Trip Notes for May 10-11: Peter Pan, Man o' War and more...

Satuday, May 10, 2014

Belmont
Peter Pan (race 9)

Tonalist had flashed big-time promise last fall/winter but hadn’t been seen since being knocked off the Derby trail by illness. This big comeback effort, however, showed what the fuss was all about. He bobbled at the start but recovered quickly to sit just behind early leader Fabulous Kid along the inside. He was asked for early run to grab command, eagerly seized control and drew off to win with authority. In fact, he was geared down in the final strides. This run also showed he has no issue with sloppy going. The Grade 1 Belmont here June 7 is the obvious next stop. Commissioner stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner on the turn, and while unable to threaten that foe was much the best of the others. The Belmont may be on his radar as well. Irish You Well was just behind Commissioner early, only narrowly behind that foe turning for home but couldn’t keep pace in the lane. Matterhorn lagged back and made some decent headway but was never a threat.

Santa Anita
Lazaro Barrera (race 7)

Top Fortitude won his debut impressively at Hollywood Nov. 16. He wasn’t seen again until April 12 here when he ran poorly, but he improved here and posted a 30-1 upset. He pressed a modest pace, set by Ferocious who was pressured by Twenty Percent. Going to the far turn, Top Fortitude moved up to pressure Ferocious, got the better of that rival into the lane, and kept hard-trying closer Tonito M. at arm’s reach through the lane. Tonito M., a champion in Puerto Rico making his first start in the U.S., showed he’s the real deal as he lagged back and finished well. Ferocious was quickest from the gate but was hounded from the start. He kept a short lead until the top of the lane when he couldn’t go with Top Fortitude, gamely kept to his task and only lost second in the final half-furlong. Kobe’s Back, the heavy favorite, lagged back as usual, came what appeared to be his patented strong run into the lane, but this time he failed to sustain it and actually got outkicked in the lane by Tonito M.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Belmont
Westchester (race 3)

No drama here. On paper Palace Malice thoroughly dominated his three rivals and that’s the way it worked out on the track. He sat third while I’m Steppin’ It Up set a modest pace, was asked for run going to the far turn, had no trouble moving up and past his rivals to grab command and draw off to win with ease in what was basically little more than a paid workout as he preps for the Grade 1 Met Mile here June 7. Obviously the water will be much, much deeper there but this guy has come into his own and figures very tough in that fixture. Declan’s Warrior, who last early well behind the field, came with a solid rally to get second, though he was never on the winner’s radar.

Belmont
Ruffian (race 8)

Fiftyshadesofhay dueled and fizzled in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita March 15, but that isn’t the way she wants to run. This time she bided her time as Six Queens set the pace, but was trapped behind horses going to the far turn. She then got shuffled back to last and looked done, but she found a seam, swung out turning for home and put in a sustained rally to move past her rivals. The Grade 1 Ogden Phipps here June 7 could be next – though waiting there may be Beholder, Princess of Sylmar, Dreaming of Julia, Close Hatches and On Fire Baby. Talk about tough. Grace Hall, making her first start in over 13 months, stalked the pace, sitting just in front of the eventual winner, got first run on that foe, took dead aim at leader My Wandy’s Girl into the lane and persevered to get secondnd. A nice comeback run. My Wandy’s Girl dogged pacesetter Six Queen, took the lead from that foe turning for home, still had the lead in midstretch but couldn’t finish with the winner and just lost second in the final strides.

Belmont
Man o’ War (race 9)

Imagining made it three straight wins in this race for the Phipps/McGaughey team. Making his first start since running second in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Feb. 9, he employed a different style. Normally a closer he instead took command early, was able to get away with murder up front, and gamely kept his rivals at bay all the way around. The Grade 1 Manhattan here June 7 figures next. Real Solution, a bit disappointing when fourth in his only start of the year, the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Jr. Handicap at Fair Grounds March 29, lagged back, came with a strong run into the lane to look very threatening but just couldn’t get to the winner. The Manhattan figures in his plans as well. Grandeur, the globetrotter coming off a game win on synthetic in England last month, stalked the pace while inside, doggedly kept to his task to close ground but just wasn’t quite good enough on this day. He’s targeted for the Manhattan as well. Frac Daddy chased Imagining from the start, moved closer to challenge turning for home but couldn’t sustain his bid and weakened thereafter.