Trip Notes for June 13: Poker, Stephen Foster, Adoration, and more...

Saturday, June 13

Belmont - Poker Handicap (race 5)

COMMENT: Despite the presence of other significant speed, veteran King Kreesa proved quickest and led them on merry chase to get the victory, his first in almost 10 months. He won this race in 2013 using similar front-running tactics. He bounced right out to a clear lead, easily outrunning fellow speedsters Heart to Heart and Howe Great, was able to set modest splits, rebuffed a mild challenge from Heart to Heart turning for home, opened up again and held off late-charging Vyjack and stalking Il Campione. He might next go in the Forbidden Apple here July 11 and then the Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga Aug. 15. Vyjack, making his first on grass and first for trainer Bill Mott, lagged back and finished well to get up for second. Il Campione, favored while making his first start in the U.S. after winning eight of 10 in Chile including that country’s Triple Crown, stalked in fifth while staying wide and in the clear. He loomed ominously into the lane but couldn’t get to the winner and then lost second in the final half-furlong. He was beaten less than a length and this mile trip may be too short for him. The bulk of his success in Chile came going longer. All Included, a winner of his first three grass starts, raced alongside Il Campione while on the rail, remained there into the lane and kept to his task well in his first turf stakes try. Long On Value, a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner on turf, lagged back and was unable to make a dent when it mattered. Ironicus, winner of the Grade 2 Dixie, was scratched.

Churchill - Regret (race 6)

COMMENT: Prado’s Sweet Ride won three straight on turf before finishing sixth as the favorite in a turf stakes at Indiana Downs May 30. She bounced back to form nicely here, however, to get her first graded stakes win. She bided her time early, as is her custom, was still last in the small field turning for home, surged up the rail and got up in the final strides to win. Lady Zuzu pressed early pacesetter Urtheoneeyelove, took over pacesetting duties from that rival after a quarter-mile, opened up into the lane looking like the winner but got nailed in the final strides. Return to Grace stalked the pace, came with a nice run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Don’t Leave Me, the 3-2 favorite off a second in the Grade 3 Selene on Woodbine’s main track May 24, was last early, moved closer going to the far turn, had to check and steady coming into the lane and was unable to get going again after that.

Churchill - Fleur de Lis Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: Frivolous won the Grade 2 Falls City here last Nov. 27 but was then gone for over four months and came back with two dull outings, including a ninth in the Grade 1 La Troienne here May 1. She bounced back to her prior form as she posted the upset here. She stalked pacesetter Yahilwa from the start, moved closer on the far turn, took over from that rival into the lane and stayed on to keep Sheer Drama at bay. Sheer Drama, the favorite off a second in the Grade 1 La Troienne here May 1, bided her time early, steadily advanced, came with a run into the lane and just managed to get second ahead of hard-charging Tiz Windy. Tiz Windy, fourth in the La Troienne, lagged back, and came with a steady run. Gold Medal Dancer seemed in a good spot stalking the pace but came up empty when the real racing began.

Churchill - Stephen Foster Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Noble Bird was a sharp second at 19-1 in the Grade 2 Alysheba here on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 1 and he went one better here to get his first graded stakes win. He sat second as longshot Paganol ran off to clear lead and set a solid pace, took over from that worn-out rival turning for home, opened up a clear lead into the lane and dug in to get to the line just in front of hard-charging favorite Lea to win by a neck. The Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Aug. 8 may be next. Lea, making his first start since he was third in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup March 28, stalked in fourth, moved closer turning for home, doggedly kept after the eventual winner and finished far clear of the rest. The Whitney is also on his docket. Hoppertunity, off since running third to Shared Belief and California Chrome in the Grade 2 San Antonio at Santa Anita Feb. 7, bided his time early, came with a run on the far turn but was unable to sustain it. Commissioner, second choice in the wagering after an easy win in the Pimlico Special on the Grade 1 Preakness undercard May 16, sat fifth early, seemed to be traveling well while saving ground but never made a move in a disappointing effort.

Churchill - Matt Winn (race 9)

COMMENT: Island Town, winner of an optional claimer on the Kentucky Derby undercard here May 2, successfully took the step up in class. He went right to the lead, took pressure from Private Prospect, rebuffed that foe on the far turn but looked beat when 1-2 favorite Fame and Power took the lead into the lane. But Island Town rerallied to get the better of that foe late. The Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park July 18 may be next. Fame and Power bided his time early after a slow start, came with a smart run into the lane, poked his head in front in midstretch, and finished well clear of the rest. Private Prospect dogged Island Town early, loomed a threat into the lane, but had to steady between horses at the sixteenth pole and weakened. While he had that trouble he already appeared to be a beaten horse. Bold Conquest lagged back early and could make only modest headway without being a threat.

Santa Anita - Shoemaker Mile (race 5)

COMMENT: The bulk of attention in the five-horse field was focused on Midnight Storm, Bal a Bali and Seek Again, but Talco pulled the upset. He won the mile Thunder Road here April 4 and was second (to Bal a Bali) in the Grade 3 American at a mile here May 9. In this race, he bided his time as Winning Prize set the pace pressured by favorite Midnight Storm. Talco remained well off the pace and came with a strong run in the lane to get up for the win. He’s run well at Del Mar so the Grade 1 Eddie Read there July 18 may be next. Midnight Storm, previously 3 for 3 on turf including a monster win on this course at this trip April 16, ended up pressing pacesetter Winning Prize. He got the better of that foe into the lane after fast splits, and battled back gamely when Talco came to him. Seek Again, a Grade 1 winner, had only Talco beaten early. Talco went past him into the lane and Seek Again ran on for third. Bal a Bali, a winner of 12 of his first 13 and coming off a strong win in U.S. debut in the Grade 3 American on this course at this trip May 9, seemed in a great spot stalking in third but came up empty and finished last. He may have bounced off that sharp U. S. debut win.

Santa Anita - Adoration (race 8)

COMMENT: Beholder looks fully back on track. After a romping win in the Santa Lucia here April 10 she got sick and missed the Grade 1 Santa Margarita. In this race, she dogged early pacesetter My Monet, took over from that rival on the far turn, opened up into the lane and kept hard-trying rival Warren’s Veneda at bay through the final furlong. She was ridden out to a 1 1/4-length win. She is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and may run in the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar next. Warren’s Veneda was slow into stride, moved closer going down the backstretch, came with a run into the lane and through the stretch and finished far clear of the others. My Monet set the early pace while pressured by Beholder and finished a non-threatening third.