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

May 11

Belmont
Vagrancy (race 1)

COMMENT: Heavenhasmynikki was a very good third to top-class Midnight Bisou in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 27, beaten a length, a run that was further flattered when ‘Bisou came back to win the Grade 2 Azeri and then the Grade 1 Apple Blossom. Heavenhasmynikki was freshened and returned in an allowance sprint Mahoning Valley April 15 and looked super blasting allowance foes by 9 1/4 lengths. That earned her a shot here and she validated that placement, using her speed to get the win. She broke sharply along with favorite Separationofpowers to her outside, moved out to a clear lead after that rival eased back a bit going down the backstretch, set a strong pace while holding the fence, surged clear into the lane while staying inside, giving herself enough of a buffer to get to the line before a hard-trying Pacific Gale. She’s effective from 6 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles which gives them options, though the way she sprinted at Mahoning Valley and here may lead them to keep her at this game. The Grade 3 Bed O’ Roses at 7 furlongs here June 7 is likely next. Pacific Gale, coming off a second to monster winner Come Dancing in the Grade 3 Distaff here April 5 (Come Dancing back to romp again in the Grade 2 Ruffian last week), broke well from her rail slot, found the eventual winner a bit quicker but was content to stay inside behind that rival, had to wait for room when in a bit tight on the far turn, appeared to have room but had to wait again into the lane, finally found a clear path to the inside of Separationofpowers in the stretch and doggedly went after the winner only to come up a neck short in a fine try. The Bed O’ Roses figures on her radar as well. Separationofpowers, favored after winning the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga last summer and making her first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Sept. 22, broke sharply to be alongside the eventual winner, eased back a bit to stalk that rival to her inside, loomed a threat when asked to go after that rival into the lane, was unable to go with the winner and flattened out a bit in the final furlong. She may well have needed this race and the Bed O’ Roses could be in the offing for her as well. Dawn the Destroyer, third in the Distaff, was last early though not far off the pace, was still last when pitching very wide into the lane but was unable to make a dent.

Belmont
Peter Pan (race 4)

COMMENT: Global Campaign, a $250,000 son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, won his first two starts in impressive fashion before chasing a fast pace in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream March 2 and fading to fifth. It wasn’t the loss so much that took him off the Kentucky Derby trail but he severely grabbed a quarter, tearing off part of his left fore. Back to full health he showed here he’s got ample talent as he notched his first graded stakes win. He sat second as Federal Case set a strong pace (main track seemed to be playing very quick), remained there as he stalked that rival, had little trouble taking command on the far turn, moved back toward the inside into the lane, opened up a clear lead by midstretch and stayed on well to keep hard-trying Sir Winston at bay in the final half-furlong. The Grade 1 Belmont here June 8 is a possibility, but his main goal, according to trainer Stanley Hough is the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 24, and getting there could include the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown June 22 or Grade 3 Dwyer here July 6, as opposed to the Belmont. Sir Winston, troubled when seventh in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland April 6, was slow into stride to be last early, well behind the field, remained there unhurried while saving ground, started to advance on the far turn while moving off the inside, pitched wider out still in the lane and closed well. He wasn’t ever really a danger to the winner but finished far clear of the rest. The Belmont is reportedly next. Intrepid Heart, a $750,000 son of Tapit and the even-money favorite after winning his first two starts including a route at Keeneland last time out April 5, stumbled at the start and then bumped with Federal Case to his inside to get away poorly, sat fourth while a couple lanes off the rail, was asked for run into the far turn while moving out, moved further out into the lane and plugged along to get third, though he was no danger to the top two. Final Jeopardy, sixth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 6, stalked in third but tired in the lane. Federal Case, a $650,000 son of Gemologist coming off a third in a stakes at Charles Town, went straight out to the lead, set a strong pace, tried to battle back when hooked by the winner turning for home, was no match for that foe and was still second at the eighth pole before giving way.

Belmont
Beaugay (race 7)

COMMENT: Just when other turf trainers thought it might be safe to go back on the grass. With Chad Brown’s turf champion mare Sistercharlie sidelined that left Rushing Fall his “A” turf distaffer, though her effectiveness might be best at up to 1 1/8 miles, meaning the long-distance events could be had by others. Well, Brown unveiled a potential new star here as French raider Homerique overcame a long layoff, new surroundings, a trip short of her best and the worst of the race-shape to win easily. The 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rage was multiple Group 1 placed in France last year, including a super third in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera, won by Wild Illusion (next second in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf) with Magic Wand second (fourth in the Filly & Mare Turf and later this day a smart winner over males in the Grade 1 Man o’ War here). She was slow into stride here and settled at the back saving ground as Chipolata set a dawdling pace, moved closer going into the far turn while staying inside just behind stablemate Competitionofideas, started to advance on the turn though was still bottled up between horses as he field bunched as the leaders crawled up front, came out for room into the lane, had work to do to catch fresh horses, but blasted home to beat stablemate Competitionofideas, herself a Grade 1 winner, to her inside. With Sistercharlie just getting back on the work tab and this girl a proven commodity going long vs. top-class company in France the big long-distance events are likely on her radar, starting with the Grade 2 New York here June 7, with the Grade 1 Beverly D. and Grade 1 Flower Bowl down the road. Competitionofideas, making her first start since taking the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita Dec. 29, sat third while inside, just behind the pacesetter, remained there throughout, stayed on the fence into lane, found a seam as Chipolata came off the rail some, surged to the lead and briefly looked like the winner only to have her stablemate surge past on the outside. This was still a very good run. The New York may be her next target as well. Chipolata, smart winner of an optional claimer here April 11, went right to the lead from her rail slot, set a very slow pace, tried to kick clear into the lane, battled back when hooked to her inside by Competitionofideas but then was no match for the two Brown distaffers in the final furlong. Andina Del Sur stalked while wide, loomed a threat on the outside into the lane but wasn’t good enough as the Brown runners surged past her on both sides.

Belmont
Man o’ War (race 10)

COMMENT: Channel Maker returned to the site of his biggest win (romped in last year’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on the main turf course) and while it was the inner course Saturday it didn’t matter as the son of grass champion English Channel notched his second Grade 1 win. He bided his time as European invader Hunting Horn ran out to a big early lead while setting a strong pace, remained well back of the pacesetter though he was ahead of his main rivals, started a run on the far turn to go after Hunting Horn who still had a big lead, closed resolutely outsider that rival to go past late while outkicking rivals Arklow and Magic Wand. The Grade 1 Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 8 is possible, though he may target longer races such as the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga July 27 and Grade 1 Sword Dancer there Aug. 24. Arklow, fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf but who lost his rider in his allowance comeback at Keeneland April 5, ran big as he sat at the back, far off the lead, was still last going into the far turn while on the rail, maneuvered his way to the outside for clear sailing and finished strongly. His options includes the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup here June 7, the Manhattan or the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth June 22, according to trainer Brad Cox. Magic Wand, a top-class European filly from the Aidan O’Brien barn who was second to top male turfer Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Jan 26 and then fifth vs. males again in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic March 30, bided her time early while saving ground, was content to lag back while favored Focus Group was just to her outside, started to advance up the rail on the far turn, came off the fence for room, finished nicely between horses but just wasn’t quite good enough. Hunting Horn, Magic Wand’s stablemate who finished just ahead of her in fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, shot out to a clear lead from his rail slot, held a huge advantage while going fast but seemed to be traveling comfortably, remained clear into the lane, looked as though he might lead them on a merry chase all the way around but weakened late to get overtaken by the top three. Those two will likely go back to O’Brien’s European base, though it’s hardly a reach to think we could see them both in the U.S. again for races like the Grade 1 Beverly D. and Grade 1 Arlington Million in August. Focus Group was disappointing. Favored off a game rallying win in the Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream March 30, his first start in five months, he lagged back racing alongside Magic Wand, remained alongside the filly all the way to the far turn, was unable to go with her when she started her move turning for home and was unable to get involved. He’s better than this, though maybe this isn’t his favorite place (5-0-0-1 record here). If that’s the case then he’ll probably skip the Manhattan (his trainer Chad Brown already has four targeting that) and instead eye the United Nations at Monmouth, provided he came out of this race in good shape.

Arlington
Hanshin Cup (race 7)

COMMENT: Lanier was claimed for $40,000 Nov. 8 when sixth at Churchill. Since then he’s been on a tear, including two stakes-placings, before notching his first graded stakes win here. The 7-year-old gelded son of Lewis Michael was coming off a good second to Nun the Less in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park March 9 and got his revenge here as he stalked from the start as Richiesinthehouse and Goneghost dueled on the lead, took the lead on the turn, battled with Richiesinthehouse to midstretch, dispatched with that foe inside the eighth pole and drew off to win comfortably. The Presque Isle Mile in late summer is reportedly his long-term goal. What’s Up Dude, a longshot after some dull outings to close out 2018, then five months off and a dull return at Hawthorne April 12 but at least returning to the site of all four career wins, affirmed his affinity for this track as he sat midpack, was wide on the far turn while looming a threat, kept to his task to get up for second though he was no danger to the winner. Nun the Less, aforementioned winner of the Kentucky Cup Classic before finishing second in the Grade 3 Ben Ali on dirt at Keeneland April 13, bided his time early, came with a run on the turn and into the lane but couldn’t quite outfinish ‘Dude for the place. Sir Anthony, winner of the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Dec. 16 and most recently second in the Skip Away there March 29, was well back early, moved closer to be alongside Nun the Less, moved earlier than that foe while inside but flattened out in the lane. Revved Up, who’s had a terrific career on turf and trying synthetic for the first time, was last early still well back turning for home but kept to his task between horses to pass a few, though he was never a factor. Richiesinthehouse, back to synthetic he loves (8 for 10 overall, 3 for 4 here) after pressing the issue and fading to eleventh in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland April 6, went right to the lead, was joined immediately by Goneghost to his outside, dueled with that foe, battled back gamely while holding the fence when confronted by the eventual winner as Goneghost fell away into the lane and only gave way in the final half-furlong. This trip may be a tad beyond him. Goneghost, second in this last year but coming into this after dueling and fading to seventh on Turfway’s synthetic track Jan. 18, dueled with Richiesinthehouse from the start, remained in that battle to the top of the lane when joined by Lanier but weakened from that early work.

Santa Anita
Santa Barbara (race 5)

COMMENT: Causeforcommotion continued her good form (12 top-3 finishes in her last 13 starts with this win) and notched her first graded stakes win, doing it in style. The 5-year-old daughter of American, the favorite off a decent third in a mile optional claimer here April 14, her first start in 10 months after suffering a strained suspensory while working at Del Mar last summer, sat second just behind pacesetter Animosity to the far turn, took over from that gal with ease and proceeded to blow the race open, romping home by nine lengths. The Possibly Perfect, a race she won last year, could be next for her here June 16, where she’d be an overwhelming favorite after this. Lynne’s Legacy, third in the Grade 3 Santa Ana here March 30, ran well again as she steadied early down the hill, was content to sit last, advanced some going to the far turn and came with a nice run in the lane, though obviously she was never a threat to the winner. Guiliana, a former German runner who was second in her U.S. debut here April 7, an optional claimer, sat fourth from the start, made a mild run at the winner on the far turn, proved no match for that foe and flattened out in the lane. Animosity, who beat Guiliana in that aforementioned optional claimer, set a modest pace under some pressure from the eventual winner, lugged out and steadied into the far turn while being overwhelmed by the eventual winner, dropped back between horses but got going again to nearly get third.