Trip Notes for July 9-10: Belmont Derby, Belmont Oaks, Suburban, and more
Victory Ride (race 6)
COMMENT: Coppa flashed big potential out West with two wins to start her career. Despite shipping for the first time and taking a significant step up in class, she was bet as if she couldn’t lose. The bettors were right – but it wasn’t easy. From her outside post she shot out to duel early with three other fillies, was a close-up third when Behrnik’s Bank took the lead turning for home, moved closer into the lane, challenged leader Lost Raven, got the better of her but was immediately challenged by Malibu Stacy and One True Kiss to her outside, and fended off those two to the line. Malibu Stacy, who beat maidens here June 9, stalked the pace, came with a run on the outside to challenge the winner into the lane and through the stretch, but couldn’t get past only narrowly held second. One True Kiss, coming off a second in Pimlico’s Grade 3 Miss Preakness and a third in the Jersey Girl here, was last early, still well back coming into the lane, and produced a strong run in the final furlong for third. Lost Raven, off since winning the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico May 20, was part of the four-filly pace duel, took the lead from a tiring Behrnik’s Bank into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with the top three in the final half-furlong. Behrnik’s Bank, winner of a stakes at Penn last time, was part of the four-filly duel, had the lead turning for home while on the rail, but weakened in the lane.
Belmont
Dwyer (race 7)
COMMENT: Fish Trappe Road dueled through sizzling splits in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard here June 11 and stayed on gamely for second. He backed up that fine effort with another good one here, and showed he’s no need-the-lead type. He stalked in third on the inside as Laoban and The Great Whiteway dueled through solid splits, moved off the rail to make his run turning for home, grabbed the lead, and kept clear despite drifting out in the final half-furlong. Economic Model, winner of two straight here this meet, including the Easy Goer June 11, stalked the pace, cut the corner into the lane, didn’t accelerate quite as quickly as Fish Trappe Road but got going and chased that rival to the wire. Tale of S’avall, sixth in the Woody Stephens, sat midpack early, made a threatening move into the lane but couldn’t sustain his run. Swipe, likely the second best 2-year-old last season, lagged back, swung wide into the lane but never mounted any sort of challenge.
Belmont
Belmont Derby (race 8)
COMMENT: When trainer Aidan O’Brien ships to the U.S. he means business, and that was proven again here as his 3-year-old Deauville, 11th on soft ground in the Epsom Derby, found firmer footing to his liking. He was asked for speed from his outside post, rushing up to sit second off Toughest Hombre as that foe set a modest pace, moved up outside that tiring rival on the turn, opened up while a few lanes off the rail, and got to the line before Highland Sky. Highland Sky, rallying second to Camelot Kitten in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge here June 4, was last early, steadily advanced, pitched very wide into the lane, and finished strongly. Beach Patrol, coming off a lackluster sixth as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Penn Mile June 4, sat midpack from the start, remained wide throughout, and finished third. Camelot Kitten, generally considered the top American threat off wins in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill May 7 and Grade 3 Pennine Ridge here June 4, sat fifth early, was part of the group chasing the winner in the lane, moved up to second in midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his run. Long Island Sound, the other O’Brien raider who was third in Group 3 in England last time out, was midpack from the start, asked for run on the turn, swung out into the lane, and finished decently. Humphrey Bogart, who actually beat Deauville when fifth in the Group 1 Epsom Derby and was then sixth in the Group 2 King Edward VII, lagged back, made a run into the lane, but flattened out in the final half-furlong.
Belmont
Suburban (race 9)
COMMENT: Effinex tossed in a clunker in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill June 18, but returned to his backyard and to his winning ways. He dogged pacesetter Samraat from the start. He pressed that rival through slow splits, was wide into the lane, looked poised to roll past that foe, but had to fight tooth and nail to get the narrow decision. This was the second straight year he bounced back from a dull effort to win this race. Samraat, winless in over two years and fourth behind Shaman Ghost and Turco Bravo in the Grade 2 Brooklyn here on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11, ran possibly the best race of his life. He went right to the lead, was immediately pressured by Effinex, but battled on gamely to just miss by a neck. Mubtaahij, off since running second to 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup March 26, bided his time early, came with a nice run on the far turn to be just behind the dueling leaders. but couldn’t get to them when it mattered. Eagle, second in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill June 18, lagged back, swung very wide into the lane and could make only modest headway. Shaman Ghost, last year’s Queen’s Plate winner at Woodbine and impressive winner of the Grade 2 Brooklyn here June 11, stalked in fourth, made a mild move on the turn and into the lane, but then had nothing to offer.
Belmont
Belmont Oaks (race 10)
COMMENT: The question about Catch a Glimpse was how she’d handle this longer distance. Well, she answered that question and made it eight wins in nine starts. She broke very sharply, went right to the lead, took modest pressure from Euro raider Coolmore, saw Coolmore and Time and Motion move closer as she turned for home, but then spurted out to a clear lead again. She did switch to her left lead at the eighth pole but managed to fend off Time and Motion. Time and Motion, a winner of three straight including the Wonder Again here last month, stalked the pace, moved closer turning for home, and finished well clear of the rest. Coolmore, one of the two Aidan O’Brien raiders in the field, broke poorly but was asked for speed, settled nicely off Catch a Glimpse, and kept on decently for third. Pricedtoperfection, a Grade 3 winner at Gulfstream Park earlier this year and coming off stakes placings at Aqueduct and Penn National, lagged back, saved ground and finished decently. Land Over Sea stalked in fourth but backed out of it on the far turn. Ballydoyle, generally considered the stronger of the two O’Brien runners, sat back, was asked for run on the far turn, briefly seemed to engage, but then gave way and was basically eased.
Belmont
Belmont Sprint Championship (race 11)
COMMENT: A. P. Indian came back from a long layoff with two stakes wins this spring, and posted the biggest win of his life in this race over some legitimate top sprinters. He stalked while inside as Private Zone set a solid pace under pressure from Green Gratto, found clear sailing when Private Zone tired and drifted out, moved to the lead with Marking, and outdueled that rival to the line. Marking, fourth in the Grade 1 Met Mile here June 11, pressed the pace, got the better of Private Zone, challenged for the lead outside, and came up just short. Ready for Rye, a Grade 2 sprint winner in 2015 and multiple Grade 3-placed this year, sat back early, came with a threatening run into the lane and finished evenly to hold third. Private Zone, making his first start since fading to fifth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct last fall, broke sharply to take the early lead, but was eager and pulling. He was pressured by Green Gratto, then challenged by Marking on the turn, and tired and drifted out into the lane.
Delaware
Robert G. Dick Memorial (race 7)
COMMENT: Real Smart came from England to whip optional claimers at Belmont May 13 and was then third vs. optional claimers there June 10. The daughter of Smart Strike stepped up in class here and defeated the much-more-accomplished Photo Call. From her rail slot she sat third at Savings Account set a modest pace under pressure from even-money favorite Photo Call, came with a smart run once straightened away for the stretch, and drew clear. Photo Call, last seen running sixth in the Grade 2 New York, got a dream trip stalking pacesetter Saving Account. Photo Call moved up to wrest the lead from that rival by midstretch, and tried to battle back when hooked by the winner. Swear By It lagged back and finished well, though she was no danger to the top two. Suffused, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, was scratched after missing her Lasix dose.
Delaware
Delaware Oaks (race 10)
COMMENT: Dark Nile came into this off three straight wins, including the Our Mims over Delaware Oaks rival Browse here June 8. Dark Nile stalked as Browse set a modest pace, challenged Browse on the far turn, opened up, and had little trouble keeping A Place to Shine at bay. A Place to Shine, a winner of three straight and claimed for just $12,500 in March, was last early, steadily advanced, and came with a run into the lane. Kinsley Kisses sat just behind Dark Nile, didn’t accelerate as quickly but got going turning for home. Browse set a modest pace under pressure from Eighth Wonder but tired once headed by the winner on the far turn.
Parx
Parx Dash (race 8)
COMMENT: Pure Sensation, winner of Belmont’s Grade 3 Jaipur at 18-1, his first start in four months, backed up that effort with another tally here. He went right to the lead, dueled with Rocket Heat, dispatched with that foe into the lane, opened up, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Power Alert, fourth in this last year and coming off a third in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 6, sat third just behind the dueling pair, eased out for room into the lane, and finished second. Ben’s Cat bided his time early, came with a solid run, but was never really a factor. Rocket Heat dueled early with the eventual winner, continued to press that rival to the top of the lane, but then weakened.
Arlington
Modesty Handicap (race 4)
COMMENT: Faufiler had been going shorter vs. tougher, and the change to this longer trip and the drop in class was just what the doctor ordered. She sat fourth as Secret Someone had a clear lead while setting a slow pace, moved closer turning for home, came with her run between horses to grab the lead, and edged clear in the final furlong. Al’s Gal, coming off a romping win in a distance stakes at Churchill May 28, sat second early, tried to go with the winner into the lane, bumped with that foe, and couldn’t finish with her. Secret Someone, rallying winner of a stakes at Canterbury Downs last month, her first start in nine months, remained with a clear lead to midstretch and just lost second in the final strides. Marypop, purchased by track owner Dick Duchoissois after two wins in France in April, sat back, pitched wide into the lane, but never mustered a run.
Arlington
Stars and Stripes (race 6)
COMMENT: Greengrassofyoming was claimed by trainer Mike Maker for $62,500 at Churchill June 26 and proved an astute purchase. He sat fifth as Chip Leader ran off to a huge lead, moved up with the pack on the turn, and finished gamely to just prevail. O’Prado Ole, a romping winner over optional claimers at Churchill June 10, bided his time behind the runaway pacesetter, moved up easily to take command from that faltering rival turning for home, was immediately taken on by the eventual winner, and just missed. Pumpkin Rumble, making his first start since running fifth in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap Feb. 20, lagged back and finished full of run in a fine effort. The Pizza Man, the defending champ and favorite, was coming off a fourth in the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill June 18. He actually ran quite well in defeat. He was last early, still well back going to the far turn, commenced a strong run into the lane, and fell just short. Still, he’s a 7-year-old now and you wonder if time is finally taking its toll as he appears to have lost a step or two.
Arlington
Arlington Handicap (race 7)
COMMENT: Kasaqui, second in the Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill June 18, got a great trip stalking in third as Go Around set a modest pace. Kasaqui was asked for run at the top of the lane, surged to the lead, and held it to the line. Roman Approval, coming off a fifth (awarded fourth by DQ), beaten less than a length at Belmont June 11, sat second just in front of the eventual winner, moved up with that foe to challenge turning for home, but couldn’t match the winner’s acceleration in the lane. Messi, third in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at Belmont May 7, his first start of the year, was last early, steadily advanced, came with a nice run into the lane but wasn’t a danger to the winner. He was simply too far back off a slow pace.
Arlington
American Derby (race 8)
COMMENT: One Mean Man may have punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Secretariat here next month. Second in the Grade 3 Arlington Classic here May 28 and winner of a Churchill turf allowance June 25, he was well back to the far turn, swung wide into the lane, and finished resolutely for the win. Oscar Nominated, seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Grade 3 Penn Mile, stalked while saving ground as Weavers Ice Cold set a decent pace under pressure from Tequila Joe, angled out for room on the far turn, was bumped by Swagger Jagger, but got going again between runners and just missed. Tequila Joe, fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington Classic here May 28, dogged Weavers Ice Cold through modest splits, moved up to challenge into the lane, but wasn’t quite good enough. Swagger Jagger stalked the pace, bumped with Oscar Nominated as he was advancing into the lane. He grabbed the lead by midstretch but couldn’t sustain his run.