Trip Notes for June 20-21: Obeah, Ohio Derby, Pegasus, and more...

Saturday, June 20

Belmont - Bed o’ Roses Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: The field was diminished to just five after three morning scratches, with the key one being likely favorite La Verdad. That changed the race complexion quite a bit, not only talent-wise but tactically as her absence appeared to leave Room for Me as the primary speed. Well, Dame Dorothy had other plans, as the top-class sprinter, coming off a win in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2, bounced out to the lead while holding the rail, set dawdling splits while under only token pressure from Street Story, rebuffed a challenge from that foe in the lane, and edged away again in the final furlong. Her main summer target is the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga on Aug. 29, and she could prep for that in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at six furlongs there July 29 or wait for the seven-furlong Shine Again there Aug. 5. Her ultimate goal is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, which is run at this same seven-furlong distance, at which she’s now 4 for 4 (the Humana Distaff was at seven furlongs, and the Ballerina is also at seven furlongs). Street Story sat just off Dame Dorothy on the outside, moved up to pose a threat into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with that rival in the final furlong while much the best of the others (six lengths clear of third). Expression was fourth early and outgamed Room for Me for third but was never a danger to the top two. Room for Me lunged in at the start to lose her speed edge, was asked to get closer into stalking position, but was unable to make a dent in the lane and lost fourth in the final half-furlong.

Delaware Park - Obeah (race 8)

COMMENT: Luna Time hadn’t run since finishing a good third in a stakes at Laurel at this 1 1/8-mile trip Feb. 14, but while she’d shown talent before this freshening, she appears to have grown up further as she made her first graded stakes start and won impressively. She bided her time early as Natalie Victoria set a modest pace, steadily advanced down the backside, came with a smart run on the far turn, grabbed command, and drew off to win easily. She obviously likes this place, is better than ever, and acts as if she’ll run on, all factors that could lead to her facing tougher in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles here July 18. Joint Return, the favorite, was away slowly to be last after the start, was still last going to the far turn, came with a strong run, but had left herself with too much to do, and the winner was already long gone. The Delaware Handicap could be on her radar as well. Fortune Pearl likewise sat back, came with a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Blue Violet stalked the pace but never produced the needed kick as she remained one-paced throughout.

ThistleDown - Ohio Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had been insisting since last summer that one of these big races had Mr. Z’s name on it. Well, after numerous close calls last fall and winter, and after chasing American Pharoah in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Preakness, he got some slight class relief here and took the spotlight in a thrilling renewal. With no such rival and no such other speed lined up against him here, he went right out to take the lead from the start, took pressure from Tencendur and Thirtysilverpieces, was joined by Divining Rod turning for home as Thirtysilverpieces fell away, and battled gamely to the wire between horses to just edge those two rivals. The Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand on July 18 is reportedly next. Should all go well there, maybe he’d jump back into the deep end for the Grade 1 Travers there Aug. 29. Tencendur, a nice second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial before finishing nowhere (17th) in the Kentucky Derby, likewise found the class drop helpful as he ran splendidly. He dogged the winner from the start, looked done in midstretch when passed by Divining Rod, but got going again to finish gamely and just missed. Divining Rod, third in the Preakness, albeit well beaten (eight lengths), stalked in fourth, came with a smart run on the turn for home, looked as though he was going to go right by and get the win, but not only couldn’t get past the ultra-game winner, he lost second in the final strides to the re-rallying Tencendur. These two may be on the same schedule as Mr. Z. War Story, second in the Grade 2 Risen Star and third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby before finishing 16th to American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby, had blinkers put back on but still sat back early. He finished well but was never a danger to the top three. Far Right, who beat Mr. Z in the Smarty Jones and Grade 3 Southwest before running second to American Pharoah in the Arkansas Derby and then 15th to that foe in the Kentucky Derby, sat well back as usual but never really mustered a run. Whiskey Ticket was a close-up fifth early but gave way turning for home to end up last in a disappointing effort.

Santa Anita - Summertime Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Five morning scratches halved the initial field of 10, and that was more than okay with favorite Stellar Wind, though her win hardly came easily. She stalked in fourth as Conquest Curlinate set the pace, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of her, was immediately taken on by Tara’s Tango, who took the lead by midstretch, but stayed on gamely to nip that rival in the final stride. Tara’s Tango, coming off a second in the Angels Flight (a sprint) as the 3-5 choice here May 16 and routing for the first time, stalked the pace, came with a smart run to grab the lead by midstretch, stayed on gamely when the eventual winner fought back and just missed in a close photo. The big 3-year-old filly races at Del Mar are on turf, so not sure that’s the game these want. If not, then they likely have to ship. Trainer John Sadler and owner Kosta Hronis expressed wanting to keep her on dirt, meaning they were open to options back East. That may mean heading to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 26 or waiting for the Grade 1 Alabama there Aug. 22. The Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 19 has been mentioned as a possible target as well. Conquest Curlinate set the pace, battled back when hooked by the top two into the lane, and couldn’t keep pace with those foes while staying on decently for third.

Sunday, June 21

Monmouth Park - Pegasus (race 11)

COMMENT: Mr. Jordan was smashing in winning his first three starts last year, but a late start to this season kept him from targeting the Kentucky Derby or Preakness. But the patient approach worked as after “winning” a stakes at Tampa on April 25 (was disqualified), he worked wonderfully, returned here, the site of his romping debut win, and showed that he can do some damage in the right spot. He also showed he can go at least this far. He dogged pacesetter Tekton from the start, moved closer on the far turn, grabbed the lead into the lane, looked primed to draw off, but then had to battle hard as Tekton doggedly kept at him all the way to the line. He might next try the Grade 1 Haskell here Aug. 2, according to his trainer. Tekton, a 10 3/4-length optional-claiming winner at Pimlico last month, went right out to set the pace, set modest splits while being pushed some by Mr. Jordan, looked in trouble when that foe took the lead into the lane, but battled back gamely all the way to the line while inside in a fine try while finishing well clear of the others. Good Pick Nick, coming off a nice second in a tough optional claimer at Belmont last month, lagged well back early and came with a decent run, though he was never really a danger to the top two. Chipit, a winner of his first two starts, both sprints at Gulfstream, this year, sat fifth early, moved closer on the far turn as if ready to launch a challenge, but flattened out. This may have been too much too soon both in terms of company and distance, but it’s far too early to give up on this son of Tapit, who cost $300,000 at auction.