Trip Notes for June 27-28: Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Iowa Derby, Mother Goose, and more...

Saturday, June 27

Belmont - Mother Goose (race 9)

COMMENT: Heavy rain hit not long before the race but the track was still listed as fast. Include Betty was the only graded stakes winner in the field, having won the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn April 4, and that proven class showed here. Coming off a rallying second to Keen Pauline in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico May 15, she settled in last as Hot City Girl and Embellish the Lace set strong splits. Include Betty came with her run on the far turn, circled the field and drew off late to win easily. This could set her up for a go at the Grade 1 CCA Oaks at Saratoga July 26. Wonder Gal, coming off a third (beaten a length) in the Grade 1 Acorn here June 6, sat midpack early while staying wide, didn't appear to be going anywhere but found another gear late to outduel Chide for runner-up honors. Chide, stepping up into graded stakes for the first time after winning two of her first three, lagged back and came with a nice run while very wide. Eskenformoney sat midpack and never mustered a run. Embellish the Lace, coming off two huge wins, pressed Hot City Girl through fast splits but paid the price, fading to ninth. Munasara, who looked so promising winning her first two starts, stalked that brisk early pace but gave way badly to end up last.

Churchill - Bashford Manor (race 6)

COMMENT: He's Comin in Hot looked super blasting maidens here June 12 and he had little trouble validating that run with another front-running win here. He bounced right out to a clear lead, saw Show Bound move closer going to the far turn, but repelled that rival's bid, kicked clear again into the lane and won easily. Show Bound, who dueled and ran third in his only start, a turf sprint at Belmont June 7, chased the eventual winner from the start, tried to challenge on the far turn, and stayed on to finish a clear second. Patrick Rocks lagged back, came with a nice run along the inside to close the gap on the top two, but was never really a danger and finished third. Shoot Craps, who won that aforementioned June 7 turf race at Belmont, was never able to get involved and weakened to finish last.

Churchill - Firecracker (race 8)

COMMENT: Departing made his name on dirt but showed he may be as good or better on turf. He stalked the pace while saving ground as Frac Daddy set a modest pace. Departing remained inside, came with his run into the lane, brushed the hedge, but kept to his task to get the lead and then hold off a hard-trying Knights Nation. The Grade 2 Fourstardave at Saratoga Aug. 15 or the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch there Sept. 7 could be next. Knights Nation, stepping up off an optional-claiming win here May 10, raced just off the eventual winner from the start, didn't accelerate as quickly as that foe into the lane but got going late and was cutting into the lead. Sky Flight was closest to pacesetter Frac Daddy from the start, moved up to challenge into the lane as that rival fell away, but couldn't keep pace with the winner and then lost second in the final few strides. Frac Daddy, the favorite off a second in a stakes here May 30, his first start in 10 months, set a modest pace but wilted once passed in a disappointing effort. His best races have come on synthetic and he doesn't have as many options on such footing any longer.

Monmouth - Eatontown (race 11)

COMMENT: After a dull eighth in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 2, I’m Already Sexy was second in the Grade 3 Mint Julep at Churchill June 6. She shipped here and more than backed up that effort. She stalked a decent pace set by Speed Seeker, moved closer going to the far turn, got grabbed the lead into the lane and fended off hard-trying favorite Kenzadargent. Kenzadargent, coming off a romping win in the Ms. Liberty here May 25, her first start in seven months, stalked the pace, kept after the eventual winner in the lane but just couldn't quite get to her. Stellar Path sat back not far behind the eventual winner, didn't accelerate as quickly as that rival but got going well late to finish third. Bocaiuva, coming off a rallying fourth in the Grade 3 Gallorette after a slow start on the Preakness undercard May 16, was again away very slowly, pulled and was a bit rank, and then came up empty when it mattered.

Prairie Meadows - Iowa Oaks (race 5)

COMMENT: Sarah Sis made it two straight wins, and if you toss her Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks debacle (was pulled up and vanned off) she's pretty much fired every time. Coming off a win in the Panthers, the local stepping-stone to this race, she again used her speed, going right out to the lead. She took early pressure from Sweet Oportunity, rebuffed that gal on the turn, opened up into the lane and just lasted over hard-charging Pangburn. While her Panthers win came at a mile and this came at 1 1/16 miles, her trainer believes her best game is furlongs and that he'd be looking for a race at that distance. Pangburn, eighth when trying grass for the first time in a stakes at Belmont last month, returned to dirt and got back to form. She bided her time early, was still well back turning for home, but swung wide into the lane and finished strongly. Sweetgrass, a winner at Gulfstream and Keeneland before finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan May 15, broke slowly, moved closer going down the backstretch, made a wide move going to the far turn and continued to grind it out to the wire in a good try. Paige, making just her second start of the year after a second in a turf sprint at Churchill last month, stalked the pace while wide but came up empty when it mattered.

Prairie Meadows - Iowa Derby (race 6)

COMMENT: Bent On Bourbon continued his ascent, making it three straight wins. He stalked in third as favorite Hillbilly Royalty set a decent pace. Bent On Bourbonmoved closer to that foe on the far turn, grabbed command, quickly surged clear and didn't have a nervous moment thereafter. Allied Air Raid, third to Hillbilly Royalty and Paid Admission in the Prairie Meadows Mile May 30, bided his time, moved closer going to the far turn and came with a steady run through the lane for second. Private Prospect pressed Hillbilly Royalty from the start while inside, moved in tandem with the winner to go past that rival on the turn, but weakened a bit in the final furlong. Hillbilly Royalty set the pace, tried to battle back when hooked turning for home but then gave way.

Prairie Meadows - Prairie Meadows Cornhusker (race 7)

COMMENT: Golden Lad, coming off a romping stakes win at Penn National May 30, stalked in third as longshot Ecleto Red set a modest pace. Golden Lad went after that foe into the lane, looked in trouble as Ecleto Red still had the lead in midstretch but finally pushed past him. Ecleto Red was 3 for 4 here before this race and obviously loves it here. Coming off two easy front-running wins, he again bounced out to a clear lead and stubbornly remained there to inside the eighth pole. Page McKenny stalked the pace while wide, moved a bit closer on the far turn but finished evenly and was unable to threaten the top two. Carve, winner of this race in the slop here last year, sat midpack and never mustered a run. Tapiture, good enough to be second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita last year, was slow into stride and never made a move.

Santa Anita - Senorita (race 6)

COMMENT: Prize Exhibit returned to her home base after a fifth vs. some toughies in the Pennsylvania Oaks at Parx May 30, and got the job done. She's been a bit tough to ride in a few of her outings and here she was away slowly, as is her norm. She sat last for the first half-mile, started her run going to the far turn, swung out into the lane and blasted home to win going away. A race like the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 15 figures on her radar, or perhaps the Grade 2 San Clemente at a mile there July 19. Long Hot Summer, coming off a strong optional-claiming turf sprint win here June 12, went right out to the lead on the stretchout, set modest splits while pressured by Avenge, dispatched with that foe into the lane while staying inside, and stayed on well for second. Lutine Belle lagged back with the eventual winner, didn't accelerate as quickly or as early but got going well enough late to get up for third. Curlin's Fox, the heavy favorite off a dazzling optional-claiming win here May 25, seemed in a great spot as she stalked the pace while outside and in the clear. She loomed ominously going into the far turn but then fell apart, ending up last. The way she stopped it makes you wonder if something went amiss (she reportedly has bled some before).

Santa Anita - Triple Bend (race 7)

COMMENT: There seems little doubt that Masochistic is the West's top sprinter after a big win here (at least until Secret Circle resurfaces). Coming off a win in the Grade 2 Kona Gold over some of these here April 11, he went right out to the lead, dueled with San Onofre, finally got the better of that rival turning for home, and won while being ridden out. He may point for the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at six furlongs at Del Mar July 26, or he could wait for the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien (at this same seven-furlong distance) Aug. 22. Appealing Tale stalked the pace in fourth, came with a nice run into the lane, and stayed on well to be a clear second. A race like the Grade 2 San Diego (at 1 1/16 miles) at Del Mar July 25 could be next or he could wait for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 23. Wild Dude sat just behind Appealing Tale, didn't accelerate as quickly but got going well enough to get third, though he was no danger to the top two. San Onofre had his head in front going to the far turn but then weakened from his early efforts. Sahara Sky, the Grade 1 winner, sat well back, as usual, but could make only modest headway.

Santa Anita - Royal Heroine (race 8)

COMMENT: Fanticola came into this off two near-misses in longer graded stakes, but she cut back to a mile and it paid off. She dogged early pacesetter Birdlover, got the better of that stubborn rival by midstretch and got to the line before hard-charging Queen of the Sand. She's shown she's effective from about 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, so that gives her a ton of options. She likely earned a crack at the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar Aug. 8. Queen of the Sand, who beat Fanticola to win the Grade 3 Santa Barbara here April 18 but then was eighth in the Grade 1 Gamely here May 25, bounced back to form. She sat well back, as is her custom, angled out going into the far turn and finished well. Stormy Lucy, making her first start since a fourth in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar last Sept. 1, was just behind Queen of the Sand early, remained well back to the far turn and then finished smartly for third. Blingismything, so consistent with 11 top-three finishes in her last 12 starts, lagged back while saving ground but never mustered a run in one of her rare dull outings.

Santa Anita - The Gold Cup at Santa Anita (race 9)

COMMENT: Hard Aces, coming off a third to Catch a Flight and Moreno in the Grade 2 Californian here May 30, got his first Grade 1 win. He bided his time early, came with a nice run on the rail to pass Catch a Flight, and then nipped Hoppertunity at the line. The Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 22 may be next for him. Hoppertunity, coming back in a hurry after finishing third in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster June 13, sat midpack as Big Cazanova set a strong pace. Hoppertunity moved up nicely just behind Catch a Flight and Moreno going to the far turn, stayed wide for the stretch run, and finished strongly. The Pacific Classic figures on his radar as well. Catch a Flight, the heavy favorite off wins in the Grade 3 Precisionist and Grade 2 Californian here this meet, was travelling well sitting a few lengths off the lead, moved closer going to the far turn, moved to the lead into the lane but was immediately tackled by Hard Aces to his left and Hoppertunity to his right and couldn't keep pace late. Finnegans Wake, a Grade 1 turf winner, lagged well back as expected, seemed to be moving in tandem with the winner on the far turn, but got pushed out very wide and it took some of the charge of out his rally. Moreno sat a few lengths off the lead while staying wide and in the clear, moved in tandem with Catch a Flight going to the far turn while staying outside that foe, but weakened in the lane.

Sunday, June 28

Santa Anita - San Juan Capistrano (race 4)

COMMENT: Crucero was second here just seven days ago, and the ambitious quick turnaround and class hike worked as he got his first win on turf and over winners. Claimed for $50,000 here Jan. 16, Crucero was fifth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham at 1 1/2 miles here May 24. Today, he sat fourth while saving ground as longshot Tiz Futurity and favorite Going Somewhere volleyed for the early lead through slow splits. Crucero came off the rail on the far turn, stayed wide into the lane, and won even though his rider briefly lost his right rein in deep stretch. His next distance chance out West would be the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles Aug. 22. Going Somewhere, the heavy favorite off proven stayer form in France and a strong third in the Whittingham, broke on top to grab the early lead, drifted out coming across the dirt crossing, relinquishing the lead to Tiz Futurity. Going Somewhere angled back in to press that foe but again veered out on the clubhouse turn, got straightened down the backside to re-engage, took the lead into the lane, battled back from between horses, drifted back to the inside and ran on gamely to just miss. His trainer said after the race that he had the wrong bit on him, making it almost impossible for the rider to steer him. It's a credit to his talent that he still almost won. Decisive Edge stalked the pace while saving ground, moved up to challenge into the lane but couldn't finish with the top two. Golden Soul, who shipped in from Kentucky, lagged back and could make only modest headway in the lane.