Trip Notes for June 10-12: Belmont Stakes, Met Mile, Manhattan, and more

June 10

Belmont
True North (race 8)
COMMENT: Joking, making his first start in a graded stakes, notched his third straight win. He sat last as Dads Caps set a brisk pace, swung out for the stretch run, was still last with just over a furlong to go, and blasted home to get up in the final strides. He is 5 for 8 at Belmont. Not bad for a horse claimed for $20,000 over two years ago. Dads Caps, third in this last year and seventh to Joking in a stakes here May 8, set a brisk pace, was still clear inside the eighth pole, but couldn’t fend off the winner. Holy Boss, fifth in the tough Grade 2 Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, bobbled at the start, sat back just in front of Joking while saving ground, came with a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t quite sustain it. Catalina Red, impressive winner of the Churchill Downs, seemed in a good spot dogging Dads Caps but then weakened in the lane. Maybe he’s better with more patient tactics. Always Sunshine, a winner of 4 of his previous 5, including the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 21, chased the early pace but was never able to get involved.

Belmont
New York (race 9)
COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown swept the top three spots. Dacita sat back while Photo Call set a slow pace, started to move closer at the far turn, eased out for room, and came home strongly to edge her stablemate Sea Calisi. Sea Calisi sat last, not far behind Dacita, remained inside looking for room on the far turn, started her run but had to steady and stumbled a bit when there was no lane, came off the fence to go through a seam in midstretch, was still in tight, got through, and finished well for second. She may have been best. She also reportedly grabbed a quarter when she stumbled slightly at the start. Guapaza sat second, just behind pacesetter Photo Call, to the top of the lane, pounced on that foe and finished only narrowly behind her two more-vaunted stablemates. Photo Call, coming off a win in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream, looked very comfortable setting modest splits, battled back when hooked into the lane, but weakened late.

June 11

Belmont
Acorn (race 3)
COMMENT: Carina Mia, formerly a front-runner, dropped to the back of the back for a second straight race. She saved ground as Go Maggie Go and Paola Queen dueled on the lead, came with a strong run on the outside, burst to the lead past Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia, and kept Off the Tracks at bay. Off the Tracks likewise bided her time, came with a smart run but never appeared a big danger to the winner. Cathryn Sophia stalked while saving ground, moving up to take the lead turning for home, but then seemed to bobble, which allowed Carina Mia to surge past. She got back in stride but didn’t have her usual punch.

Belmont
Brooklyn (race 4)
COMMENT: Shaman Ghost stalked longshot Waymond Boyd, who set a slow pace in this marathon, remained up close to the top of the lane, surged past leader Doyouknowsomething, opened up, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Turco Bravo lagged well back early, steadily advanced, pitched wide into the lane, and ran on well, for second. Elnaawi was last turning for home and finished with good energy. Kid Cruz, the favorite, was away slowly to be last early, swung very wide into the lane, and never mustered a run.

Belmont
Ogden Phipps (race 5)
COMMENT: Cavorting, coming off a romping win in the Grade 2 Ruffian here last month, bided her time early as Desert Valley set a solid pace. Cavorting came with a strong run on the far turn, overwhelmed leaders Curalina and Stopchargingmaria, and drew away to win easily. She’s now 4 for 5 here. This was her first time beyond a mile and she still had plenty of energy after the race, tossing her rider when returning to the winner’s circle. Forever Unbridled, winner of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, was last early while saving ground, didn’t accelerate nearly as quickly as the winner, had to wait for room turning for home, and finished well once clear. Carrumba, second to Cavorting in the Ruffian, bided her time early, had to wait behind horses on the far turn, and came with a nice run once clear. Curalina, romping winner of the Grade 1 La Troienne on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 6, stalked in third, took the lead on the turn, then weakened a bit in the lane. Sheer Drama, third to Curalina in the La Troienne, lunged at the start, still seemed in a good spot stalking in fourth, but never mustered a run. Stopchargingmaria, last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and a sharp second to Sheer Drama in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland April 9, sat second early and gave way turning for home.

Belmont
Jaipur (race 6)
COMMENT: This race seemed full of speed, but Pure Sensation proved quickest to post the upset. Making his first start since running fifth in a turf sprint stakes at Gulfstream Feb. 6, he outran speedster Rocket Heat for the lead, rebuffed his challenge into the lane, and turned back Mosler and Disco Partner. Disco Partner was last on the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, and finished full of run to just miss. The top two have the same owners. Ready for Rye was in midpack, came with a run but wasn’t good enough. A Lot, the tepid favorite, lagged well back, and came with a wide run in the lane. Mosler sat in midpack, rushed up to challenge for the lead into the lane, but died on his run. Rocket Heat chased the winner through fast splits and weakened.

Belmont
Woody Stephens (race 7)
COMMENT: Tom’s Ready, last seen finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby, cut back significantly in distance, had blinkers removed, and took full advantage of a hot pace to post the upset. He was slow into stride as Justin Squared set a fast pace under pressure, began to advance on the turn between horses, swung out into the lane, swerved back toward the inside for clear sailing, and continued strongly. Fish Trappe Road, coming off an optional-claiming sprint win at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, stalked the pace, surged into contention into the lane, grabbed the lead, but couldn’t counter the winner’s charge. Star Hill, third to Sharp Azteca in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, bided his time early from his outside slot, challenged in midstretch but flattened out just a bit. Sharp Azteca, winner of the Pat Day Mile, broke a step slowly from his rail post, was urged to advance up the rail, ending up just behind pacesetter Justin Squared, remained there to the top of the lane, shifted off the rail, but didn’t have enough punch. Seymourdini, a comeback winner at Aqueduct April 15, chased the early pace but gave way. Justin Squared gave way once headed into the lane.

Belmont
Just a Game (race 8)
COMMENT: Celestine missed the course mark by a hundredth of a second. Off since a win in the Grade 2 Honey Fox at Gulfstream April 2, she was able to relax off pacesetter La Berma, was let loose when the field straightened into the stretch, and blew the race wide-open. Recepta bided her time early midpack, steadily advanced while staying on the rail, and ran on well for second. Mrs McDougal sat in midpack, not far behind Recepta though wide, swung wide at the top of the lane, and finished well. Lady Lara was in midpack early, made a wide threatening move into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Lexie Lou stalked the pace and came up empty.

Belmont
Met Mile (race 9)
COMMENT: Frosted put up what may be the best dirt performance of the year. He got a dream trip, sitting behind dueling speedsters Noble Bird, Anchor Down, and Marking. He moved off the inside to go around those three coming into the lane, and blew the doors off his opposition. His time of 1:32.73 set a stakes record and his 14 ¼-length margin of victory the biggest ever in this race. Anchor Down shot out to the early lead, was immediately joined by Noble Bird on the rail, and dueled with that foe until Marking surged up between them. Anchor Down was no match for the winner but kept on well to get second. Upstart lagged well back and ran on well. Marking was just behind the two early pacesetters, made an early move to to join the duel going to the far turn, and kept to his task. Noble Bird broke a step slowly but rushed up inside to take the lead from Anchor Down, dueled with that foe and Marking to the top of the lane, and weakened. Stanford stalked the pace on the outside, moved up to challenge for the lead while on Frosted’s hip coming into the lane, and failed to sustain his bid. Calculator sat well back but never made a move.

Belmont
Manhattan (race 10)
COMMENT: Flintshire’s reputation as one of the world’s elite turf horses preceded him – and he did nothing here to hurt that reputation as he dominated some very good American turf horses. He established a stalking position just behind pacesetters World Approval and Grand Tito, swung out into the lane for clear sailing, and powered past his rivals to win with ease. Ironicus ran extremely well in his first try at this distance. He stalked the pace while just inside of Flintshire, came through on the rail, and ran on for second. World Approval set a modest pace under pressure from Grand Tito and Divisidero, and narrowly lost the place to Ironicus. Grand Tito was fractious in the gate, broke sharply to dog World Approval, and continued on while sandwiched between World Approval and Divisidero. Divisidero, winner of the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, pressed the pace from the outside, moved up to make it three abreast on the far turn, and was one-paced to the line. Big Blue Kitten sat well back, swung out into the lane, and could make only modest headway. Slumber, last year’s winner, sat back and was unable to get involved. He was vanned off and reportedly was not seriously injured.

Belmont
Belmont (race 11)
COMMENT: Creator rallied from far back to win the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, but had traffic issues in the Kentucky Derby, ending up 13th. Here, he lagged well back as stablemate Gettysburg set a decent pace. He steadily advanced while saving ground, seemed in a bit of trouble when boxed in near the stretch, but found a seam, and nipped Destin in the final stride. Destin stalked the pace, moved to the lead into the lane, opened up and looked as though he might win, but was caught by Creator. Lani, the Japanese raider, lagged well back early, made an early wide run to within a couple lengths of the lead, looked done on the far turn, but got going again to finish third. Stradivari stalked in fifth early, moved closer down the backstretch, was in a threatening position in midstretch, and weakened. Exaggerator was wide while just a few lengths off the lead, but was rank and pulling entering the backstretch. He was asked for run into the lane, briefly looked a threat, but then fell away, his rider wrapping up on him once all was lost.

Churchill
Mint Julep (race 11)
COMMENT: Cash Control, third to champion Tepin in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard here May 7, got a great trip. She stalked early leader Kiss Moon, moved closer turning for home, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and kept edged favored stablemate Sweet Acclaim, giving trainer Brad Cox the one-two finish. Sweet Acclaim, winner of her last two starts after over 19 months on the bench, lagged back early, came with a strong run into the lane, but couldn’t get past her stubborn stablemate. Zipessa, fourth in the Distaff Turf Mile, stalked with Cash Control, made a bid with that rival into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Josdesanimaux, who set the pace before fading to fifth behind Mizz Money in the Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 21, sat in midpack, was wide into the lane, and finished decently. Mizz Money, coming off two straight wins including in the Gallorette, chased Kiss Moon, was still in the hunt turning for home, but then hit the brakes hard. - Comments by Michael Hammersly