Trip Notes for June 6-7, 2020: Santa Anita Derby, Carter, and more

June 6
Belmont
Fort Marcy (race 6)

COMMENT: Inner course listed as good after rain earlier. Instilled Regard bounced back smartly after a dull sixth as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Memorial at the Fair Grounds March 21. Here the 5-year-old son of Arch, again sent off the favorite, got a nice trip sitting midpack just outside Gucci Factor as Somelikeithotbrown ran out to a clear early lead, started to advance on the far turn, challenged the pacesetter into the lane while a few lanes off the rail, got the better of that foe, edged clear and got to the line before his rallying stablemate Devamani to his outside. Off this a shot at the Grade 1 Manhattan here July 4 may be next. Devamani, a tough-beat second in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Feb. 8, lagged back from the start, made a strong run on the far turn while saving ground, swung out into the lane and finished well. The Manhattan could be next for him as well. Somelikeithotbrown, returning to turf after running second in the Kentucky Cup Classic on Turfway Park synthetic March 14, shot right out to a clear lead, took some pressure from the troubled Tribhuvan (broken rein) a few lanes further out while setting a strong pace, looked in deep trouble when a few challengers came to him on the far turn, couldn’t stay with the winner but kept on gamely along the rail to hold third in a fine try. Synchrony, fifth in the Muniz Memorial, sat back early just outside of Euro raider Flop Shop, remained there down the backstretch, started to advance on the far turn on Instilled Regard’s hip, remained wide on the turn and into the lane, plugged along and almost got third, though he was no threat to the top two in the final half-furlong. Flop Shot, a well-regarded European invader making his U.S. debut for Chad Brown and first start since a sharp third in a Group 2 in France last August only narrowly behind one of Europe’s top 3-year-olds Headman, bided his time toward the back while saving ground, racing just inside of Synchrony, remained there down the backstretch, was in a bit tight between horses heading to the far turn, came with a smart run on the turn be just in behind Instilled Regard, was then in tight into the lane between Synchrony to his outside and Temple to his inside when trying to make his run, moved toward the inside one clear but flattened out. He likely needed this and was a big sales purchase in Europe specifically for races like the Manhattan and Grade 1 Arlington Million, so as long as he exits this race well he’ll likely take a shot at the Manhattan, and Brown said the colt might prefer ground a bit firmer than he got here. Tribhuvan reportedly had a rein break as he bolted on the first turn while chasing the pacesetter, remained very wide throughout as his rider tried to gain control, finally started to ease up on the far turn and was caught by the outrider in the lane.

Belmont
Westchester (race 7)

COMMENT: Main track listed as muddy was harrowed prior to this race, which was run in heavy rain. Code of Honor, so good as a 3-year-old, taking such races as the Grade 1 Travers and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup (via disqualification), made a smart return to the races and stamped himself a major player in the handicap ranks. He broke well from his outside slot, bided his time well off the pace set by longshot Prendimi while remaining wide, continued midpack while wide as Endorsed took the lead on the far turn, started to advance on the turn, came with a smart wide run into the lane, was able to reel in a game Endorsed and edge past. The Grade 1 Met Mile here July 4 is a possibility, according to trainer Shug McGaughey, though a prime summer target is the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga in early August. Endorsed, coming off a smart win in a very tough optional claimer at Oaklawn May 2, broke well from the rail, sat a couple lengths off the lead, made a sudden strong move going into the far turn to come up inside pacesetter Prendimi, took over from that rival on the turn, opened up some into the lane while holding the fence, looked very scary on the lead, but then couldn’t fend off the very classy winner while finishing far clear of the rest. This was basically a two-horse race. The Grade 2 Suburban here July 4 could be next. Forewarned, a well-beaten sixth in a stakes at Laurel March 14, sat well back from the start while wide, tried to follow Code of Honor on the far turn, was unable to keep up but kept on well for third, though he was no threat to the top two. Payne, a smart winner at Aqueduct last time out March 13, sat a couple lengths off the pace while inside, moved off the inside on the turn, moved wider still into the lane but was one-paced to the line and unable to be a factor. Senior Investment, winner of his last three including a smashing victory in that aforementioned stakes at Laurel March 14, stalked while wide, just ahead of Code of Honor, was urged go with Code of Honor on the turn, but couldn’t keep up and gave way thereafter.

Belmont
Intercontinental (race 8)

COMMENT: Widener Course listed as yielding after rain earlier and heavy rain during the Westchester. This marked the return of Newspaperofrecord, so brilliant in 2018 but less so last year. After a long layoff following her fade to ninth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks here last July 6, and with a move to a much shorter trip, the daughter of Lope de Vega came back firing. She shot right out to contest the pace with speedster Jakarta to her outside, dueled with that foe down the backstretch, put that foe away into the far turn, opened there and into the lane and held sway to win comfortably, leading an amazing 1-2-3-4 finish for trainer Chad Brown. Brown said he would likely keep her at this type of trip and that he’d like for her to exit this race well enough to take a swing at the Grade 1 Just a Game here on Belmont day June 27, though that’s coming back pretty quickly and her champion stablemate Uni is targeting a possible return there as well. Regal Glory, cutting back in distance for her first start since fading to sixth in the longer Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland Oct. 12, broke decently, sat a few lengths behind the dueling leaders, made a run on the far turn and into the lane to look briefly threatening to her stablemate, but couldn’t sustain it enough to close the gap significantly. Significant Form, the defending champ, sat midpack while racing wide, was urged to get going on the far turn, started to advance while remaining wide, moved toward the rail in the stretch while making up some ground but was never really a threat. Viadera, making her first start in the U.S. and first start since finishing ninth vs. males in Ireland last Sept. 14, hesitated at the start to get away last, remained toward the back down the backstretch while staying on the fence, remained there to the far turn, swung off the rail turning for home and finished decently though she was never a factor. Jakarta, stepping well up in class after winning five of her last six including a big win in her only turf start, broke well, immediately dueled with Newspaperofrecord while outside that rival, was unable to keep pace into the far turn and weakened from there.

Belmont
Carter (race 9)

COMMENT: Race lost some luster when Performer, slated to make his 2020 debut here after a highly promising 2019 campaign, scratched due to an ankle injury, which is not thought to be serious. In fact, trainer Shug McGaughey said Performer was “95 percent sound this morning” and could still possibly make the Grade 1 Met Mile here July 4. Main track listed as sloppy The track was worked on after the heavy rain during the Westchester. Vekoma was dazzling winning his comeback at Gulfstream Park March 28, his first start since fading to 13th in last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He obviously relished the slop while he’s a Grade 2 winner going 1 1/8 miles it’s possible this type of one-turn game is his best as he dominated. From his outside post he broke very sharply, allowed longshot American Anthem to take the pacesetting duties to his inside, was content to sit just off that rival to his outside, remained there while wide on the far turn, was asked for run turning for home while still wide, surged to the lead and drew off to win in a romp. The Met Mile is a distinct possibility, though trainer George Weaver said the horse ran so big he might instead give him more time and target the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga in early August. Network Effect, a smart stakes winner at Gulfstream May 2, broke well, bided his time a few lengths off the pace, moved up between horses on the far turn, came through between Mind Control to his outside and Still Having Fun on the rail, made headway in the lane, and was able to reel in American Anthem to get second while no danger to the winner. This could still earn him a shot at the Met Mile. American Anthem, second in the Stymie at Aqueduct March 7, broke well, quickly took over pacesetting duties from Vekoma to his outside, moved toward the inside while Vekoma continued to dog him, tried to battle back when confronted by Vekoma to his outside, was no match for that foe but kept on gamely, only losing second in the last half-furlong. Firenze Fire, a winner of his last three including the Grade 3 General George at Laurel Feb. 15, broke well from the rail, moved up inside to be just behind Vekoma, came off the inside while still behind that rival, ended up outside Vekoma on the far turn, kept to his task but was unable to get involved. Mind Control, winner of his last three including the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct March 7, broke alertly just inside Vekoma, showed more speed than usual to sit just behind Vekoma, remained there down the backstretch, continued wide just outside of Firenze Fire, was urged to get going on the far turn while still wide but came up empty. His trainer Greg Sacco said he didn’t enjoy the off going. He’ll target the Vanderbilt at Saratoga in early August.

Churchill
Dogwood (race 10)

COMMENT: Four Graces was stepping up in class after winning an optional claimer at this same 7-furlong trip and proved up to the task. She showed no small amount of courage, too, as she broke well from her inside slot (No. 2), had four rivals to her right hounding her, held a narrow lead under constant pressure while setting a solid pace, dispatched with a few of those rivals but was immediately taken on by favorite Edgeway, who was widest of the five pace battlers, fought on gamely while staying inside to rebuff Edgeway and edge clear again late. She may not be a Kentucky Oaks type but she could surely be a Grade 1 Test/Grade 2 Raven Run type. Edgeway, a smart winner of an optional claimer at Oaklawn April 26, broke well from her outside post, was widest of the five pushing the pace, had to remain wide as those five were stacked up across the track, came with a nice run while still wide on the turn, loomed a big threat outside of Four Graces as the other three pacesetters fell away, remained dangerous to midstretch but then flattened out some in the final furlong as the wide trip took its toll. While she couldn’t stay with the winner she finished far clear of the others. Bayerness, winner of her first two starts in Kentucky last fall but coming off a fading seventh in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Feb. 29, broke well, took back to sit a few lengths behind the five pacebattlers, remained there while saving ground, started to advance into the far turn while staying inside, came off the rail turning for home to go around a tiring rival, moved back to the inside in the lane and kept to her task to get third, though she was never a threat to the top two.

Santa Anita
Santa Anita Oaks (race 5)

COMMENT: If there was any doubt prior to this as to who is the top-ranking 3-year-old filly there should be no question now. Swiss Skydiver easily won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and then easily won the Grade 3 Fantasy but this time she was the hunted, not the hunter. It didn’t matter. From her rail slot she broke alertly, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under pressure from Merneith to her outside, continued to dictate tempo with a nice rhythm, was in hand on the far turn while able to dispatch with Merneith, opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Trainer Ken McPeek had said prior to this that the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland was a goal on her way to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in September, and right now she’s at the top of the heap. Speech, a sharp second in a very strong optional claimer at Oaklawn May 2, bided her time in third, moved closer down the backstretch to be just behind and outside Merneith, was asked for run on the far turn, was able to go past Merneith comfortably, kept to her task in the lane but was never a danger to the winner. Merneith, a $600,000 daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah coming off a monster 10 1/4-length maiden win at Oaklawn April 19, didn’t break quite as sharp as the rail filly, was urged to pressure that gal to her outside, kept up the pressure down the backstretch, was still in the thick of it to the far turn but then came under a ride, was no match for the winner and then gave way and was geared down once Speech went past to her outside.

Santa Anita
Santa Anita Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Anyone who saw Honor A. P. break his maiden here as a juvenile last fall knew this $850,000 son of Honor Code could be Kentucky Derby material. After that race he wasn’t seen for five months before returning to be second to Authentic in the Grade 2 San Felipe here March 7. However, he took his game up a notch or two, not only gaining his revenge here but doing so in impressive fashion. He broke alertly, was content to sit just behind pacesetters Shooters Shoot, Anneau d’Or and Authentic, remained there while a couple lanes off the rail, just outside of Rushie, was asked to get going on the far turn, quickly closed the gap to be in just behind the three leaders, swept widest of all, surged past those rivals into the lane to take the lead, drawing clear late. They could ship for the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland July 11 or the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth July 18, though if they opt to stay home options includes the Los Alamitos Derby July 4 and/or the Shared Belief at Del Mar Aug. 1. Authentic, the heavy favorite after easy wins in his first three starts, including the San Felipe, broke sideways from his outside post, soon recovered to move up and press the pace with Shooters Shoot on the rail and Anneau d’Or in between, was content to stay there pressing the issue, moved up to threaten on the far turn, looked poised to take the lead into the lane only to be immediately confronted by Honor A. P to his outside, gamely chased that rival while moving toward the inside but couldn’t keep up late. It wasn’t a bad run at all for the Bob Baffert trainee, but the fact Honor A. P. got away from him in the final half-furlong makes you wonder about his 1 1/4-mile prospects. The Haskell, a race Baffert has won eight times, may be next. Baffert’s embarrassment of riches in terms of Kentucky Derby prospects has suddenly taken a turn for the worse as not only did Authentic get beat his other top 3-year-olds Nadal (injured, retired), Charlatan (injured, sidelined) and Thousand Words (went off form) are off the Derby trail. Rushie, a smart winner of an optional-claiming route at Oaklawn May 2, broke alertly from his inside post (No. 2), pulled back a bit into the clubhouse turn to get a stalking trip just behind Shooters Shoot, remained there with Honor A. P. to his immediate right to the far turn, was urged to go with Honor A. P. on the far turn, rallied briefly with that foe, was just in behind Authentic, moved wider out and kept to his task to get third though he wasn’t really a threat to the top two. Anneau d’Or, so promising when a sharp second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here in the fall but dull in two starts this year, broke well, showed more speed to be part of the pace picture just outside of Shooters Shoot and inside Authentic, remained there to the far turn, was still in the thick of it between horses into the lane but was unable to finish with the top trio. This was an improved run but it’s hard to envision him as a Kentucky Derby horse the way this year has gone.

Santa Anita
Hollywood Gold Cup (race 10)

COMMENT: There were been doubts about Improbable’s ability to handle 1 1/4 miles (though he was a respectable fifth in last year’s Kentucky Derby before being moved up to fourth via disqualification) but the son of City Zip showed such a trip was indeed within his reach as he notched his first Grade 1 win since the Los Alamitos Futurity in December 2018, doing so in impressive fashion. Coming off a deceptively good second to top-class Tom’s d’Etat in the Oaklawn Mile April 11 (had a terrible post, very wide trip) he used his speed to dog pacesetter Brown Storm through modest splits while outside that rival, pounced on that foe on the far turn, surged to a clear lead into the lane, and didn’t really have a nervous moment the rest of the way. Off this the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 22 could be next, though there are options at Saratoga as well. Higher Power, making his first start since fading badly to 10th in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 25 (was later found to be fighting an infection), bounced back nicely as he stalked just behind and outside Improbable, moved closer on the far turn, stayed wide into the lane as he gamely chased the winner, was no match for Improbable but kept on well to be a clear second. The Pacific Classic figures on his radar as well. Tenfold, last seen finishing fourth in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at the Fair Grounds March 21 (moved up to third via disqualification), bided his time early at the back of the pack while outside of Midcourt, though he wasn’t far off the lead since the pace was so slow, advanced between horses on the far turn to be just inside of Higher Power, came through between horses to briefly challenge for second but flattened out in the final furlong. Midcourt, a sharp third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap here March 7, broke slowly to be at the back of the pack just inside of Tenfold and was a bit rank and eager going to the clubhouse turn, finally settled some while remaining toward the back while saving ground, came through along the inside to get closer down the backstretch, took back a bit, moved to the outside after Tenfold went past, went from the rail to being widest of all as he made a smart move on the far turn, was just in behind Higher Power on the turn but came up empty in the lane.

June 7

Santa Anita
Triple Bend (race 8)

COMMENT: McKinzie showed nothing in Saudi Arabia a few months ago, but a return to his home base, a freshening and return to a one-turn game got the heavy favorite back on track. He broke a bit slow, but was content to bide his time a few lengths off a slow pace set by stablemate Ax Man, remained toward the back while wide and in the clear, started to advance on the far turn, stayed wide to keep an unencumbered trip, came with a run turning for home, grabbed the lead from leader Fashionably Fast to his inside, and edged clear in the final furlong. This was a nice bounce-back though it was hardly an overwhelming performance. Trainer Bob Baffert said earlier this was to be a launching pad to the Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont July 4, a race in which he was a sharp second last year. He’ll have to run a lot better than this to win that, but such a move forward is hardly out of reach. Fashionably Fast, the top Cal-bred sprinter who came into this off six straight wins, the last four being stakes wins, broke sharply to go to the lead, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Ax Man to his inside before the field had come out of the chute, continued to press that rival through modest splits, challenged that foe into the far turn, took the lead into the lane as McKinzie swept up to his outside, battled back when hooked by that foe into the lane, couldn’t quite stay with that rival but kept to his task well for second. This shows he’s by no means out of his element vs. open graded stakes sprint foes. Dark Vader, sprinting for the first time after being gone 11 months, sat last in the small field but not far off the pace, came out on the far turn to try and follow McKinzie, couldn’t stay with that foe but finished decently outside of second choice Falstaff to get third. Flagstaff, coming off a terrific second in the Grade 3 Count Fleet at Oaklawn after blowing the start, broke a step slow from his rail slot, moved up to stalk just behind pacesetter Ax Man coming out of the chute, continued to save ground while in Ax Man’s wake, had to steady a bit going to the far turn, was urged to get turning for home, came off the rail in the stretch, looked poised to make a run between horses but flattened out some to get outfinished for third by Dark Vader to his outside.