Trip Notes for June 17-18: Stephen Foster, Fleur de Lis, Summertime Oaks, and more

June 17

Monmouth
Salvator Mile (race 10)
COMMENT: Rain started about an hour before post time but the track was still listed as fast. Classy Class was no match for top-class sprinters Whitmore and A. P. Indian in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 20, but he moved to this longer trip for the first time and flourished. The son of Discreetly Mine bounced right out to a clear lead, took some pressure from Red Dragon Tattoo while setting modest splits along the rail, opened up again on the far turn, and inched away through the lane to win easily. Considering how well he finished and that he’s won before going a bit farther, the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at 1 1/16 miles here July 30 could be next. Just Call Kenny, sent off at 21-1 after running second in an allowance sprint at Parx June 3, bided his time midpack, and came with a decent run in the lane to get up for second. Adirondack King, another longshot at 22-1, was making his first start since a fifth in an allowance at this trip at Gulfstream April 23. He stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, and got outfinished late for second. Name Change, the 3-1 favorite after running fourth in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special at Pimlico May 19, his first start in six months, lagged back while wide and never got involved. El Kabeir, coming off an 11th in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Handicap at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6, didn’t show his old speed, was wide going to the far turn, never got involved, and gave way in the lane. He looks nothing like the horse who was a Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 placed two years.

Churchill
Matt Winn (race 5)
COMMENT: McCraken, freshened since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, was sent off the 1-5 favorite. He bided his time early after seeming to slip at the start, made a strong wide run going to the far turn to reach contention, grabbed the lead into the lane, and opened up. This may set him up for a shot against some of the division’s best again in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga July 29. Colonelsdarktempter, eighth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile here on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6 and then a winner of an allowance sprint here May 29, stalked in third, tried to go with McCraken when that rival made his run, and stayed on to hold second. Society Beau was well back turning for home, and ran on to get third. Aquamarine, the second choice after a second in the Chick Lang at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 20, broke sharply to grab the lead, moved to the inside, and gave way once headed on the far turn.

Churchill
Wise Dan (race 6)
COMMENT: Kasaqui got some class relief and it showed. He came off a fourth in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard here May 6. Today, he bided his time a few lengths off the pace set by Chocolate Ride. He remained a few lengths off the pace to the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear to launch his run, and came home strongly to reel in the pacesetter and draw clear. He finished second in this race last year, then won the Arlington Handicap and was second in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, so his connections may have the same plan in mind. Chocolate Ride, a wire-to-wire allowance winner here May 18, was urged out of the gate to grab the lead, set modest splits while clear, rebuffed a couple challenges turning for home, and stayed on well on the inside to hold second. Conquest Panthera was eighth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic after prompting the pace. He sat farther back here, moved out wide to start his run on the far turn, looked dangerous into the lane, and plugged along to get third. Pleuven, the defending champ and easy winner of the Opening Verse here May 4, sat midpack between horses, crept closer on the turn, was boxed in a bit coming into the lane, found room, but didn’t have the needed burst.

Churchill
Fleur de Lis Handicap (race 7)
COMMENT: Forever Unbridled, making her first start since finishing third behind champions Beholder and Songbird in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita last Nov. 4 and subsequent surgery to remove bone chips, was the heavy favorite. She lagged farther back than usual as Apologynotaccepted set a slow pace, remained well back to the far turn, commenced a wide run under her own power, took over and drew away. She thoroughly outclassed her rivals. She’ll reportedly ship to Saratoga for the summer and target the big distaff races there. Apologynotaccepted, stepping into stakes for the first time after three romping wins, looked in trouble when Big World came at her turning for home, rebuffed that foe, and stayed on for second. Carrumba stalked in third, made a mild run into the lane between horses, but flattened out. Big World dogged the pacesetter, loomed a threat turning for home, but fell away. The distance was probably her undoing. Walkabout, winner of two straight including the Grade 3 Matron here May 20, was well back going to the far turn, and unable to get involved.

Churchill
Stephen Foster Handicap (race 8)
COMMENT: On paper there appeared to be a lot of speed here, but Gun Runner found himself on an easy lead, and since he was already the class of the race that spelled doom for the others. Racing for the first time since his second to Arrogate in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup March 25, he took the lead under his own power when Bird Song on the rail broke well but didn’t show his usual speed. Gun Runner set a modest pace, took some pressure from Stanford from the outside, opened up, and won geared down in near-track-record time. Trainer Steve Asmussen said he’ll go to Saratoga for the summer for the Grade 1 Whitney and Grade 1 Woodward, and then his primary target would be the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar Nov. 4 and another shot at Arrogate – and the way he won this indicates Arrogate better come back from Dubai at full strength. Honorable Duty, second to Bird Song in the Grade 2 Alysheba here on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 5, bided his time in fourth, was asked to get closer on the far turn, and outfinished Breaking Lucky for second. Breaking Lucky, fifth in the Alysheba, stalked in third, tried to make a run in the lane, was no match for the winner, and then couldn’t keep up with Honorable Duty in the final furlong. Stanford broke well from his outside post, sat off Gun Runner’s hip, was asked for more on the far turn, briefly looked a threat, but weakened in the final furlong. Bird Song, expected to set the pace from his rail slot, sat midpack and gave way.

Churchill
Regret (race 9)
COMMENT: Sweeping Paddy had been knocking on the door, and she broke through to get her first graded stakes win. She stalked in third as longshot Like a Hurricane ran off to a big early lead, surged past that tiring rival while wide turning for home, and extended her advantage from there. Proctor’s Ledge, coming off a fourth just behind Sweeping Paddy in third in the Grade 3 Edgewood here May 5, was still well back coming into the lane, swung wide, and finished with good energy for second. Summer Luck, trying turf for the first time after running eighth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico May 19, sat second behind the runaway early leader, moved up with the eventual winner on the far turn, and finished evenly. Chubby Star was an allowance winner at Keeneland April 7 over Sweeping Paddy and then second to the highly promising colt Yoshida in the James Murphy at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 20. Today, she sat midpack, began to make a run on the far turn, ran into traffic in the lane, and had to alter course to go around the fading pacemaker. She kept on decently, though by then it was too late.

Santa Anita
Honeymoon (race 6)
COMMENT: Sircat Sally stayed unbeaten in seven starts, and this time she had to show some heart. Coming off back-to-back Grade 3 wins over this course, she sat second as longshot Tap It All shot out to a clear lead. Sircat Sally had little trouble reeling in that rival by the far turn, took the lead into the lane, but then had to fight to get to the line before Beau Recall. The Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar July 23 figures next, and it comes at a shorter trip (mile), which is right in her wheelhouse. And should all go well there, then it’s on to the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 19. Beau Recall rallied for second to Sircat Sally in both the China Doll and Grade 3 Senorita, and today’s added furlong helped her get closer. She bided her time early, crept closer as the field reached the far turn, came with her run in the lane, and cut into the winner’s lead. The San Clemente figures on her radar as well. Pacific Wind was third in the Senorita behind the top two, and filled that spot again. She stalked the pace just behind the eventual winner, had to steady when in tight going into the far turn, then had to wait for room while inside coming into the lane. She came out and kept to her task well, but couldn’t get to the top two. Without the trouble she surely would have been closer. Zaffinah, stepping up after winning two straight here this spring, bobbled at the start and was unable to use her speed. She ran on decently but was unable to threaten the top trio.

Santa Anita
Summertime Oaks (race 9)
COMMENT: Faypien was routing and trying graded stakes for the first time, but neither hurdle mattered as she proved up to the task. Coming off a win in the seven-furlong Angels Flight here May 14, she dogged pacesetter Sheza Chattykat through solid splits, moved up to take the lead into the lane, was immediately taken on by Spooky Woods, rebuffed that foe, and fended off Mopotism. She’s reportedly going to target Saratoga’s Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs Aug. 5. Mopotism, back to her home turf after running 10th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 4, lagged back, came with a run in the lane, but couldn’t quite get there. Spooky Woods stalked in third and moved up with Faypien to battle for the lead into the lane. She drifted out as she tired, forcing 6-5 favorite It Tiz Well to steady, and kept on for third. She was disqualified and placed fifth behind It Tiz Well. Majestic Quality, a romping maiden winner here May 21, was last from the start, and finished decently. It Tiz Well, third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks here May 4, was rank early, had to steady off heels on the first turn, remained headstrong and had to check again going into the backstretch. She finally settled inside, tried to make a run coming into the lane, had to steady when Spooky Woods drifted out in front of her, and couldn’t recover, finishing fifth. She was awarded fourth via the disqualification of Spooky Woods. Noted and Quoted, second to Faypien in the Angels Flight, her first start since being eased at Sunland March 26, continued her Jekyll and Hyde form. She stalked the pace, loomed a bit of a threat turning for home, but gave way and ended up last.

June 18

Belmont
Poker (race 8)
COMMENT: The yielding turf didn’t bother Ballagh Rocks in the slightest. Coming off a seventh in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 6, he sat second to clear early leader Catapult. He moved in tandem with favored Projected to take the lead going to the far turn, opened up into the lane, went from the middle of the course back to the inside, and just managed to get to the line first. Projected, favored off a second to World Approval in the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard May 20, was just behind the eventual winner from the start, moved with that foe to challenge for the lead, looked doomed when Ballagh Rocks opened up a clear lead by midstretch, but kept to his task and cut into the winner’s margin significantly. Night Prowler sat last while saving ground to the far turn, swung out wide into the lane, and finished decently. Catapult, fourth in the Dixie, went right out to a clear lead, opened up a significant advantage on the inside going to the far turn, but was done by the top of the lane.

Monmouth
Pegasus (race 10)
COMMENT: Timeline, a $500,000 son of Hard Spun, won for the fourth time in as many starts. He set a decent pace under pressure from Honor the Fleet while holding the inside, was asked for run into the lane, opened up to put the race to bed, and was geared down in the final half-furlong. The Grade 1 Haskell here July 30 is reportedly next. He reportedly suffered a cut on his right hind leg, but early reports were that it shouldn’t interfere with his preparation for the Haskell. Talk Logistics was fourth early when in a bit tight on the inside, found clear sailing, remained inside as he crept closer, came off the rail turning for home, tried to make a run at the winner, and finished far clear of the others. Honor the Fleet chased the winner, tried to make a run at him turning for home, and plugged along to just hold third.

Santa Anita
Desert Stormer (race 4)
COMMENT: Bendable hadn’t started since finishing third in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland last Oct. 8, but trainer Dick Mandella had her ready off the layoff. She sat third as Invested Prospect set the early pace under heavy pressure from Pretty N Cool, was asked for run in the lane, still had work to do by midstretch, but reeled in Pretty N Cool and outfinished Coniah. Coniah bobbled at the start and was last turning for home, made a run along the inside to look dangerous by midstretch, but couldn’t finish with the winner. Pretty N Cool, the favorite off a second in the Grade 3 Vagrancy at Belmont May 5, went right up to hound early pacesetter Invested, got the better of that foe going to the far turn, opened up a bit of breathing room by midstretch as if ready to go on to victory, but weakened late.