Trip Notes for July 6: Dwyer, Belmont Oaks and Derby, Suburban, and more

July 6
Belmont
Dwyer (race 6)

COMMENT: Code of Honor was a deceptively good third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 (moved up to second via the disqualification of original winner Maximum Security) and after a freshening came back in this spot and validated that quality with an easy win. The son of European Group 1 winner Noble Mission sat last early as Majid, a winner of four straight, set a solid pace under pressure from Whiskey Echo, remained at the back to the far turn, pitched wide into the lane, finished with gusto to surge to the lead by midstretch (despite his rider losing his whip soon after), drawing off to win easily. The Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 27 is reportedly next and, should all go well there, the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 24 beckons. Final Jeopardy, fourth in the Grade 3 Peter Pan here May 11, stalked in third, loomed a big threat turning for home and into the lane, was no match for the winner who surged past to his outside but kept on well to get second. Rowayton stalked in fourth while saving ground, came off the inside into the lane for clear sailing, kept to his task well though he was no match for the winner who went storming past to his outside. Mihos, impressive last fall/winter and freshened since a so-so fifth in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Feb. 2, sat back not far in front of the eventual winner while saving ground, was asked for run on the turn, made a mild bid turning for home when coming off the inside but was unable to get involved.

Belmont
Belmont Oaks (race 7)
COMMENT: Concrete Rose blew past Newspaperofrecord to win the shorter Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 3 and showed that win no fluke and that this 10-furlong trip was no problem as she powered home again to win this vs. tougher, and did so fairly easily. The daughter of Twirling Candy sat second as Jodie set a modest pace, moved closer going to the far turn, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, surged clear and won fairly comfortably. The second leg of the Turf Tiara, $750,000 Saratoga Oaks at 1 3/16 miles Aug. 2, is her next target, and should all go well there, the final leg of the Turf Tiara, the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks at 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Sept. 7 would be on her radar. Just Wonderful, a European raider coming off a couple of dull Group 1 mile efforts, took to this longer trip with aplomb as she lunged at the start to get away poorly, was in a tangle with a couple of rivals early, finally settled toward the back while carried very wide into the backstretch, bided her time, moved toward the inside turning for home, pitched out wide again into the lane, finished with good energy but wasn’t good enough to get to the winner. Cambier Parc, big winner of the Grade 3 Wonder Again here June 6, stalked the pace, was pushed wide some on the far turn, got going well into the lane to loom a threat but, ran on smartly and while no match for the winner just missed getting second. Olendon, Group 1-placed in France at this trip last time out, bided her time while saving ground just behind Newspaperofrecord, advanced some up the rail going down the backstretch, seemed in a good spot just behind the eventual winner on the far turn, bumped and jostled with Cambier Parc to her outside into the lane, lost her action and gave way. Newspaperofrecord, the favorite off three monster wins as a juvenile and two seconds this year, broke well, was throttled back early, which she didn’t like as she got very rank and fought with her rider, moved closer on the far turn a few lanes off the rail as if poised to be a big threat, remained headstrong and fighting her rider turning for home and came up empty when then asked for run, fading badly to end up last. She came out of the race with some cuts on her hind legs requiring stitches and, according to trainer Chad Brown, would get some time off to regroup.

Belmont
John. A. Nerud (race 8)
COMMENT: Promises Fulfilled pressed the issue before ending up fourth in the Grade 1 Met Mile here on June 8, maybe the toughest race of the season. He got some class relief here, didn’t face the same kind of opposing speed, and got back on track with the easy win. He broke well from his outside post, but caught a big break when fellow speedster Killybegs Captain stumbled badly at the start, leaving him along on the lead. He went right to the front, soon crossed over to the inside, set a solid pace under a little pressure from Warrior’s Club first and then from Killybegs Captain who tried to rush into contention after the big stumble, but had plenty in reserve as the die was cast, shooting clear into the lane and extending his margin in the lane while never really in danger. The Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga at this same trip on Aug. 24 figures his next target. Warrior’s Club, freshened since finishing a non-threatening sixth in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs at this same trip on the Kentucky Derby undercard, broke alertly to chase the eventual winner from the start, looked in deep water when passed by Killybegs Captain to his outside turning for home but kept to his task well to come back on and get second, though he was never really a threat to the winner in the lane. Killybegs Captain stumbled badly at the start and steadied soon thereafter to get away poorly, still had the speed to move up to stalking position in third, loomed a threat into the lane when making a run at the winner but couldn’t sustain his bid and tired just a bit to lose second in the final strides. Nicodemus fourth in the Grade 2 True North here on June 7, bided his time early while saving ground, was asked for run turning for home but was unable to get involved and had to be vanned off after the finish.

Belmont
Belmont Derby (race 9)
COMMENT: A deep renewal saw a surprise as Henley’s Joy, fourth in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge behind three of today’s foes, got the right trip and posted the upset. The $50,000 son of grass champ Kitten’s Joy showed speed to stalk in third while saving ground as Moon Colony set a decent pace, remained there to the top of the lane, came off the rail into the stretch rallied gamely and outdueled Social Paranoia in the final half-furlong to get the win. Nice as this was, you get the feeling that if you ran this race six times you might get six different winners. Still, Henley’s Joy proved best and off this a shot at the $1 million Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles Aug. 4 might be next for this guy, as well as many of the others in here. Social Paranoia, who finished third in the Pennine Ridge just in front of Henley’s Joy, sat just behind the eventual winner just to his outside, moved earlier than that rival to challenge for the lead on the far turn, took command, had the lead to midstretch, battled back gamely when hooked by Henley’s Joy but couldn’t quite outduel that rival in the final half furlong. Rockemperor, sixth in the Group 1 French Derby on June 2, was away slowly to be last early, remained well back down the backstretch, moved toward the inside going to the far turn, was asked for run into the lane, pitched out wide again and finished strongly but had simply been left with too much to do. He’s one to watch going forward as a future stalwart in the Chad Brown turf armada. Digital Age, previously unbeaten in his first three starts, lagged well back from the start, advanced going to the far turn while saving ground, moved toward the outside for clear sailing into the lane, and finished well. Seismic Wave, a sharp second in the Pennine Ridge, sat back while saving ground, bided his time there, moved closer on the far turn, cut the corner into the lane, loomed a big threat but didn’t have the needed punch. Plus Que Parfait, ninth in the Kentucky Derby, sat midpack from the start, loomed a big threat into the lane with a wide move, but flattened out. Cape of Good Hope, from the ever-dangerous Aidan O’Brien barn and fourth in the French Derby and 10th in the Group 3 Hampton Court in England last time out June 20, lagged back while wide, made a decent move into the lane as if ready to be a threat but flattened out. Blenheim Palace, another O’Brien invader who was getting Lasix and blinkers Saturday and who ran second in a Group 3 in Ireland last time out, dogged pacesetter Moon Colony from the start, was still there turning for home but then gave way. Master Fencer, the talented Japanese runner who was seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont, lagged well back from the start, raced wide but never mustered a run. Demarchelier, like stablemate Digital Age unbeaten in his first three starts and who beat the top two in the Pennine Ridge, settled toward the back, appeared to take a bad step while well back going down the backstretch, was taken hold of, eased into the far turn and pulled up before being vanned off. Trainer Brown said he was diagnosed with a lateral condylar fracture of his right fore and was to have surgery this weekend. Unfortunately, this could be career-ending, though the decision on his future wouldn’t come until a later date.

Belmont
Suburban (race 10)
COMMENT: Preservationist had always hinted at big ability and got his chance in the spotlight here after a big optional claiming win on May 23. He took full advantage, and the son of Arch may have punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Aug. 31. He broke alertly to take the early lead, soon relinquished pacesetter duties to favored Catholic Boy, dogged that rival to the far turn, moved up smartly inside that foe to grab the lead on the turn, had little trouble dispatching with that rival, drawing clear to win easily. Catholic Boy, smart winner of the Grade 2 Dixie on turf at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 18, his first start in over six months, was eager early, just behind the eventual winner to his inside at the start, continued to pull and soon took over pacesetting duties from that rival, held the lead through modest splits under pressure from the eventual winner, battled back when that rival came to him to his inside on the far turn, couldn’t keep pace with that foe but kept to his task to finish second. While he has turf as an option he ran well enough here to make you believe the Woodward and a rematch with Preservationist is his primary goal, and trainer Jonathan Thomas said he was inclined to that way of thinking, though he added he would nominate to the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Aug. 3 and see how the horse is doing leading up to that race before making a decision. He did come out of the race with a cut on his left fore but it wasn’t considered to be serious. Pavel, a respectable sixth in the Grade 1 Met Mile and moving to a better distance here, was midpack early, steadily advanced to the far turn, came with a run while wide on the turn, was no match for the winner but kept to his task well to at least scare the runner-up while finishing far clear of the others. Marconi, winner of the Grade 2 Brooklyn here June 8, sat midpack while saving ground, looked poised to make a run on the far turn but the run never came. Rocketry, a close-up second in the Brooklyn, bided his time from the start, started a mild run into the lane while well off the rail but was unable to make a dent. This caliber of rival may be a tad beyond him and this distance maybe a bit short of his preference.

Delaware
Kent (race 6)
COMMENT: Eons, a $300,000 son of European champion Giant’s Causeway, continued his ascent winning for the fourth straight time and notching his first graded stakes win. Coming off a stakes win on this course June 12, he showed speed to stalk in third as favorite Award Winner set a modest pace, continued to dog that rival to the far turn, went after that foe into the lane, engaged him by midstretch and outbattled him to the line for the narrow win. Off this it would be no reach to believe a shot at the Grade 1 Secretariat at a mile at Arlington on Aug. 10 is possible. Award Winner, favored off a game win on the Churchill turf May 19 and kin to top-class turfer Oscar Performance, went right to the lead, was immediately pressured by Eons, held a narrow lead through modest splits, battled back gamely when challenged by that foe into the lane but just couldn’t quite outduel that rival in the final half-furlong while finishing well clear of the others. The Secretariat may be on his radar as well. Surf and Turf stalked in fourth, tried to move closer to the top two on the far turn, was unable to get to those two but kept to his task well to get third. Empire of War, coming off a couple stakes placings on turf, pressed the early pace, soon took back to be just behind the top two going into the backstretch while saving ground, remained inside, made a mildly menacing move into the lane but couldn’t sustain it.

Delaware
Delaware Oaks (race 7)
COMMENT: Big things were expected this year from Jaywalk, last year’s 2-year-old filly champ. Alas, things didn’t go well in her first three starts of 2019. However, she was freshened off a sixth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, got blinkers for the first time and looked like the gal we expected to see as she dominated the proceedings. The $190,000 daughter of Cross Traffic went right to the lead, held a clear lead going into the backstretch while setting a modest pace, saw favorite Fashion Faux Pas move closer turning for home but easily rebuffed that rival, opened up and drew clear to win in a romp while geared down. Off this a shot back at the deep end of the pool in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 24 may be in the cards. Fashion Faux Pas, romping winner of the Light Hearted here on June 4 (by 14 1/2 lengths), chased the winner from the start, moved up nicely turning for home to challenge but was then no match when the champion put her foot on the gas into the lane. She still ran on to finish far clear of the others. Ujjayi sat fourth from the start, made a mild run into the lane but was no match for the winner or the runner-up. Avalina, the third choice off two romping wins over lesser, bided her time, came with a run on the far turn as if poised to be a threat, but was unable to sustain it and in fact flattened out and gave way.

Delaware
Robert G. Dick Memorial (race 8)
COMMENT: Gentle Ruler continued her ascent as the daughter of Colonel John made it four straight wins, notching her first graded stakes win. She bided her time early while saving ground as longshot Steelin Magnolias went out to a big early lead, remained there as field closed in on ‘Magnolias, came through an opening along the inside into the lane to grab the lead and draw clear. It will be interesting to see where they go next as while this was nice, this doesn’t mean she’s ready for the crowd expected at the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington. But this run shows she can do damage in the right spot. Theodora B. stalked in fourth from the start, came with a run into the lane while the winner surged past to her inside, kept to her task well and while unable to finish with the winner gamely got second. Gaining, the even-money favorite after a second to the winner in a stakes at Churchill last time out May 25, bided her time early, remained toward the back going into the far turn, pitched wide into the lane and finished well, though she was never a danger to the winner. Coachwhip sat second behind runaway early leader Steelin Magnolias after stumbling at the start, led the field to reel in that rival going to the far turn, but gave way once headed.

Parx
Parx Dash (race 8)
COMMENT: Pure Sensation was third in this last year to Vision Perfect but won it twice before. He made it a hat trick here and did so easily as the 8-year-old son of Zensational shows his love of this course (he’s now 6 for 7 here). He went right to the lead, took heavy early pressure from defending champ Vision Perfect, rebuffed that rival into the lane, opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. The Grade 3 Turf Monster here on Sept. 2, a race he won last year, figures next and, should all go well there, maybe a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in early November. Rocket Heat stalked in fourth, loomed a threat into the lane with a wide run, was no match for the winner but kept to his task well to finish second well ahead of the others. Smokin Nitro stalked in third while wide, tried to make a run at the eventual winner into the lane passing Rocket Heat, but flattened out significantly and was just able to hold third. Vision Perfect, the defending winner, dogged Pure Sensation from the start, was still alongside that foe on the turn but paid the price for that early work, fading in the lane

Los Alamitos
Great Lady M. (race 9)
COMMENT: Marley’s Freedom won this easily last year and had little trouble defending her title as the 5-year-old daughter of Blame again used her strong late kick to prevail. From her inside post she bided her time early as Danuska’s My Girl shot out to a clear early lead while setting fast splits, moved closer going to the far turn while saving ground, rushed into contention into the lane, surged to a clear lead and had little trouble keeping her rivals at bay. Off this another shot at the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 24 figures on tap – she won that race last year. Anonymity, making her first start since a strong rallying third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Churchill Nov. 3, stalked the pace just ahead of the eventual winner, came with her run into the lane though it wasn’t as strong as the winner’s while wider out, and kept to her task well for second, though she was never really a danger to the winner. Still, for her first start in so long this was an encouraging comeback. Exuberance was slow into stride to be last early, remained at the back of the pack, angled toward the inside on the turn to start her run, stayed inside in the lane and finished well. Danuska’s My Girl, winner of her last four including the Grade 3 Las Flores at Santa Anita on April 7 and Grade 3 Desert Stormer thereon May 19, shot out to a clear lead, set a strong pace just off the rail but had no answer when the winner and runner-up came to her into the lane and then tired a bit to lose third.