June 27 Belmont Vagrancy (race 7) COMMENT: Rain started a couple hours before this race and the track was then sealed, and it rained heavily during this race. Track condition for this race was fast (harrowed). Mother Mother, the 4-1 third choice on the morning line, scratched earlier in the day. Victim of Love did some good work sprinting at Laurel in the fall/winter but then faded in a route stakes there March 14. Freshened and returned to sprinting here, the daughter of champion sprinter Speightstown posted the upset. She used her speed to dog pacesetter Jakarta from the start, continued to press that rival to her outside, took over from Jakarta on the far turn, opened up into the lane, drifted to the outside some but kept to her task to hold favorited Come Dancing safe to her inside. With the New York distaff sprint ranks seemingly a bit thin, it wouldn’t be a reach for her to come back in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga Aug. 8. Come Dancing, the heavy favorite after being the dominant distaff sprinter in New York last year, but coming into this off two dull races, broke alertly, which hasn’t always been her policy, to stalk outside and just behind the eventual winner, continued there to the far turn, was asked to go after that foe into the lane while still wide, moved toward the rail as the eventual winner drifted over in front of her (was far enough ahead of her that there was no interference) and plugged along to get second. She didn’t run badly but this certainly makes you think she’s just not the same gal we saw a year ago. Pacific Gale, who perked up to be third in the Harmony Lodge in mud here June 5, sat back not far behind Come Dancing while wide and in the clear, remained there to the far turn, pitched wider into the lane, kept to her task but was never really a threat. Royal Charlotte, second in the Harmony Lodge, stalked from the rail, came off the inside on the far turn but never mustered a run. Belmont New York (race 8) COMMENT: Inner course still rated as firm despite the rain. The rain stopped prior to this race. Mrs. Sippy, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, scratched earlier in the day (reportedly tied up; will point for the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware July 11). Mean Mary came into this off three straight wins at Gulfstream, the last two in Grade 3s and in wire-to-wire fashion. Despite the step up to Grade 2 ranks and the move to this course, the daughter of Scat Daddy dominated again. From her outside post she went right out to a clear lead, was in control through very slow splits as Fools Gold and Call Me Love applied modest pressure, continued to canter along on a clear lead through cozy splits, opened up turning for home, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. We’ll see what happens when she runs into the likes of Sistercharlie and Starship Jubilee but otherwise there’s really no one for her to fear at this distance turf game. Trainer Graham Motion said the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga Aug. 23 might be next. My Sister Nat, sister to turf distaff champion Sistercharlie and to European 3-year-old champion Sottsass, didn’t do much in her first three starts in the U.S. last year but perked up nicely to be a sharp rallying second in the Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Nov. 30. Making her first start since, she employed similar tactics, showing no speed early to be last, well behind the field from the start. She remained there down the backstretch, started to advance on the far turn, made headway along the inside, pitched out into the lane to continue her run, finished well but was never a danger to the winner. Feel Glorious, making her first start vs. elders and first start since winning the Winter Memories on Aqueduct turf Dec. 7, sat a few lengths off the pace while saving ground, remained there behind Call Me Love, continued inside throughout, and finished decently, though she was no threat to the winner and unable to finish with My Sister Nat. Call Me Love, well backed off a good second to top-class Rushing Fall in the Grade 3 Beaugay here June 3, her first start in the U.S., seemed in a good spot from the start as she sat a couple lengths behind Mean Mary while saving ground, moved closer going to the far turn, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, proved no match and had My Sister Nat go past to her outside and Feel Glorious go by her to her inside. Those who chased the winner could all target the Grade 3 Waya at 1 1/2 miles at Saratoga Aug. 8. Belmont True North (race 9) COMMENT: Main track listed as good (harrowed). Promises Fulfilled, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, scratched earlier in the day (filling in leg). After a splendid fall/winter, Firenze Fire’s dull Grade 1 Carter run here June 6 gave some cause for pause. The son of Poseidon’s Warrior bounced back some here. He wasn’t facing the same caliber but got the job done as from his outside post he stalked outside as Yorkton set a fast pace under pressure from Stan the Man to his outside, remained there to the far turn with Diamond King to his inside, continued wide into the lane when asked for run, challenged leader Stan the Man to his inside, got the better of him, and edged clear. Maybe this will earn him a shot at the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga July 25. Stan the Man, making his first start since dueling and giving way badly in the Stymie at Aqueduct March 7, showed speed again to dog early pacesetter Yorkton from the start, moved closer to that rival on the turn to his outside with Firenze Fire just behind and wider out, took the lead from Yorkton into the lane, was challenged by Firenze Fire to his outside, couldn’t quite keep up with that foe, but stayed on for second. Yorkton, stepping up off a nice second in a tough optional claimer at Gulfstream April 25, went right to the lead, set a brisk pace along the rail while being pressed by Stan the Man to his outside, battled back into the lane, but then couldn’t keep pace with that foe and Firenze Fire further out. Diamond King, winner of the Stymie but seventh in the Blame at Churchill May 23, broke well from the rail, sat in a nice spot just behind the pacesetters while saving ground, remained there inside of Firenze Fire on the far turn, but was asked for run into the lane only to come up empty. Belmont Just a Game II (race 10) COMMENT: Widener turf course listed as firm, though there was surely some moisture in it after the rain. Got Stormy, 5-1 on the morning line, scratched (may go instead in the Grade 3 Poker July 4). Newspaperofrecord was amazing in 2018 and maybe the most ballyhooed horse going into 2019. Alas, that year was lost. However, after 11 months off she came back with a scintillating win in the Grade 3 Intercontinental here June 6. She was apparently doing so well trainer Chad Brown wheeled her back 21 days later for this, and she was possibly even better than in the Intercontinental, taking down stablemate and reigning turf distaff champ Uni. As with Mean Mary in the New York, she had the strategic edge with her speed. She went right to the lead, as expected, but unlike previous outings she wasn’t rank and pulling, instead setting a solid pace under pressure from Valedictorian. She looked to possibly be in trouble as a couple challengers came to her turning for home as Valedictorian fell away, but she had plenty left in the tank, was asked for it in the stretch, and drew off to win easily. This was Brown’s fourth straight win in this race. She’ll reportedly be freshened a bit and point for the Grade 2 Churchill Turf Distaff Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard Sept. 5. Beau Recall, ninth in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at Churchill May 30, but beaten by just 2 1/4 lengths after traffic trouble, sat last from the start, just behind Uni, remained at the back of the pack to the far turn, got a lot closer as the pack moved in on Newspaperofrecord, came through between horses into the lane, moved wider out for clear sailing and finished well to edge Uni for second, though she was never a danger to the winner. Uni, was making her first start since winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita in the fall and she had sustained a splint injury recently. She was likely a few works short of being fully cranked, according to Brown. Uni sat back early, as is her want, made nice progress into the far turn while saving ground, loomed a big threat turning for home when just in behind stablemate Newspaperofrecord, stayed inside but didn’t have the needed punch. Surely the layoff and maybe being a few works short of her best cost her, though she’ll need all of powers to beat Newspaperofrecord. Brown noted besides needing the race she’d prefer the footing firmer than this. The Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Aug. 22, a race in which she was a troubled fourth last year, could be next, as long as the footing is firm. Regal Glory, a third Brown entrant, stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home just behind Newspaperofrecord and outside of Uni but flattened out. Could be these waters are a tad too deep. Churchill Bashford Manor (race 8) COMMENT: Cazadero, a son of juvenile male champ Street Sense and a smashing winner of his debut here May 29, backed up heavy favoritism with another smart tally. He broke well, established a stalking position as County Final set a strong pace with Hulen pressing the issue, came under a ride on the far turn, moved up to challenge County Final to his inside with Herd Immunity threatening to his outside, and finally got the better of County Final, edging away in the final furlong. The Grade 2 Saratoga Special at Saratoga Aug. 7 is a possible target. County Final, a winner of his turf sprint debut here June 4, broke sharply from his outside post to go right to the lead, moved over to the rail as he set a strong pace, took pressure from Hulen to his outside, was then taken on by Cazadero further outside, battled gamely while hugging the rail into the lane as Hulen gave way before relenting to the winner in the final furlong. Herd Immunity, invading after his smart debut win at Santa Anita June 6, stalked while just behind and outside of Cazadero, remained there to the far turn, moved up outside of Cazadero into the lane to loom a threat, but was unable to go on with it and be more of a challenge in the final furlong. Hulen, smart winner of his debut here June 12, pressed County Final from the start, hounded that rival to the far turn while outside that foe, challenged into the lane but then fell away. Churchill Fleur de Lis (race 9) COMMENT: So champion Midnight Bisou hadn’t run in four months, had to ship halfway around the world to get home from Saudi Arabia (where she was a super second against males in the Grade 1 Saudi Cup) and was giving away a big tactical edge to lone-speed rival Serengeti Empress. It mattered not. The champion was just that – a champion – as she dominated this. She bided her time early as Serengeti Empress shot out to a clear lead, remained a few lanes off the rail in the clear, started to advance under her own power into the far turn, quickly eliminated the gap between she and Serengeti Empress as she blasted up alongside that rival turning for home, quickly opened up into the lane, and finished far in front while barely out of a canter. Considering her Saudi Cup run and this validation that she’s as good as ever, all options appear open, including more shots at males, maybe even the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in the fall. She reportedly ships to Saratoga, though which race she targets next remains up in the air. Motion Emotion broke well from her outside post, sat second a few lengths behind pacesetter Serengeti Empress, remained there to the far turn, was urged to go after Empress, had no answer when Midnight Bisou blew past to her outside, but kept to her task to get second. Another Broad sat well back from the start, remained there to the far turn, pitched out into the lane, finished with good energy and while never a danger to the winner just got up to get third. Serengeti Empress, as expected, blew out to a clear early lead, set fast fractions while holding the fence, was overwhelmed by Midnight Bisou to her outside turning for home, battled on briefly to try to hold a better placing but tired some in the final furlong, losing third in the final strides. Churchill Stephen Foster (race 10) COMMENT: Just 20 minutes or so after Midnight Bisou showed she may deserve a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in the fall, Tom’s d’Etat made his own noise with a monster win here, running much faster than Midnight Bisou in the process (1:47.30/1:48.99), though in fairness Midnight Bisou was barely out of second gear in the lane. Coming off a smart win in the Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn April 11 (where he narrowly beat Improbable, who came back to romp in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita, by the way), Tom’s d’Etat broke very sharply, wasn’t pushed on by his rider but instead allowed Pirate’s Punch to his inside to take pacesetting duties, seemed very comfortable sitting second on that rival’s hip throughout, took command under his own power on the far turn, got a brief threat from By My Standards wider out, but pulled away without really being asked to win in a romp. He ships to Saratoga and may target the Grade 1 Whitney there Aug. 1, where he could run into the likes of Code of Honor, McKinzie and others in a mouth-watering contest. By My Standards, winner of his last three, the last two being Grade 2s including the Oaklawn Handicap at this same trip May 2, didn’t show as much speed as in those three wins, instead sitting just behind and outside Tom’s d’Etat, remained there to the far turn, was asked to get going on the turn, got up to Tom’s d’Etat’s hip to his outside to briefly threaten but couldn’t keep pace with that rival while staying on for second. Silver Dust, third in the Blame at Oaklawn May 23, didn’t show as much speed as well, sitting a few lengths off the lead while wide on the first turn, remained there to the far turn, started to advance while wide, made a nice run into the stretch as he moved out from behind By My Standards, was no match for the winner but gamely chased the runner-up. Owendale, winner of the Blame, sat well back from the start, as his want, remained there to the far turn, pitched wide to start his run, remained wide into the stretch, made up a bit of ground but was never really a factor. Churchill Regret (race 11) COMMENT: Harvey’s Lil Goil, a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, was on the Kentucky Oaks path after two big wins at Aqueduct but was then very dull when 11th in the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn May 1. Back to turf here (ran fourth in her debut on turf last Nov. 9) she got back on track in game fashion. She used her speed to dog early pacesetter Eve of War to her inside, challenged that gal on the far turn, took over from that foe into the lane while a couple lanes off the rail, opened up some in the stretch and then gamely battled to the line to nip hard-trying favorite Crystal Cliffs, who rallied to her inside. Crystal Cliffs, a big winner in France Dec. 15 and a smart winner here in her U.S. debut May 31, sat not far off the pace on the inside, remained in traffic as she tried to get closer on the far turn, had a lane develop in front of her into the stretch, came through with a run, moved back to the rail and finished gamely to just miss. The top two could lock horns again in the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks Aug. 16. In Good Spirits, who set the pace before finishing fourth in the Tepin here May 23, her first start in seven months, broke sharply here to take the early lead, relented pacesetting duties to Eve of War into the clubhouse turn, was content to stalk the pace, sitting just inside of Harvey’s Lil Goil, remained there to the far turn, was just in behind Eve of War, moved off the inside to be right behind Harvey’s Lil Goil into the lane, kept to her task well but wasn’t quite good enough. Pass the Plate, a rallying third in the Tepin, lagged back from the start, in fact was last into the backstretch, remained well back, started a smart wide run on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane to be widest of all, finished well but had left herself with too much to do. Thistledown Ohio Derby (race 8) COMMENT: Dean Martini was claimed for $50,000 when a romping maiden winner in a route at Churchill May 17, then was a good second first time against winners routing there June 12. They took a shot here and it paid off as the son of multiple Grade 2 winner Cairo Prince posted the upset. From his rail slot he stalked a modest pace set by Rowdy Yates and Lebda while saving ground, made an aggressive move along the rail heading to the far turn which carried him up to contest the lead, took over turning for home, opened up, and had enough to get to the line before a hard-charging South Bend. Not sure this puts him on the road to the Kentucky Derby, but there are plenty of other good 3-year-old dirt races to consider. South Bend, back to dirt after five turf starts including three stakes placings, bided his time from the break, remained toward the back into the backstretch, started to advance on the far turn, pitched wide into the lane, finished smartly outside the winner but was just a bit too late. Storm the Court, the reigning 2-year-old male champion and dropping after chasing the likes of Nadal, Authentic, Honor A. P. and King Guillermo, didn’t break that alertly from his outside post, was still able to get position stalking while quite wide into the first turn, remained hung out wide down the backstretch was asked to get going while still wide on the far turn and into the lane, made some progress, but was never really a threat to the winner. Sprawl, well backed after a big allowance dirt route win at Churchill May 28, sat midpack from the start between horses, crept closer down the backstretch, remained in traffic, was asked for some run on the far turn while still between horses, but was basically one-paced from there and unable to threaten.