Trip Notes for June 13-14, 2020: Ogden Phipps and more

June 13

Belmont
Ogden Phipps (race 9)

COMMENT: Apparently reports of She’s a Julie’s demise were greatly exaggerated. The daughter of Elusive Quality went off form last fall, went to the bench and was dull in her return in a stakes at Churchill May 23. But in the Ogden Phipps Stakes, she toppled some quality gals. She sat a few lengths off a solid pace set by Blamed who was pressed throughout by Ollie’s Candy, continued to save ground in fourth, started to advance turning for home as Ollie’s Candy took the lead, came off the inside some to start to advance as she went past a tiring Golden Award, came off the inside further into the lane, kept on gamely between horses to edge past Ollie’s Candy late and just outfinish Point of Honor to her outside. She won the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Kentucky Derby weekend last year and figures to target a defense of that race, rescheduled for early September. Point of Honor, favored after running on well for third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn April 18 after a lousy start, got away better this time, sat back just outside and behind She’s a Julie, was content to remain there to the far turn, moved up nicely on the far turn to be abreast of She’s a Julie to her outside, actually was ahead of Julie in the stretch but then couldn’t quite outfinish that foe in the final half-furlong. The Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga this summer figures a target. Ollie’s Candy, a sensational second in the Apple Blossom where she set a strong pace and only succumbed late by a head to perfect-trip winner Ce Ce, got a dream trip here as she used her speed to sit just outside and behind pacesetter Blamed, remained there pressing solid splits, moved up easily to challenge that foe on the turn, took over into the lane, opened up as if primed to go on to victory but got a little weary late while staying on the fence and was unable to fend off the top two to her outside. That makes for two straight superb efforts in defeat. She figures to go back to Southern California to likely defend her title in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar Aug. 2 where she could again run into Ce Ce as well as recent Grade 2 winner Fighting Mad and classy Hard Not to Love. This division is loaded with the likes of Midnight Bisou, Monomoy Girl, Dunbar Road and Guarana, among others. Pink Sands, freshened since two big rallying graded stakes wins going shorter at Gulfstream in the fall/winter, broke decently from her rail slot, was content to lag back while staying on the fence, started to advance on the far turn just inside of Point of Honor, moved to the outside when that rival went past but then came up completely empty in the lane. Could be this trip at this level is beyond her. That could mean a shot at the Grade 2 Ruffian at a mile here July 11, though the trouble with that is that’s also reportedly a target for champion Monomoy Girl. Golden Award, a multiple Grade 3 winner and freshened since a good second in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Feb. 15, seemed to be in a dream spot from the start as she stalked while just behind and outside Ollie’s Candy, remained there to the far turn where she was asked to get going only to come up empty as she gave way and was eased.

Churchill
Louisville (race 11)

COMMENT: Admission Office has been knocking on the door the past 13 months going shorter but maybe the move to this longer trip is the key as the son of multiple Grade 1 turf stakes winner Point of Entry handled the 1 ½ miles just fine, posting a game win. Coming off a fourth in the much shorter Sunshine Forever at Gulfstream May 9, he was midpack early as longshot Lombo set a modest early pace, started to advance down the backstretch as Tiz a Slam took over up front through slow splits, came with a smart wide run into the lane to challenge for the lead, took command in midstretch while wide and stayed on gamely to edge hard-trying favorite Arklow to his inside. Since it seems they may have found staying is his game the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland July 12 could be next and should all go well there a shot at the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12. Arklow, making his first start since a decent fifth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 25, sat midpack from the start while saving ground, just ahead of the eventual winner, didn’t move as early or as strongly as that foe as he bided his time to the top of the lane, was urged to get going in the lane, seemed a bit reluctant or intimidated while in traffic, worked his way through, finished gamely but just couldn’t quite outdo the winner. The Elkhorn and Kentucky Turf Cup figure on his radar as well. He won the Kentucky Turf Cup in 2018 and was second to top-class Zulu Alpha in that race year. He’s No Lemon, making his first start and stepping up after finishing second in a stakes at this trip on Laurel turf last Sept. 21 (was awarded the win via disqualification), was slow into stride to be 11th early, ahead of only longshot Sky Promise, remained toward the back down the backstretch, started a run while wide into the far turn, continued to rally into the lane while staying wide, had to steady when bothered in traffic late but kept to his task well for third. Tiz a Slam, making his first start since fading to seventh in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct last Nov. 23, showed speed to stalk the pace from the start, moved to the lead into the far turn, battled back when challenged into the lane but tired thereafter to end up sixth.

June 14

Golden Gate
San Francisco Mile (race 8)

COMMENT: Neptune’s Storm chased top-class Mo Forza three straight times while giving him fits last fall, and then after five months off dueled before fading to seventh in the very tough Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita May 25. With that run under his belt and some class relief here, the 4-year-old gelded son of Stormy Atlantic took a step forward to capture this Grade 3. He showed the speed to sit second as Kiwi’s Dream set a modest pace, dogged that rival to the top of the lane, moved up to challenge outside that rival, pushed his way past and stayed on gamely for the narrow win. He can go longer, too, so off this the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar at 1 1/8 miles July 19 could be next, though there he could run into the West’s top turfer, United. Kiwi’s Dream continued his superb form. Coming off three wins in his last five starts and a sharp second last time out to Restrainedvengence in the All American on this main track May 25, the 5-year-old gelded son of Sebring shot right out to a clear lead, set a modest pace under pressure from Neptune’s Storm, battled back when challenged by that rival into the lane, kept on gamely but just wasn’t quite good enough, going down in a fine try. Camino Del Paraiso, a tough veteran who stayed on well for third in the All American but was just 1 for 20 on turf, the footing this time, ran well again in defeat as he stalked in third behind the top two while saving ground, tried to make a run at those two into the lane while inside, was unable to get on terms with those two, shifted out some into the lane, but stayed on gamely to be a clear third. Restrainedvengence, favored off a stakes win on Sunland dirt March 15 and a win in the All American on this synthetic main track May 25, showed again he handles any footing though he wasn’t quite good enough here as he lagged back from the start, came with a threatening wide run into the lane but flattened out some in the stretch and was unable to threaten the top three in the final furlong. Majestic Eagle, who has held his own against some of the West’s top turfers and freshened since a sixth in the Grade 3 Thunder Road at Santa Anita Feb. 8, sat well back from the start, remained there a couple lanes off the fence but never mustered a run necessary to get involved.