Trip Notes for June 30-July 1: Mother Goose, United Nations, and more

June 30

Belmont
Mother Goose (race 8)

COMMENT: The field was reduced to four after three scratches. Midnight Bisou continued her superb year, easily proving best. The Grade 1 winner, third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks last time out, stalked from the start as Road to Victory set a solid pace, kept that rival in her sights, engaged her on the turn, then put her away and drew off without really being pushed. She may still be a bit behind Monomoy Girl as far as leadership of the 3-year-old filly division goes, but she’s not that far behind and figures to get another crack at Monomoy Girl this summer. Road to Victory, previously unbeaten in three starts and the only horse to defeat Monomoy Girl, was making her first start of the year here. She raced well off the rail down the backstretch, moved to the rail going to the far turn, battled back when engaged by Midnight Bisou to her outside on the turn and into the lane, but was no match for that rival in the stretch. Still, this should serve Road to Victory well and make her tougher for the coming summer campaign and likely more shots at Midnight Bisou and Monomoy Girl, though she’s got some work to do to close the gap on those two. My Miss Lilly, winner of the Grade 2 Gazelle at Aqueduct April 7 but 11th in the Kentucky Oaks, sat last, moved closer to the top two on the far turn to loom a threat, and kept to her task to finish third.

Monmouth
Iselin Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: The field was cut to four after three scratches, but hat doesn’t take away from the fine effort by Harlan Punch, who got back on track after finishing fifth in the Flat Out at Belmont May 4. Harlan Punch set slow splits under minimal pressure from Page McKenney, opened up into the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. This was his first start here, and perhaps the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at 1 1/8 miles here July 29 could be next. Page McKenney, favored off a win in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile here May 26, chased the winner, tried to make a run at him on the turn, and stayed on for second. The Monmouth Cup figures on his radar as well. Backsideofthemoon, third in the Flat Out and sixth in the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont June 9, was just behind Page McKenney from the start while racing inside. He was still alongside that rival into the lane but weakened in the final half-furlong. Imperative stumbled at the start to get away last and was never able to get involved. This was his first start in over 14 months.

Monmouth
Eatontown (race 9)

COMMENT: Three scratches took the field down to five. Trainer Chad Brown continues to dominate the turf distaff graded stakes division, running one-three here, led by Dream Awhile. Coming off a third in a very tough Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill May 5, the daughter of War Front stumbled at the start but was still able to get position stalking as Gianna’s Dream shot out to a clear lead. Dream Awhile steadily advanced, came abreast of the pacesetter on the far turn, had little trouble taking over from that rival turning for home, opened up into the lane, and kept Special Event at bay. Special Event, stepping up in class after a sharp second to New Money Honey in an optional claimer at Belmont just nine days ago, was just in front of the eventual winner early while saving ground, got shuffled back to last on the far turn, but found her top gear and finished well. Elysea’s World, another stalwart from the Brown barn, was away slowly to be last early, came off the inside going into the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane, but was no threat to the top two in the stretch.

Monmouth
United Nations (race 11)

COMMENT: Another graded turf stakes and another success for Chad Brown, as he ran one-two, with longshot Funtastic beating stablemate Money Multiplier and defending champ Bigger Picture. Funtastic, stepping up off an optional-claming win at Belmont May 26, set modest splits under some pressure from On Go All Go, opened up on the far turn and into the lane, and kept Money Multiplier at bay. He’s a half-brother to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam. Brown said the Grade 1 Arlington Million or Grade 1 Sword Dancer are options for his next start. Money Multiplier, favored off a win in the Grade 2 Monmouth here May 26, lagged back after the start, had to steady on the first turn, steadily advanced to the far turn, and came with a nice run. Bigger Picture, last year’s winner of this race but coming off back-to-back seventh-place finishes this spring, sat last to the top of the lane, pitched out, and finished well. Silverwave, proven against some of the best in France, was a bit eager and pulling early, finally settled in midpack, came with a threatening run on the turn, but flattened out. He has yet to reproduce his top European form. Kurilov, also from the Brown barn, stalked the pace, loomed a threat on the turn but gave way.

Churchill
Bashford Manor (race 11)

COMMENT: Sir Truebador impressively won his debut here May 17 and finished fourth in Belmont’s Tremont June 8. The $300,000 son of More Than Ready returned to his home base and got back on track. Sent off the favorite after the scratch of morning-line favorite Tales of Chaucer, Sir Truebador set a strong pace under pressure from longshot The Song of John, dispatched with that foe into the lane, opened up a big lead, and kept longshot Mr Chocolate Chip at bay. It’s worth noting the filly Restless Rider ran quite a bit faster (1:10.62/1:12.77) while winning the Debutante a couple hours earlier. Sir Truebador is a full brother to Regally Ready, who won over $1.8 million and the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Mr Chocolate Chip, a maiden winner with blinkers added at Belterra Park May 24, lagged well back early at 103-1 after an awkward start, came wide into the lane, and finished with good energy. Overanalyzer, winner of his debut at Indiana Downs May 22, sat back with the eventual runner-up, and rallied inside while always just in behind that rival. Cat Addiction, who rallied strongly to beat maiden claimers here May 31, gave trainer Steve Asmussen a one-four finish as he got banged around at the start, sat in behind Mr Chocolate Chip and Overanalyzer, pitched very wide into the lane, and finished decently. Toothless Wonder, who beat maidens at Santa Anita May 27, had a bad trip. He was got banged around at the start to be in midpack early, then got bumped and knocked around again on the turn and into the lane.

Gulfstream Gulfstream Park
Princess Rooney Handicap (race 12)

COMMENT: The track was wet-fast earlier in the day but fast for this race. Stormy Embrace ran the race of her life and stamped herself a potential player for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The 4-year-old daughter of Circular Quay, coming off a win in a statebred stakes here May 19, took some pressure from Ms Locust Point while setting a solid pace, dispatched with that foe, and blew the race wide open with a strong run into the lane. Rich Mommy was slow into stride to sit well back early, pitched wide into the lane, and finished well for second. My Miss Tapit broke slowly to be last early, remained well back to the far turn, and came with a wide run into the lane to finish third. Curlin’s Approval, the defending champ and favorite, didn’t show her customary speed as she lagged back early, had to steady going to the far turn, did show some interest on the far turn and into the lane, but just as quickly saw her needle go to empty.

Gulfstream Smile Sprint Handicap (race 13)

COMMENT: X Y Jet was second to Mind Your Biscuits in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, while beating sprint champ Roy H back into third. Given some time since that March 31 race he came back firing here, easily beating this bunch as a 3-5 favorite. He set brisk splits while holding a clear advantage, and put the race away with a strong run into the lane. While they cut into his margin in the final furlong he was never in any real danger. Trainer Jorge Navarro said the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint is his primary target, with maybe the Laurel Dash as a stepping-stone to that event. Reason to Soar stalked the pace while saving ground, ducked out sharply into the lane impeding Splash Rules, got straightened, and stayed for second. He was disqualified and placed fifth. Sweetontheladies lagged well back early, and came with a wide run through the lane to improve his position. Petrov lagged back, was in tight in midstretch, and was unable to get involved. Splash Rules stalked the pace, and was making a run into the lane when Reason to Soar veered into his path, forcing him to steady and lose his action.

Woodbine
Highlander (race 9)

COMMENT: Long On Value, winner of a turf sprint stakes at Churchill June 2, his first start in almost nine months, showed he’s good as ever at age 7. He lagged back early as Axtell set a strong pace on the rail, came with a wide run into the lane, seemed to idle some into the lane, but changed leads, found his top gear, and wove through traffic to overtake Lady Alexandra in the final strides. This is a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, though Long On Value isn’t Breeders’ Cup-eligible. Lady Alexandra, a filly facing males and coming off a turf sprint stakes win at Belmont April 29, stalked the pace, came with a run into the lane to grab the lead, opened up by midstretch, and looked like the winner until Long On Value came storming past. Holding Gold, a rallying fourth in the Grade 2 Jaipur at Belmont June 9, lagged well back, found a seam, and finished strongly. Belvoir Bay, a female who won two graded stakes at Santa Anita in spring, didn’t show her customary speed and made a mild move in the lane. Imprimis, previously unbeaten and untested in four starts, all turf sprints, stalked in fourth, loomed a threat into the lane, but had to steady a bit in traffic.