Trip Notes for June 10-11: Belmont Stakes, Met Mile, Manhattan, and more

June 10

Belmont
Brooklyn (race 3)

COMMENT: War Story had been chasing some of the elite the past year or so but he got away from such rivals, moved to a longer trip, and flourished, posting an easy win. He sat second as heavy favorite Tu Brutus moved out to a clear lead, crept closer to the lead going to the far turn, remained in stalking position as Sunny Ridge took command, went after that foe in the lane, got the better of him, and edged clear. Sunny Ridge stalked in third early, made a sharp early move to take the lead from Tu Brutus on the far turn, still had the lead by midstretch when confronted by War Story, but couldn’t keep pace with that rival late. Tu Brutus, coming off an 11-length win in the Flat Out here May 7, popped out to a clear early lead while setting slow splits, was still in the hunt coming into the lane, but couldn’t keep up with the top two thereafter.

Belmont
Acorn (race 4)

COMMENT: Abel Tasman moved to the head of the 3-year-old filly class with a second straight Grade 1 win. After rallying from far back to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, the daughter of Quality Road used similar tactics here. She was last early as Florida Fabulous set a solid pace, unleashed a strong run along the inside to suddenly be in contention turning for home, took the lead by midstretch, and rebuffed Salty. Salty, fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, sat well back early, though still well in front of the eventual winner, came with a wide run on the turn while Abel Tasman surged up the rail, kept after Abel Tasman through the lane, and finished well clear of the rest. Benner Island, winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill May 5, stalked the pace of Florida Fabulous, moved up to take the lead from that tiring rival turning for home but was immediately confronted by Abel Tasman to her inside and Salty to her outside, and was no match for those two. Sweet Loretta stumbled at the start but got a decent position stalking in fourth while saving ground, and was unable to get involved when it mattered. Union Strike stumbled badly at the break to be well back and was unable to get involved.

Belmont
Ogden Phipps (race 5)

COMMENT: Champion Songbird made a triumphant return but it wasn’t easy. Making her first start since her superb second to champion Beholder in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff last fall, she went right to the lead, set modest splits under some pressure, and looked in a bit of trouble when Paid Up Subscriber came up to her inside and took the lead on the far turn. But Songbird’s rider, Mike Smith, remained still and she raced with that rival until she was asked for her run heading into the lane, when she inched away. She won more easily than the margin suggests. Paid Up Subscriber, much troubled when fourth in the Grade 1 La Troienne on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill May 5, ran splendidly. She chased the winner, moved up inside that foe and took the lead coming into the lane, and couldn’t keep pace in the final furlong. Highway Star, coming off wins in the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct April 9 and Grade 2 Ruffian here May 13, lagged back and ran on decently for third, though she was never a danger to the top two. Carina Mia, coming off a third in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 6, stalked the leaders, tried to get involved on the turn when Paid Up Subscriber went up to challenge Songbird, but was unable to get on terms with the top two and finished evenly to get fourth. Could be at this stage of the game she’s better suited to a shorter trip.

Belmont
Jaipur (race 6)

COMMENT: Disco Partner, second in this race last year, rallying has come back after a long layoff maybe better than ever. He won the Elusive Quality here April 29 and today he set a course and North American record six furlongs on turf of 1:05.67, smashing the old mark of 1:06.76, set by Pure Sensation when he won this race last year. Disco Partner bided his time as Pure Sensation set a sizzling pace under pressure from Loose On the Town. Disco Partner moved up along the inside turning into the lane, found a seam in midstretch, blasted through, and drew clear. Green Mask, seventh in this race last year and coming off a win in the Grade 3 Churchill Turf Sprint on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 5, sat midpack, loomed a big threat with a wide run into the lane, but couldn’t finish with the winner. Holding Gold, sixth to Green Mask in the Churchill Turf Sprint, sat back with Disco Partner and basically rallied with that foe while just a bit behind him. Pure Sensation, fourth to Green Mask in the Churchill Turf Sprint, still had the lead just inside the eighth pole but was no match for the three closers who surged past. Stormy Liberal, coming off four straight stakes wins on the Santa Anita hillside turf course, pressed the hot pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but came up empty in the final furlong.

Belmont
Woody Stephens (race 7)

COMMENT: American Anthem looks gave trainer Bob Baffert and rider Mike Smith a third stakes win on the day. American Anthem won the Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera at Santa Anita May 13. He looked even better here. He stalked while staying wide and in the clear as Recruiting Ready set a brisk pace, edged closer on the turn, came abreast of the leaders straightening into the lane, and then blasted clear to win easily. Giuseppe the Great, making his first start since a maiden win at Keeneland April 8, lagged back while saving ground and finished well to get up for second. Recruiting Ready, winner of three straight including stakes at Oaklawn and Pimlico, took some pressure from Hard Scramble while staying inside, came off the rail into the lane, and kept to his task well to hold third. Petrov, off since fading to ninth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn April 15, lagged back, started a wide run on the far turn, moved wider out into the lane, and finished decently. Wild Shot, winner of the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 6, stalked the pace, loomed a threat while wide on the far turn, but weakened.

Belmont
Just a Game II (race 8)

COMMENT: Chad Brown has yet another turf distaff beast as Antonoe made got her first Grade 1 tally. She sat last as Sassy Little Lila set a modest pace, remained at the back of the back to the far turn, started to pitch out coming into the lane to make a run but instead darted back to the inside, and finished powerfully up the rail. Sassy Little Lila nearly stole the show. She caught a break when fellow speedster and defending champ Celestine opted to stalk instead of going up to contest the pace, set a strong pace but did so seemingly on her own, was still a clear lead into the lane, drifted out, and showed heart to hold second. Dickinson, coming off three straight wins including a tally over Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 15, stalked the pace from her rail slot, crept closer on the turn, came out to make her run, and couldn’t quite reel in the longshot runner-up. Celestine, who won this race last year and her last two starts on the lead, was content to stalk the pacesetter, loomed a threat turning for home, but came up empty. She may simply be at her best when able to dictate things up front. Roca Rojo, the favorite off win in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 6, was rank from the start, pulled her way into midpack while her rider tried to restrain her, and was finally able to be taken back going the far turn. She sat just in front of stablemate Antonoe, swung wide into the lane, but had nothing.

Belmont
Met Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: The Bob Baffert-Mike Smith show continued as they teamed to win a fourth stakes on the day with a dominant performance by Mor Spirit. After romping in Oaklawn’s Essex March 18 and in Lone Star’s Grade 3 Sexton Mile May 7 he did even better here. Mor Spirit dogged pacesetter Sharp Azteca, moved up to challenge that rival on the far turn, put him away, and burst clear coming into the lane, winning in a romp. Baffert’s older horse ranks are amazing (Arrogate, Mor Spirit, Hoppertunity, Cupid, Collected, Danzing Candy). Sharp Azteca, off since a third in the Grade 2 Godolphin Mile March 25, set a solid pace, tried to go with the winner into the lane, and stayed on well for second. Tommy Macho sat midpack, moved closer by the far turn, and kept to his task for third. Awesome Slew lagged well back, started to advance with a wide run on the far turn, swung wider still into the lane, and finished decently. Tom’s Ready lagged well back along the rail, came off the rail on the far turn, but then moved back to the rail by midstretch and flattened out. Mohaymen sat a couple lengths off the lead while saving ground and seemed to be traveling well, moved closer on the far turn, checked briefly as Tommy Macho shifted in front of him, and never got going again.

Belmont
Manhattan (race 10)

COMMENT: Ascend had never even run in a graded stakes, much less a Grade 1, but after a sharp comeback win at Laurel April 22 he was tossed into the deep water here and came up with the upset. He got a dream trip, stalking as longshot Applicator set a slow pace with World Approval and Beach Patrol in close attendance, moved closer to the lead on the turn, came up alongside leader World Approval coming into the lane, edged clear, and held off the closers. Time Test, favored off strong European form and a second in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy here May 6 on turf much softer than he prefers, got his type of footing here but couldn’t get to the winner. He stalked a couple lengths off the pace, drafting behind stablemate Beach Patrol, moved outside going to the far turn, crept closer coming to the top of the lane, launched his run once straightened away, and finished well. Sadler’s Joy sat well back to the far turn, moved to the outside, and finished well for third. Beach Patrol stalked the pace, was inside behind the leaders coming into the lane, had to wait briefly for room, and got nosed for third. World Approval, winner of the Grade 2 Dixie on the Preakness undercard May 20, pressed longshot pacesetter Applicable, took over from that foe turning for home, but didn’t pack the same punch he’d shown at Pimlico. Maybe coming back in three weeks was too soon. Divisidero, winner of the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6, bided his time not far behind Time Test, crept closer on the far turn, swung wide into the lane, but didn’t have the necessary punch. He’s finished off the board in his three starts at this distance. Potemkin, a European invader, was last while saving ground, swung out into the lane, and made some headway.

Belmont
Belmont Stakes (race 11)

COMMENT: Tapwrit was significantly hampered right out of the gate in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby May 6, and kept to his task well to finish sixth. Today, he bided his time just off the pace while saving ground, came off the rail on the far turn to make his run at leader Irish War Cry, and battled that foe into submission. His win gives trainer Todd Pletcher his third Belmont, and his sire, Tapit, three of the last four winners of this race. Irish War Cry’s natural speed took him right to the lead. He volleyed up front with Meantime, with Gormley, Tapwrit, Patch, and J Boys Echo in close attendance, took command turning for home, opened up a bit while holding the fence, but could not withstand Tapwrit’s relentless charge. He still finished far clear of the others in a nice bounce-back after his Kentucky Derby dud. Patch stalked the pace while outside, tried to make a run into the lane, and stayed on to hold third. Gormley, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner and ninth in the Kentucky Derby, was aggressively ridden as he stalked the pace from the start, loomed a threat on the far turn just outside of Irish War Cry, but couldn’t maintain his bid in the lane. Senior Investment, third in the Preakness, was in tight early, remained well back, made some headway to the far tur,n but was never a factor. Twisted Tom, winner of the Tesio at Pimlico, held the fence and fought his rider going into the first run, lost his action when his heels were clipped by Hollywood Handsome, got back into stride, but was unable to make a dent. Lookin At Lee, second in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness, was in tight early going into the first turn, settled toward the back, moved to the inside going into the far turn, but never mustered a run. Could be a busy campaign finally caught up to him. Hollywood Handsome clipped the heels of Twisted Tom and checked severely, causing his rider to lose his irons, and he was pulled up going down the backstretch. Japanese raider Epicharis was scratched due to inflammation in his right fore.

Churchill
Mint Julep (race 10)

COMMENT: Dona Bruja, a champion in her native Argentina, won her first start in the U.S. and first start since Dec. 8. Coming off strong works and getting Lasix, she stalked in fourth while saving ground as heavy favorite Believe in Bertie set a solid pace, came off the rail a bit to make her run, engaged Believe in Bertie at midstretch, and edged away. Trainer Ignacio Correas IV said he’d like to target the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Aug. 12. Believe in Bertie, favored off a second to Roca Rojo in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 6, set a solid pace, battled back when hooked by the winner, and ended up far clear of the others. Sky My Sky chased in second and stayed on for third. Linda, the second choice coming off a third in the Distaff Turf Mile, bided her time in fifth, swung wide turning for home, loomed a threat, but died on her run.