Trip Notes for June 24-25: Ohio Derby, Affirmed, and more

Thistledown
Ohio Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: As expected, the two proven commodities, Irap and Girvin, dominated the proceedings, finishing one-two in a stirring renewal. Irap, the winner of the Grade 2 Blue Grass before fading to 18th in the Kentucky Derby, sat in midpack as Fast and Accurate set a modest early pace, crept closer going to the far turn, came with a serious run in the lane to go after then-leading 4-5 favorite Girvin and doggedly ran down that rival to get up by a nostril. The Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth on July 30 could be on his radar. Girvin ran splendidly in defeat. The winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby before finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby, he stalked the early pace, moved closer to dog Fast and Accurate going down the backstretch, took over from that tiring rival going to the far turn, opened up some into the lane as if primed to go on to a big win but just couldn’t quite fend off Irap, losing by just a nose while finishing far clear of the rest in what was basically a two-horse race. The Haskell could be on his docket as well. Untrapped, 12th in the Kentucky Derby, bided his time just behind Irap, made some progress while wide turning for home when trying to rally with the winner, was unable to keep on but stayed on decently to get third, though he was no danger to the top two.

Churchill
Chicago Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Finley’sluckycharm easily beat many of these rivals in the Grade 3 Winning Colors here May 27, so it was no surprise that she did so again, using her speed once more to lead her rivals on a merry chase. Winning for the eighth time in 10 starts, she went right out to the lead, took some early pressure from Covey Trace through solid splits, opened up into the lane and didn’t really have a nervous moment thereafter. Trainer Bret Calhoun said she’ll be considered for the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga on July 26, with her main summer target being the Grade 1 Ballerina there Aug. 26. That race could be something as it might also lure the likes of Paulassilverlining, female sprint champion Finest City, Carina Mia, By the Moon, and Constellation, to name a few. He said her goal is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in November. Ivy Bell, stepping up after finishing first in three straight allowance races (was disqualified from the first of those), including a win here May 27 in the race prior to the Winning Colors, stalked in third, came with a run into the lane to look briefly threatening, was unable to sustain it to scare the winner but kept on well to finish clear of the others. The winner may be out of her league, but it looks as though she belongs in stakes. Trainer Billy Denzik Jr. said the Grade 3 Groupie Doll at Ellis Park on Aug. 13 could be next. Mayla, second in the Winning Colors to her stablemate Finley’sluckycharm, was in midpack early, moved closer going to the far turn while wide and plugged along to get third while no threat to her stablemate or the runner-up.

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Santa Anita
Affirmed (race 4)

COMMENT: A small field was made smaller (four) when Arms Runner scratched to await the Oceanside on turf at Del Mar on July 19 (his only two starts came on turf). On paper, Battle of Midway dominated this race, and that’s the way it worked out on the track. The $410,000 son of Smart Strike was a sharp second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and third in the Kentucky Derby, and that class showed. As the overwhelming 1-9 favorite, he went right to the lead, set modest splits under some pressure from B Squared, was challenged by that rival turning for home while holding the fence, but was traveling easily, was asked for a bit of run, quickly dispatched with that rival, opened up and won geared down. The Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth on July 30 may be next, and there he might run into such top peers as Classic Empire, Timeline, and either Always Dreaming or Tapwrit from the Todd Pletcher barn. B Squared, sixth against statebreds in the Snow Chief on turf here May 29, chased the winner from the start, moved up to challenge that foe turning for home, proved no match for that rival in the lane but stayed on to comfortably hold second. Term of Art, 10th in the Preakness on May 20, stalked in third but was basically one-paced all the way around and never a threat to the top two. Santa Anita

Precisionist (race 6)

COMMENT: The Bob Baffert older-male-horse juggernaut continues as he ran one-two here, with heavy favorite Collected having little trouble prevailing. After fading to 10th in last year’s Preakness, he was gone for more than 10 months but has come back better than ever, romping in the Santana Mile here April 1 and in the Grade 2 Californian here April 22. He was even more impressive here as he had an easy time of it again. He broke well to sit second as Donworth set a solid pace, hounded that foe to the far turn, took over into the lane and drew off to win with complete ease and authority. He’s now won five of his last six. Baffert said the horse seems best at this type of distance and added that he might try him on turf at Del Mar. Baffert’s wealth of older males is enviable (Arrogate, Mor Spirit, Cupid, Hoppertunity, Danzing Candy, American Freedom, to name a few). Cat Burglar is best known as the workmate for the all-world Arrogate, but he’s got ample ability as well as he’s placed in Grade 2 and Grade 3 stakes. Freshened since a smart optional-claiming win here March 31, he stalked in third, just behind his stablemate, was asked for run turning for home, was no match for his impressive stablemate but kept on well to get second. Accelerate, third behind two Baffert runners in the Grade 2 San Antonio here Feb. 4 (Hoppertunity, Mor Spirit) and second to another Baffert runner in an optional claimer here May 5 (Danzing Candy) was again foiled by Baffert runners as he was last early after a slow start, was still last turning for home and plugged along to just get up for third. Donworth, making his first start since a third in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in April 2016 and subsequent surgery to remove bone chips in a knee, went right to the lead while holding the rail, was pressured from the start by the eventual winner, set a strong pace, tried to battle back when hooked by that foe turning for home but gave way once headed. Keane, making his first start in the U.S. after four romping wins in Argentina last summer and fall, including a Group 1 when last seen Nov. 19, bided his time while inside, pulled a bit early but had nothing to offer once straightened away into the lane. They reportedly think highly of him (want to target the Dubai World Cup), but he’ll obviously need to progress off this race, which he certainly needed.

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