Trip Notes for July 29-30: Haskell, Jim Dandy, Clement Hirsch, and more

July 29

Saratoga
Amsterdam (race 5)
COMMENT: Coal Front won his first two starts in dazzling fashion and he continued his ascent here with another superb performance. This $575,000 son of Stay Thirsty went right out to contest the pace with Mo Cash while staying inside, got the better of that rival turning for home, opened into the lane, and had little trouble holding off Excitations. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (formerly the King’s Bishop) at seven furlongs here Aug. 26 could be next, but added a stretch-out could be in the offing. Excitations, well beaten in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile and Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill this spring, perked up nicely. He was last early, steadily advanced to the far turn, and finished well for second, 7 1/2 lengths clear of third. Certainly the Jerkens figures on his radar. Singing Bullet stalked the pace while inside, was basically one-paced through the lane, but managed to hold third. Mo Cash, second to the talented Three Rules in the Grade 3 Carry Back at Gulfstream last time out July 1, dogged the winner from the start, tried to stay with him turning for home, but weakened to end up fourth.

Saratoga
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (race 8)
COMMENT: El Deal floundered in a few stakes last fall and winter, but after four months off he’s come back a new horse, romping in an overnight handicap at Charles Town April 22 and in the Decathlon at Monmouth June 11, and stepping up his game further to get his first graded stakes win here. Sent off the third choice, he set a brisk pace, taking early pressure from Green Gratto. He dispatched with that foe by the far turn, opened up, and extended his margin to win in a gallop. Trainer Jorge Navarro said he’s likely to skip the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 26 and instead point for the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Sept. 30. Impressive as this was, it must be noted the best East Coast sprinters (Mind Your Biscuits, Awesome Slew, Sharp Azteca, Imperial Hint, Whitmore, and A. P. Indian, who scratched from this as he was reportedly lame in his left fore) were not here. Awesome Banner, second in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream July 1, stalked the pace, got shuffled back into the lane, didn’t appear to be going anywhere, but found his best stride late to get up for second. Limousine Liberal, favored off wins in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs, Grade 3 Aristides, and Kelly’s Landing in his last three, all at Churchill, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and flattened out in the final furlong to lose second. It’s worth noting that all his best work has come in Kentucky.

Saratoga
Bowling Green Handicap (race 9)
COMMENT: The East Coast male turf distance division remained in a state of flux as longshot Hunter O’Riley posted the 16-1 upset here. The son of Tiz Wonderful was coming off a fifth in the Grade 3 Belmont Gold Cup going two miles at Belmont June 9. Today, he jumped at the start to get away poorly, seemed content to sit last as Closing Bell set a modest early pace before quickly being overtaken by Hello Don Julio. Hunter O’Riley remained last to the far turn while saving ground, pitched out wide for room turning for home, continued his run while wide, and outfinished Bigger Picture and Sadler’s Joy to win as the longest-priced horse in the field. Off this, the Grade 1 Sword Dancer here Aug. 26 seems a logical next spot. Bigger Picture, the beneficiary of a hot pace in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth July 1, stalked the pace, came with a run up the rail to challenge turning for home, but couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. The Sword Dancer figures on his radar as well. Sadler’s Joy, a rallying third to Ascend in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont June 10, stalked the pace, pitched out turning for home, grabbed the lead into the lane from Ascend, but was couldn’t finish with the top two. Ascend, favored after three straight wins, including the Manhattan, stalked the pace, took a brief lead between calls turning for home as if ready to go on to victory, but couldn’t sustain his run. Could be this race shows he has some distance limitations.

Saratoga
Jim Dandy (race 10)
COMMENT: Good Samaritan had done all his work on turf, but the dirt-bred runner (by Grade 1 dirt winner Harlan’s Holiday) picked the right time for a surface switch, and beat the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners. Good Samaritan broke from the outside and sat last early in the small field as Always Dreaming set a modest pace under pressure from Cloud Computing. Good Samaritan remained at the back as the other four fought it out turning for home, pitched wide into the lane for clear sailing, and powered home to inhale his rivals inside the furlong pole. Obviously the Grade 1 Travers here Aug. 26 is in his sights. Giuseppe the Great, who pressed the pace before fading to fourth in the Grade 3 Dwyer, stepped up his game considerably. He stalked the pace of Always Dreaming, came with a wide run turning for home to challenge for the lead, battled on gamely to actually poke his head in front in the lane, and beat out the other three for second. The Travers could be on his radar as well. Always Dreaming, the front-running winner of the Kentucky Derby, battled back when three of his rivals came at him turning for home, had the lead to inside the furlong pole, and tired to finish third. Surely the Travers figures in his plans, as well as he ran well here, though considering he’d been freshened and had trained so well this was a bit disappointing. Cloud Computing, the Preakness winner, dogged Always Dreaming, moved closer to that foe turning for home, was still in the thick of it at the eighth pole, but couldn’t keep pace and ended up last. Still, his ‘A’ game is good enough to make him a Travers contender, as long as he came out of this race in good shape.

Del Mar
Bing Crosby (race 9)
COMMENT: Ransom the Moon confirmed he’s among the elite sprinters out West, but he got an assist from the reigning sprint champ Drefong, who lost his rider soon after the start. Winner of the Grade 2 Kona Gold at Santa Anita May 20 and second in the Grade 2 San Carlos there July 1, Ransom the Moon stalked inside as Roy H set the pace with riderless Drefong to his inside. Ransom the Moon launched his run into the lane as riderless Drefong carried Roy H out many lanes off the rail, grabbed the lead, and drew off. Trainer Philip D’Amato said Ransom the Moon would run in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Oct. 7 as a bridge to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 4. Roy H, coming off three straight easy wins including the Grade 2 True North at Belmont June 9, went right out to contest the early lead with St. Joe Bay, got the better of St. Joe Bay turning for home, but got carried out by Drefong and couldn’t match the winner in the final furlong. Moe Candy prompted the pace, ranged up alongside Roy H turning for home, but also got carried by Drefong and couldn’t sustain his bid. Drefong broke alertly but ducked inward at the gap to lose his rider in his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last Nov. 5. Trainer Bob Baffert said Drefong may target Saratoga’s Grade 1 Forego Aug. 26.

July 30

Saratoga
Shuvee (race 1)

COMMENT: Paid Up Subscriber, second to champion Songbird in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont June 10, made like Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont, absolutely dismantling a three-horse field, winning by 32 1/2 lengths. She sat last of the trio as Terra Promessa set a solid pace under pressure from Apologynotaccepted, moved up easily outside those two going to the far turn, took command under her own power and romped home. The Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Sept. 30 figures next, and should all go well there, another crack at Songbird and division leaders Stellar Wind and Forever Unbridled in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 3. Terra Promessa went right to the lead, took pressure from Apologynotaccepted, was inside as the three were abreast going to the far turn, and held second. Apologynotaccepted dogged Terra Promessa, moved up to challenge that foe going to the far turn, and tired.

Monmouth
Monmouth Cup (race 3)
COMMENT: Sharp Azteca, among the best one-turn horses around, showed he can be effective going two turns, setting a course record with a romping win. He looked best on paper, and that’s the way it worked out on the track. Coming off a second to freaky winner Mor Spirit in the Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont June 10, Sharp Azteca dogged early pacesetter Classy Class, and had no trouble taking command on the far turn before drawing off to win easily. His mark of 1:40.19 for the 1 1/16 miles eclipses the old course mark of 1:40.20, set by Formal Gold in 1997. The reason for this two-turn try, according to trainer Jorge Navarro, was to see if Sharp Azteca should target the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 4, a two-turn race. Looks as though he passed the test. Donegal Moon lagged back and came with a run to be a clear second. Just Call Kenny stalked in third while saving ground, moved closer on the far turn to loom a threat, but flattened out in the final furlong.

Monmouth
Monmouth Stakes (race 7)
COMMENT: Money Multiplier hadn’t been seen since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last Nov. 5 when he suffered an injury. But trainer Chad Brown had him ready for a winning effort off the long layoff. He stalked as Smooth Daddy set a very slow pace, moved closer going to the turn, made a wide move to reach contention by the far turn, took command, and edged clear. The male turf distance division is looking for a leader and maybe this guy can have a say. The Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 26 could be next. Irish Strait, winner of the Grade 3 Red Bank here last time out May 27, stalked the pace while just inside the eventual winner, moved up between rivals turning for home to make his run, couldn’t keep up with the winner, but ran on well for second. Kharafa sat just behind the top two, made a run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Smooth Daddy, upset winner of the Grade 3 Ft. Marcy at Belmont May 6, set the pace under pressure from Thatcher Street, held a narrow lead into the lane, but couldn’t keep up when it mattered.

Monmouth
Molly Pitcher (race 10)
COMMENT: Money’soncharlotte wired rivals in the Lady’s Secret here July 2 and today she again led her rivals on a merry chase. She got away with modest splits while taking minimal pressure from Miss Inclusive, looked to possibly be in trouble when Miss Inclusive and Carrumba came to her turning for home, but dispatched with them and had enough to keep Eskenformoney at bay. Eskenformoney, third to Money’soncharlotte in the Lady’s Secret, broke slowly to be last early, started to advance on the far turn, and put in a sustained run in the lane to be a clear second. She did close the gap on the winner but never appeared positioned to reel her in. Carrumba, the favorite off a third in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill June 17, stalked the pace, loomed menacingly turning for home, but flattened out.

Monmouth
Matchmaker (race 11)
COMMENT: In another display of his amazing depth in terms of turf distance distaffers, trainer Chad Brown sent out Wekeela to prevail here. Coming off an optional-claiming win at Belmont June 11, the daughter of Hurricane Run stalked in fourth as Judy’s Chance set a modest pace, crept closer going to the far turn while saving ground, burst through along the rail into the lane, and edged clear late. War Flag, a Group 3 winner in France and coming off a rallying win in her U.S. debut here June 18, raced just behind Wekeela while to her outside, and tried to rally with that foe into the lane. Miss Temple City, the heavy favorite making her first start since a 13th in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Ascot June 20, was in a bit tight and had to steady early, but soon found her stride. She dogged pacesetter Judy’s Chance, moved to the lead into the lane as if ready to go on to victory, but didn’t produce her customary strong late kick. She may well have needed this, though she also might not be as effective at this distance and farther.

Monmouth
Haskell (race 12)
COMMENT: In a terrific renewal, Girvin proved best. Coming off a sharp second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown June 24, Girvin sat last as Timeline and Battle of Midway volleyed up front through solid splits. Girvin began to advance while saving ground, came off the rail on the far turn, and finished resolutely to reel in McCraken in the final strides. The Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 26 figures next. McCraken, eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and winner of the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill June 17, did everything but win. He bided his time early, not far in front of the eventual winner, came with a wide run turning for home to grab the lead from Irish War Cry, looked on his way to victory in midstretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Practical Joke, impressive winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont last time out July 8, stalked the pace, had to wait for room coming into the lane, found a seam, and finished well between the top two. Irish War Cry, second in the Grade 1 Belmont June 10, pressed the pace behind Timeline and Battle of Midway, pounced on those rivals turning for home, but couldn’t keep up with the top three in the final furlong. Timeline, romping winner of his first four starts, including the Grade 3 Pegasus here June 18, volleyed on the lead with Battle of Midway but weakened. Battle of Midway, third in the Kentucky Derby and winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita June 24, dueled with Timeline and likewise paid the price. Many of these figure to lock horns again in the Travers.

Del Mar
Clement L. Hirsch (race 8)
COMMENT: Just under two months ago, Stellar Wind beat Vale Dori in the Grade 1 Beholder, her second Grade 1 win in as many starts this year. Today, Stellar Wind, who beat champion Beholder in this race last year, denied Vale Dori again. She dogged Vale Dori, who set a slow pace, and remained on her hip to the far turn. Stellar Wind crept closer to challenge, put her head in front by the eighth pole, and fought on to narrowly prevail. She’s right up alongside Songbird as the nation’s top distaffer – and Vale Dori obviously isn’t far behind. The Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita Sept. 30 figures next, and she could run into Vale Dori again there, as well as Songbird. Vale Dori battled on gamely in the lane but couldn’t outdo Stellar Wind. Faithfully ran deceptively well for be third. She stalked the pace after being bumped at the start and made a run at the top two in the lane.