Trip Notes for July 5-6: Belmont Derby, Suburban, Salvator Mile, United Nations and more...

Saturday, July 5

Belmont - Dwyer (race 4)

COMMENT: Kid Cruz found the Grade 1 Preakness waters too deep but came right back to easily win the Easy Goer here last month. He moved back into graded stakes company and wore down previously unbeaten entrymate Captain Serious to get the win. From his rail slot Kid Cruz showed a bit more speed than usual. Instead of lagging well back he had enough speed to stalk the pace while saving ground. He moved out for room turning for home, sort of bulled his way through between horses, doggedly went after pacesetter Captain Serious and got him in the final half-furlong. Captain Serious, unbeaten in his first three starts, all sprints, handled his first route wonderfully as he went right to the lead, took some pressure first from Gaining Ground and then from Tiz Dark, was still clear into the lane and in midstretch, but couldn’t fend off the winner while much the best of the rest. Ulanbator was last early after stumbling at the start, was just in behind the eventual winner going to the far turn and into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with that guy. Tiz Dark prompted the pace, looked threatening on the far turn, but gave way.

Belmont - Belmont Sprint (race 6)

COMMENT: Coming off a fifth in the Grade 1 Met Mile here last month, Clearly Now stalked the pace of Moonlight Song, came with a run along the inside on the far turn, swung out into the lane, and drew off to win in a romp. Palace raced near Clearly Now from the start, couldn’t accelerate as quickly as that foe but came with a steady wide run to get up for second. Salutos Amigos sat midpack and came with a decent run, though this was basically a one-horse race. Central Banker lagged back while racing inside, had to alter course a couple times when in traffic, and never was able to get involved.

Belmont - Belmont Derby (race 7)

COMMENT: Mr Speaker bounced back nicely from a fifth in an ungraded stakes here May 26 to foil the much-ballyhooed Euros and post his first Grade 1 win. The son of Pulpit was very slow into stride but saved ground as he lagged back. He started to advance going to the far turn, angled off the rail into the lane and then stayed inside for a clear run to grab the lead over favored Euro Adelaide. Adelaide stalked the pace, moved to the lead into the stretch, then was passed by Mr Speaker but doggedly kept after that foe in a fine try, finishing far clear of the others. Flamboyant lagged back, swung wide into the lane and came with a nice run. Gailo Chop sat midpack, got shuffled back turning for home, swung wide into the lane and kept on decently. Toast of New York stalked the pace, made a bit of a run into the lane but flattened out. Bobby’s Kitten stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, but quickly fell away. This distance may be beyond him.

Belmont - Suburban (race 8)

COMMENT: Zivo showed he’s not just a beast among New York-breds but that he can carry his form into graded stakes. Coming off five straight wins, three against New York-breds, he was slow into stride to sit last early. He remained there to the far turn, came with a strong run turning for home, and blew past his rivals to win going away. Off this he may deserve a shot at a race like the Grade 1 Whiney at Saratoga Aug. 2 or Grade 1 Woodward there Aug. 30. Moreno, who tired in the Grade 1 Met Mile, set the pace. He tried to rebuff the winner in midstretch, was no match for that foe but stayed on well in a nice bounce-back run. Prayer for Relief stalked the pace and stayed on decently. Romansh, the favorite, sat midpack, came with a threatening move turning for home, but flattened out. Last Gunfighter lagged back and never made a move.

Belmont - Belmont Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: Minorette, a former Irish runner coming off a second in the Wonder Again here, showed she’s adapted well to her new surroundings, posting an upset and notching her first Grade 1 win. She sat third while Sea Queen set a modest pace, went after that foe into the lane, got the better of her in the final half-furlong and edged away. Her final time wasn’t much slower than the boys the same day in the Belmont Park Derby (2:01.64/2:01.18). The form of the Wonder Again was really flattered as Sea Queen, who won that race, finished second in this race. She bounced out to a clear lead and set the pace, but was unable to keep pace with the winner late. Summer Solo sat midpack, swung out into the lane and finished well. Xcellence lagged back, swung very wide into the lane, but could make only modest headway. Room Service, the favorite, was last early and never got involved. Rosalind likewise was well back early and never made a move.

Delaware - Robert G. Dick Memorial (race 6)

COMMENT: Aigue Marine, off since finishing a sharp second in the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland April 24, came back firing. She bided her time early while saving ground, swung out for the stretch drive, and powered home to win going away. Topic was last early, still last going to the far turn, came with a strong run into the lane to grab the lead but drifted out forcing Starstruck to clip heels and stumble badly. After an inquiry she was disqulified and placed ninth. Concise sat midpack and came with a nice run, though she was no match for the top two. Always Kitten was well back turning for home, came with a smart run, but had to check when in traffic after Topic drifted out and lost her momentum. Starstruck stalked the pace, and was still in the thick of it into the lane when Topic drifted out into her path forcing her to check and stumble badly.

Delaware - Delaware Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: Fortune Pearl, third in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan, notched her first graded win. She lagged well back early, but came home strongly on the outside to win going away. Joint Return, the favorite, broke slowly and was last turning for home. She swung very wide into the lane and finished well but was no real threat to the winner. Aibhilin dogged pacesetter Honey’s Ryan, took the lead in midstretch from that tiring rival, and lost second in the final stride. Vero Amore, second in of the Black-Eyed Susan, sat midpack early but gave way readily to finish last.

Los Alamitos - Los Alamitos Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Shared Belief put to bed any doubts about his distance and dirt abilities as he handled both and some nice to stay unbeaten in five starts. Last year’s 2-year-old champ, Shared Belief dogged pacesetter Can the Man, winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed here last month. Shared Belief made his move on the far turn, grabbed command, opened up and won geared down. Candy Boy lagged back, came with a smart run entering the final turn, and kept to his task well to be second, far clear of the others. Tonito M. stalked the pace, finished decently but was never a threat. Can the Man set the pace under pressure first from Eddie’s First and then from the winner and faded once headed.

Sunday, July 6

Monmouth - Salvator Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Itsmyluckyday has come back strongly from an injury last year. He notched his third straight win in this race. He stalked the pace of Bradester, moved up smartly to challenge that foe and Valid into the lane, opened up and had no trouble holding his advantage. Bradester went right to the lead, battled back gamely when first headed by Valid and then by Itsmyluckyday, and gamely kept on to get second. Valid pressed the pace, took the lead into the lane but couldn’t sustain his run. Code West lagged back, came with a threatening run turning for home, but flattened out.

Monmouth - United Nations (race 12)

COMMENT: Main Sequence was making his first start since fading to eighth in a Group 1 in England last October and then getting sick over the winter. He was last early in this race, steadily advanced going down the backside, swung out wide into the lane and kept to his task to get up in the final yards. Twilight Eclipse set the early pace, relinquished pacesetting duties quickly to Side Glance, bided his time in third, came with a nice run into the lane to grab the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Side Glance set a solid pace, battled back gamely when hooked first by Twilight Eclipse and then by Main Sequence in the lane, but just wasn’t quite good enough. He could improve in his next race as he probably doesn’t want to be on the lead early. Kaigun, the favorite, dogged Side Glance early, and made a threatening move between horses into the lane.