Trip Notes for June 4 - June 5: Shoemaker Mile, Vanity, and more
Belmont
Pennine Ridge (race 8)
COMMENT: Camelot Kitten backed up his win in the very tough Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard with another win here, but it wasn’t easy. The son of grass champ Kitten’s Joy sat midpack early as Toughest ‘Ombre set a modest pace, remained with work to do to the far turn, swung wide into the lane to commence his run, and finished well to win a photo. He’s now 2 for 2 with blinkers. Highland Sky, the second choice after a stakes win on the Aqueduct turf April 23, sat well back, moved closer on the turf to be just behind the eventual winner, swung widest of all into the lane, and finished strongly to just miss. Call Provision, another Brown runner who was stepping way up for just his second start, raced in tandem with his winning stablemate, was just a bit wider than that foe when making his run, and finished smartly to miss by just a neck and a nose. Toughest ‘Ombre dueled early with Hammers Vision, quickly moved off to a clear lead going down the backstretch, had the field come to him by midstretch, and finished gamely to be part of the four-horse photo for the win.
Churchill
Aristides (race 10)
COMMENT: Alsvid’s last win came in this race last year, and the 7-year-old showed he still has ample gas in the tank as he successfully defended his title. Coming off a second in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 6, he relished this return to dirt. He dogged early pacesetter Union Jackson through solid splits, got the better of that rival into the lane, was immediately confronted by 4-5 favorite Limousine Liberal, but kept to his task to get the narrow decision. Limousine Liberal, last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, got a great trip stalking in third, loomed a huge threat into the lane when asked to challenge, but couldn’t edge past the winner. Union Jackson set a brisk pace under pressure, battled back when headed by Alsvid and then by Limousine Liberal, and finished third, well clear of the rest.
Penn
Penn Mile (race 4)
COMMENT: Catch a Glimpse, a filly taking on males for the first time, went right out to a clear lead, was able to set a modest pace, and blew the race open coming into the lane. Airoforce, like the winner trained by Mark Casse, bounced back after fading to fourth in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, and it was a return to sit-and-wait tactics that did it. Whereas he set the pace in the American Turf, this time he lagged back early and came with a nice run for second. Giant Run, second in a Gulfstream stakes last time out, was fractious in the gate, broke alertly and stalked the filly, made a threatening move on the far turn, and kept on for third. Beach Patrol, favored off a second in the American Turf, was slow into stride and never moved a muscle in a disappointing run.
Santa Anita
Shoemaker Mile (race 6)
COMMENT: Midnight Storm has been brilliant at times, but he was coming into this off two losses and was facing another speedster in Heart to Heart. Midnight Storm shot out to the lead, with favorite Heart to Heart content to sit just off him. Midnight Storm moved off to a clear lead, set brisk splits under his own power, rebuffed Heart to Heart in the lane, and kept Tourist at bay. Tourist, who was fourth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, got a great trip stalking in third, went after the winner, but couldn’t get by while finishing far clear of the others. Twentytwentyvision sat just behind Tourist and finished decently. Heart to Heart, favored off a second to top filly Miss Temple City in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland April 15, let Midnight Storm set the pace, remained second to the far turn, was asked to go after Midnight Storm and weakened.
Santa Anita
Vanity Mile (race 7)
COMMENT: Beholder handled a distance cutback and a tough foe with ease. She pressed pacesetter Lost Bus through some very slow splits, took over without being asked on the far turn, opened up into the lane, and held her rivals safe while being geared down. Stellar Wind, last year’s champion 3-year-old filly, was making her first start since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last fall. She was toward the back early in the small field, got no help with the snail-like pace, and tried to make a run at the winner in the lane. This was an encouraging step back. Finest City stalked in third and kept to her task decently.
June 5
Monmouth
Red Bank (race 8)
COMMENT: Middleburg, coming off a second in the Grade 3 Miami Mile at Gulfstream April 30, his first start in six months, stalked pacesetter Fredericksburg, who set a solid pace. Middleburg moved closer into the lane, came with his run once straightened away, grabbed the lead and held off Vyjack. Vyjack sat just behind the winner, didn’t accelerate as quickly, and found his best stride in the final half-furlong. Rose Brier sat second, dogging Fredericksburg, got the better of that foe into the lane, but couldn’t finish with the top two. Reporting Star, the 9-5 favorite, seemed in a great spot stalking in third but gave way when the real racing began, ending up last.