battle with that foe coming into the lane when the winner shot past and then couldn’t finish with the runner-up either, while persevering to get third. Unchained Melody dueled with Divine Miss Grey from the start, was still battling that rival into the lane only to see the top two surge past and draw clear and then weakened a bit late to lose third.

Monmouth Haskell (race 12)

COMMENT: With Justify retired to the breeding shed this past week the division is looking for a new leader and it’s an old leader who looks ready to take up the mantle. Good Magic, last year’s 2-year-old champion who ran well to be second to Justify in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and fourth to that foe in the Grade 1 Preakness, was freshened and got back on track in impressive fashion. He showed the speed to sit second as Roaming Union set a modest pace, seemed content to track that foe going down the backstretch, moved closer to the rival going to the far turn, took command under his own power, opened up into the lane and didn’t really have a nervous moment thereafter. This stamps him the horse to beat in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 25 and that could be fun with Gronkowski, Catholic Boy, Hofburg, Tenfold, Vino Rosso, and the filly Wonder Gadot all possibly targeting that as well. Bravazo, second in the Grade 1 Preakness and sixth in the Grade 1 Belmont, sat just behind the eventual winner from the start, tried to go with that foe on the far turn, proved no match but kept to his task smartly to finish second well ahead of the others. The Travers figures on his radar as well. Lone Sailor, fifth in the Preakness and second beaten just a nose by Core Beliefs in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 23, bided his time while saving ground, moved up between horses on the far turn, kept to his task gamely to beat Core Beliefs for third but was no danger to the top two. Core Beliefs, rallying winner of the Ohio Derby, lagged back as usual, in fact sat last, made a nice move while inside into the lane to get up to third but couldn’t sustain his run.

Del Mar
Clement L. Hirsch (race 5)

COMMENT: It was a bit more nerve-wracking than expected but heavy 1-9 favorite Unique Bella still got the job done, notching her ninth win in 12 starts. The $400,000 daughter of Tapit bounced right out to a clear early lead, as expected, maintained a clear lead while setting modest splits, appeared on her way to a resounding victory when opening up a huge lead into the stretch but then had to keep to her task late to keep hard-charging La Force at bay in the final half-furlong, though the issue never really looked in doubt. Trainer Hollendorfer wasn’t sure if her next start would be in New York (the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on Aug. 25) or California (the Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita in September) as he plots her course to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. La Force ran the race of her life. After rallying to be a non-threatening second to ‘Bella in the shorter Grade 1 Beholder Mile, she picked up her game further as the daughter of Power lagged back in fourth, remained there to the far turn, came out some into the lane and finished resolutely to give the winner a scare while finishing far clear of the rest. Bernina Star was last early in the small field and still last to midstretch before finishing decently to get third while never a danger to the top two.