Trip Notes for July 4-5, 2020: Met Mile, Manhattan, and more

July 4

Belmont
Victory Ride (race 3)

COMMENT: Frank’s Rockette, the overwhelming favorite, got the job done, but it wasn’t easy. From her rail slot she broke well and went right to the lead, as expected, only to be immediately joined by Reagan’s Edge to her outside with Center Aisle pressing wider out. She set a strong pace under constant pressure, had “Edge” and “Aisle” come at her turning for home, edged away some into the lane as if ready to go on to a clear victory, but then had to fight hard to just get to the line before a hard-trying Reagan’s Edge to her outside. The track played extremely fast as she was just .01 of a second off the track record, meaning both Reagan’s Edge and Center Aisle almost equaled the track mark as well. The Grade 1 Test at Saratoga Aug. 8 figures next. Reagan’s Edge, moving into stakes ranks for the first time off an allowance win at Churchill May 16, showed speed from the start to duel outside of Frank’s Rockette from the bell, continued to dog that rival to the far turn with Center Aisle pressing as well to her immediate right, seemed in trouble turning for home when “Rockette” edged away a bit, but gamely kept to her task between horses and nearly caught “Rockette” in the final stride. The Test figures on her radar as well. Center Aisle, a $1.5 million daughter of Into Mischief who easily won her debut at Gulfstream March 29 before a fifth after a slow start in an optional claimer at Churchill May 22, broke much better here, showed speed to press the issue outside of Frank’s Rockette and Reagan’s Edge, continued to push the issue to the top of the lane and gamely kept on well, only relenting a bit in the final strides while still finishing a close-up third. The Test may be next for her as well. Up in Smoke, unbeaten in her four previous sprints, all at Gulfstream, including a stakes June 6, bided her time early a few lengths behind the leaders, saved ground while remaining well off those rivals, came under a ride turning for home to try and go get the leading trio, but was unable to do so.

Belmont
Poker (race 8)

COMMENT: They’ve apparently found the key to Social Paranoia as while he’s run well going longer, this trip (mile) may suit him best. Coming off a dullish sixth in the longer Grade 2 Fort Marcy here June 6, he sat last early as Dream Friend set a slow pace under some pressure from Got Stormy, remained at the back as the field tightened on the far turn, swung widest of all into the stretch and finished smartly to roll post Seismic Wave in the final furlong and win going away. Off this surely something like the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga at this same mile trip Aug. 22 figures on his radar, though there he could run into such Chad Brown beasts as champion turf mare Uni and top-class milers Raging Bull and Without Parole. Seismic Wave likewise appears to have found this mile trip plays best for him. Coming off a fourth in the 7-furlong First Defence here June 7, his first start in over seven months, he sat well back early, made a strong wide run into the far turn to reach contention just outside Value Proposition, got the better of him and Got Stormy further inside, and drifted inward some in the final furlong while unable to counter the winner’s charge to his outside. Value Proposition, a smart winner of an optional claimer here June 3, his first start in 11 months, broke well to stalk the pace toward the outside, moved closer on the far turn, found himself between horses turning for home with Seismic Wave to his outside and Got Stormy to his inside, battled on, couldn’t finish with the top two, had to steady in deep stretch when Seismic Wave came over in front of him, but got going again late to get third. There was an inquiry in to the stretch run but the result was allowed stand. He was surely hindered but he wasn’t going to beat Seismic Wave for second and the fact he was able to get going again and beat Got Stormy for third made the inquiry moot. Got Stormy, the mare who beat males in Grade 1’s last year and who scratched out of last week’s Grade 1 Just a Game II due to wet ground, broke well, was under a hold as she stalked pacesetter Dream Friend to her inside, moved up easily into the lane to challenge for the lead, took a brief lead in the lane, was no match for the top two wider out, and then lost third to Value Proposition to her immediate right in the final strides. She ran decently but it seems apparent she’s just not the same gal we saw in 2019. Hawkish, who ran on well for fifth in the First Defence, sat midpack from the start, moved closer while in traffic turning for home but remained stuck in traffic and behind horses the rest of the way. The trouble might not have cost him the win or even second, but it surely kept him from being more involved. Valid Point, winner of his first three starts last year before finishing 10th in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile last Oct. 5 and making his first start since, hopped at the start, still was able to get position sitting in Dream Friend’s wake, seemed to be traveling well while staying inside just behind the pacesetter, remained stuck behind horses while staying on the rail but was one-paced in the final furlong and not really persevered with in the final furlong when all was obviously lost.

Belmont
Runhappy Met Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: We always knew Vekoma was good but he’s become a revelation as the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride, now unbeaten in five starts around one turn and coming off a dazzling romp in the Grade 1 Carter here June 6, stamped himself the leading sprinter/miler in the land. Whereas he’s usually stalked the pace, this time he went right to the lead, setting a solid pace taking some pressure from Warrior’s Charge to his outside, continued to hold a narrow lead while staying on the rail, looked in trouble when a number of rivals came at him into the lane, but he just put his head down, opened up again and had more than enough of a buffer to get the line before a hard-trying Network Effect. The Grade 1 Forego Aug. 29 at Saratoga may be next, though owner Randy Hill mentioned the possibility of Vekoma training up to the Breeders’ Cup (he has entries for the Dirt Mile as well as the Sprint but trainer George Weaver said he favors the former). Network Effect was second to Vekoma in the Carter but not a real threat as he was beaten by 7 3/4 lengths. He was more of a threat this time, though there was still no doubt as to who was best. He sat just a bit behind Vekoma and Warrior’s Charge while staying inside in Vekoma’s wake, moved closer on the turn to be just behind Vekoma with Endorsed and McKinzie to his outside, came through between horses just inside of Warrior’s Charge in the stretch, and finished well for second. The Forego is reportedly on his radar as well. Code of Honor, coming off a big return win in the Grade 3 Westchester here June 6, bided his time at the back of the pack from the start, crept closer as the field bunched up on the far turn, moved wide for clear sailing, came with a smart run outside McKinzie into the lane to loom a big threat, but couldn’t get to the top two in the final furlong. Considering the pace and wide trip it was still an excellent run. The Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Aug. 1 would obviously be on his radar as well, though if that proves too soon they could await the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga Sept. 5. Warrior’s Charge pressed the issue from his outside post from the start, moved up alongside Vekoma turning for home, couldn’t go with that rival, but stayed on gamely between horses, edging McKinzie for fourth. McKinzie, second in this last year and coming off a solid win in the Grade 2 Triple Bend at Santa Anita June 7 after being a very dull 11th in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup Feb. 29, stalked while wide a couple lengths off the lead, loomed ominously while wide on the far turn, ran in tandem with Code of Honor to his outside into the lane as if poised to be a big threat, but flattened out a bit in the final furlong. He reportedly lost a couple shoes during the race and that couldn’t have helped. Endorsed, a sharp second to Code of Honor in the Westchester, stalked between horses, moved closer into the far turn outside of Network Effect and inside McKinzie, made a bid with those rivals into the lane, but couldn’t keep up in the final furlong. This mile trip might be a tad sharp for him, at least in this deepest end of the pool. The Whitney or Woodward could be possibilities for him, though since they’ve already shipped him West once (ran fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap) maybe they’d take a shot and ship to Del Mar for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 22.

Belmont
Manhattan (race 10)

COMMENT: There were those who questioned whether Instilled Regard wanted 1 1/4 miles. Well, they can question it no more as the son of Arch burst through between horses late, taking to the 10th furlong with aplomb and posting his second straight graded stakes victory and first Grade 1 win. He bided his time early as Cross Border set a slow pace. Instilled Regard remained a few lengths off the lead between horses, was still well back and in traffic turning for home, moved out a bit for room, and burst through late just outside of leader and stablemate Rockemperor and inside old pro Sadler’s Joy to get the win. Trainer Chad Brown said he’d likely cut back to 1 1/8 miles for the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Sept. 5. Rockemperor, the slight favorite over Instilled Regard off a sharp second (was disqualified to third) in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at Santa Anita May 23, showed more eagerness than usual as he broke well, sat just off pacesetter Cross Border while saving ground, remained there to the far turn, came off the inside turning for home, launched his bid into the lane, grabbed the lead inside the eighth pole as if ready to go on to victory but then couldn’t withstand the winner’s charge to his immediate right. The Old Forester may be next for him as well. Sadler’s Joy, the terrific 7-year-old who came into this off a third in the Tiller here June 4, was devoid of speed, as usual, to be last from the start, though he wasn’t that far back as the pace was slow. He bided his time at the back, started to advance while wide into the far turn, continued wide on the turn and in the stretch, finished well but was unable to finish with the winner to his inside. Channel Maker, who’d been off form since last fall, stalked the pace, moved up handily on the far turn, challenged for the lead into the lane and battled gamely toward the inside only to be overtaken by the three closers to his outside in an improved effort. You get the feeling, though, that the Europeans who are thinking about coming over for the Breeders’ Cup did not quake in their shoes after seeing this.

Belmont
Suburban (race 11)

COMMENT: Pace scenario may have changed as one of the speed horses, Joevia, scratched earlier in the day. Forewarned was scratched during the warm-up. With blinkers, Tacitus ran second in last year’s Grade 1 Travers and third in last year’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He got them back on today and got that elusive next win in dominating fashion. From his rail draw he broke well, was content to sit a few lengths of pacesetters Parsimony and Mr. Buff while saving ground, remained there down the backstretch, came off the rail into the far turn, advanced smartly under his own power, challenged for the lead into the lane still without being asked and then drew off to win in a romp without really being set down. Yes, he wasn’t facing top quality here but he won the way you’d like to see a horse win so maybe next comes a shot at the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Aug. 1 – though waiting there could be Tom’s d’Etat and Code of Honor. The Grade 1 Woodward there Sept. 5 may suit him better as not only would he get more time, the Woodward’s longer trip (1 1/4 miles vs. the Whitney’s 1 1/8 miles) figures better for him as well. Moretti, romping winner of the Flat Out here June 11, sat just outside Tacitus much of the way, didn’t move as early as that foe and in fact lost ground on the far turn, came out into the stretch, however, and got going again, rallying wide to just get up for second, though he was never on the winner’s radar. Parsimony, sixth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 6, broke well, going right to the lead, set a modest pace under pressure from Mr. Buff to his outside, maintained a narrow advantage over that foe while staying on the rail, dispatched with Mr. Buff into the lane, had no answer for when the winner went rolling past, but kept to his task, only losing second in the final stride. Sir Winston, last year’s Grade 1 Belmont winner and coming off a second to Moretti in the Flat Out, was slow into stride and never got involved, racing far back throughout as if something was amiss.

Delaware
Delaware Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Project Whiskey was good last summer/fall, topped off by two wins including a stakes at Parx. However, she was then dull in a Laurel stakes, gone almost six months, then dull in an optional claiming sprint at Churchill last time out May 25. Well, apparently she needed that Churchill race, and here, routing for the first time, she popped up with a top effort to post the big upset. She bided her time a bit off a modest pace set by favorite Piece of My Heart, who was on the rail and taking pressure from Princess Cadey, moved up smartly between horses on the far turn, went past “Heart” to her inside, was challenged to her outside by Dream Marie and gamely fended off that rival to the line. This was nice, though whether it’s enough to deserve a shot at the likes of Gamine, Swiss Skydiver, Bonny South, Altaf, Venetian Harbor, Tonalist’s Shape, Envoutante, Shedaresthedevil and the other top 3-year-old fillies is another matter. Dream Marie ran second to Tonalist’s Shape in a route stakes at Gulfstream May 15 but was then very dull when eighth in a sprint stakes there June 6. Back to routing here she got back on track as she sat a few lengths off the lead while a few lanes off the rail, came with a strong wide run on the far turn to reach contention, engaged Project Whiskey to her inside, battled gamely with that rival to the line, but couldn’t get past. Princess Cadey dogged pacesetter and favorite Piece of My Heart to her inside from the start, challenged that rival on the far turn, tried to go with the top two when they went past her into the lane, drifted out in the lane, and kept to her task decently though she couldn’t rally with the top two. Piece of My Heart, favored off two straight wins at Oaklawn including the Gardenia May 1, went right to the lead, moved to the rail, took pressure from Princess Cadey to her immediate right and Long Point Beach wider out, relinquished the lead to the top three into the lane, came off the rail some and actually finished decently. Comical, the second choice off a second to “Heart” in the Gardenia, seemed to get a dream trip stalking the pace right on Piece of My Heart’s heels while saving ground, moved up just behind that rival seemingly traveling very easily into the far turn, but then came under a ride and came up empty.

Delaware
Kent (race 9)

COMMENT: Gufo again used his big late kick to make it four straight wins and stamp himself one of the top 3-year-old male turfers along with stablemate Decorated Invader. He sat well back early as Sunsation set a modest pace, crept closer going to the far turn while a few lanes off the rail, swung wider out into the lane, and rallied strongly widest of all to outfinish Pixelate. The Saratoga Derby Aug. 15 could possibly be next. Pixelate, coming off four straight rallying stakes-placings, sat a few lengths off the pace, made progress on the far turn between horses, came with a nice run between horses in the lane, couldn’t quite finish with Gufo to his outside, but stayed on well. Vanzzy, fourth to Decorated Invader in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at Belmont June 20, dogged pacesetter Sunsation to his outside, moved closer to challenge that foe on the far turn, was getting the better of that rival turning for home, moved to the inside once past a tiring Sunsation, was no match for the top two who went past to his outside, but kept to his task for third. Bye Bye Melvin, back to turf after a dull run (10th) in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and kin to emerging turf distaff star Mean Mary (Grade 2 winner, multiple Grade 3 winner), bided his time while saving ground, moved closer going to the far turn while just in behind pacesetter Sunsation, remained boxed in behind that rival to the top of the lane while seeking room, but came up empty when finally able to find a lane.

Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos Derby (race 6)

COMMENT: Field was reduced to four when Anneau d’Or, 3-1 on the morning line, scratched (ill). Trainer Bob Baffert got his fourth straight win in this race, running one-two with Uncle Chuck and Thousand Words. Uncle Chuck, a $250,000 son of champion juvenile male Uncle Mo and smashing winner of his debut, which came going a route at Santa Anita June 12, chased early pacesetter Great Power from the start while racing with Cosmo to his inside, remained just off the pace and just behind Cosmo down the backstretch, moved up easily to challenge for the lead on the turn, took over into the lane, and drew off to win comfortably. Baffert still has potential Kentucky Derby quality despite losing the likes of Charlatan and Nadal. Of course, there wasn’t much top-line opposition here (in fact, one of his two rivals was a maiden), so as good as he looked you probably don’t want to get carried away. The Shared Belief at Del Mar Aug. 1 is most probably next, though if he’s doing well Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 8 is an option. Thousand Words, winner of his first three starts but then no factor in his last two, rebounded some as with blinkers removed the $1 million son of Pioneerof the Nile sat last early in the small field, started to advance while wide on the far turn, made a run at Uncle Chuck into the lane, but then couldn’t keep pace with that rival while staying on decently to be easily second best. While Uncle Chuck may continue on the Kentucky Derby road, it’s hard to see Thousand Words doing so. Cosmo, a maiden, stalked the pace from the start from his rail draw racing inside Uncle Chuck, was still racing with that foe going to the far turn, was then unable to keep pace with the two Bafferts when they hit the gas on the far turn, but came off the inside and was able to go past a tiring Great Power in the lane to get third while no threat to the top two.

Los Alamitos
Great Lady M. (race 8)

COMMENT: Sneaking Out gave way to end up fifth in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill last time out May 30, but she returned to Southern California and got back on track, posting the upset. She got a dream trip as she broke well to stalk early pacesetter Artistic Diva, remained there to the far turn, moved closer on the turn, challenged “Diva” into the stretch, got the better of her a few lanes off the rail, opened up, and had enough of a lead to give her a buffer and get to the line before rallying favorite Bellafina to her inside. The Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar Aug. 21 may be next. Bellafina, the favorite off a smart win in the Grade 3 Desert Stormer at Santa Anita May 17, broke better than usual from her rail slot, ended up a few lengths behind pacesetter Artistic Diva, remained inside in that girl’s wake to the far turn, was urged to go through along the rail into the lane but had that closed off by Artistic Diva, came off the inside and rallied well to pass Artistic Diva to her inside but couldn’t quite get to Sneaking Out to her outside. The Rancho Bernardo figures on her radar as well, though there’s also the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Kentucky Derby Day Sept. 5 to consider. Amuse stalked while outside and just behind the eventual winner, remained there while wide to the far turn, remained just outside of Bellafina to the top of the lane, and made some headway in the lane to just get up for third, though she wasn’t really a threat to the top pair.

July 5

Prairie Meadows
Iowa Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: Flat Out Speed blasted statebreds in a sprint stakes here June 27 as the 1-20 favorite but was still sent off here at 9-1, the second highest-priced horse in the race as she routed for the first time. Well, the daughter of Flatter had no trouble taking her game to a route vs. open foes as she proved a handy winner. She showed speed from the start to dog early pacesetter Lagoon Falls just outside of that rival, soon assumed pacesetting duties, set a modest pace under pressure first from Lagoon Falls and then from Aurelia Garland, opened up into the lane, and gave herself enough of a buffer to get to the line before a resurgent Aurelia Garland. This doesn’t mean she’s ready for the deep end of the pool but she showed she can surely do damage in the right spots. Aurelia Garland, the 2-1 second choice off a third in a tough optional-claiming route at Churchill June 11, showed speed to be just behind Flat Out Speed from the start, remained in third as that gal took the lead into the backstretch, advanced to pressure that foe on the far turn, didn’t immediately respond when Flat Out Speed opened up into the lane, got going late to close the gap in the final furlong, but was never really a danger to the winner. Ocean Breeze, the 6-5 favorite off a smashing maiden win in a sprint at Churchill May 25, stalked in fourth early, moved closer on the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane but flattened out. This was her first route and first try vs. winners, so maybe she bit off a bit too much too soon. Still, as a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, you’d expect she’ll handle this trip better down the road. Dynasty of Her Own, a West Coast invader who had won four of her five starts including the California Oaks on Golden Gate’s synthetic track last time out May 31, was away slowly, sat well back while wide, and never made a move. Considering she showed big speed out West but showed no spark here, maybe she didn’t ship well.

Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows Cornhusker (race 10)

COMMENT: Night Ops won two straight at Oaklawn this winter in game fashion, including the Essex March 14, before finding the likes of By My Standards, Warrior’s Charge and Mr. Freeze too much to handle in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap when ninth. He got away from such rivals here and took advantage as the $5K bargain purchase notched his first graded stakes win in dominating fashion. The son of Warrior’s Reward, sent off the 7-5 favorite, stalked in third as second choice My Sixth Sense set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, surged past that rival into the lane, quickly opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. My Sixth Sense, trying stakes ranks after running sixth in a tough optional claimer at Churchill June 7, went right to the lead, set modest splits under pressure from Dunph, held a narrow lead into the far turn, was overwhelmed by the eventual winner into the lane as he rebuffed Dunph, and ran on well to hold second in a good try. Rated R Superstar, off form of late including a seventh last time out in that same June 7 optional claimer at Churchill that My Sixth Sense exited, sat midpack from the start while saving ground, came off the inside turning for home, and kept to his task well to get third, far clear of the others. Dunph, trying stakes ranks after two straight wins at Oaklawn this spring, dogged early pacesetter My Sixth Sense from the start outside that rival, applied more pressure on that foe turning for home, but couldn’t sustain his run and gave way in the lane to end up a non-threatening fourth.