Trip Notes for May 13-14: Peter Pan, Man o' War, Laz Barrera, and more

May 13

Belmont
Peter Pan (race 4)

COMMENT: Timeline won his first two starts, including a 13 1/2-length romp in the slop at Aqueduct April 6, so it was no surprise he took to the sloppy (sealed) track. He broke well to stalk pacesetting Meantime, moved closer outside that rival going to the far turn while going easily, was urged to go up and challenge that foe on the turn, but didn’t respond immediately and briefly looked in trouble. Timeline moved to the inside as Meantime drifted out significantly, battled with that foe, and drew off. Trainer Chad Brown said Timeline doesn’t strike him as a 1 1/2-mile type so the Grade 1 Belmont June 10 may be off the table. He said instead the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth July 30 may be the target. Meantime was also coming off a big performance on a sloppy track, having blasted maidens by 7 1/2 lengths at Keeneland April 22 at this same 1 1/8-mile trip. Meantime set a modest pace under some pressure from Timeline, drifted out turning for home, got straightened away, moved back toward the inside, couldn’t stay with Timeline while able to hold second. Impressive Edge was coming off a fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream April 1, won by Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming. He stalked in third, tried to make a run while wide on the turn, ran on decently but was never a danger to the winner. Master Plan, who returned to the U.S. after a third in the Grade 2 UAE Derby March 25, stalked in fourth, was urged to try and get involved going into the far turn, but never mustered a run.

Belmont
Beaugay (race 6)

COMMENT: Hawksmoor, sixth in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill Downs last Nov. 25, went right to the lead on the yielding turf and set a modest pace while under a snug hold, taking minimal pressure from All in Fun. All in Fun challenged her on the turn, but Hawksmoor rebuffed that foe, then kept Time and Motion at bay and just got to the wire to edge a hard-charging Dacita. Trainer Arnaud Delacour said the Grade 2 New York at 1 1/4 miles here June 9 could be next Hawksmoor. Dacita, making her first start since being beaten a nose by stablemate (and Saturday rival) Rainha Da Bateria in the Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine last September, ran splendidly in defeat. She bided her time early at the back of the pack, crept closer going to the far turn while still trailing, swung out on the far turn to begin her run, moved further out into the lane, and finished gamely to just miss. The New York may be next for her as well. Last year she won that race narrowly over Sea Calisi. Time and Motion, wearing blinkers for the first time after a lackluster sixth in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 15, stalked the pace while just a bit off the rail and in the clear, crept closer going to the far turn, made a move while wide on the turn and into the lane, got nearly alongside Hawksmoor while between horses, but couldn’t get to her and then couldn’t counter Dacita for second. Rainha Da Bateria, making her first start since a fifth in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine Oct. 16, lagged back while inside, made her move on the turn while staying inside, came through between horses in the lane, moved to the rail, came off the rail in midstretch looking for room, quickly moved back to the rail, and finished well. Likely favorite Miss Temple City was scratched.

Belmont
Man o’ War (race 8)

COMMENT: Zhukova, a mare, invaded from England having twice beaten males. The race was run like a European race and over yielding footing, which helped her, though the dominance she showed proved she didn’t need much help. She sat just behind Charming Kitten, who set a dawdling pace in the well-bunched field. Zhukova took over at will on the far turn, opened up, and was hand-ridden to the line. Her connections said earlier this race was part of a plan to get her to the Group 1 Arc de Triomphe in October. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar after that could be on her radar as well. To give you an indication how soft the course was, the final time was almost 14 seconds off the course mark. She’s the first female to win this since Waya (1978). Taghleeb, winner of two stakes at Gulfstream this winter, including the Grade 3 McKnight, before finishing fourth to Sadler’s Joy in the Grade 2 Pan American as the 3-1 favorite April 1, sat third just behind Zhukova and plugged along to get second. Sadler’s Joy, a winner of 4 of his previous 5, was bottled up inside just behind Taghleeb, finally found room into the lane, ran on decently, but just failed to catch the runner-up. Wake Forest, the defending champ and coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream March 4, was last from the start and never made a move. He’s handled non-firm turf before but apparently didn’t like the going.

Belmont
Ruffian Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Coming off a win in the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct April 9, Highway Star affirmed her affinity for wet going (now 2 for 2), for this distance (4 for 5) and for this track (4 for 4) to notch her fifth win in her last six starts. She sat inside stalking in third as Indulgent set a decent pace over the sloppy (sealed) track, found a seam into the lane, took a narrow lead by midstretch, and fended off Bar of Gold. A race like the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at 1 1/16 miles here on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 10 could be next. Bar of Gold had won all five of her starts on wet going, including an 18-length romp in a New York-bred stakes here last fall. She was last early after a slow start while staying wide and in the clear, moved a bit closer and was not far behind Highway Star going to the far turn, came out into the lane, challenged for the lead by midstretch, but was unable to get past Highway Star. High Ridge Road, dropping after a seventh in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland April 8, dogged Indulgent, was still in the thick of it to the top of the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the final furlong. Indulgent, a winner of three straight before finishing second to Highway Star in the Distaff, wilted once headed in the lane. She may prefer a shorter trip.

Arlington
Hanshin Cup (race 8)

COMMENT: Crewman was coming off a couple dull races on dirt at Oaklawn and Keeneland, but he moved back to synthetic here and posted his fifth win in nine starts on the surface. Crewman dueled with Wyeth on the lead to inside the eighth pole, got the better of Wyeth, and fended off 3-1 favorite Ghost Hunter. Ghost Hunter stumbled at the start but still got position stalking the pace. He was making a run in the lane between horses when he got shut off by a tiring Wyeth, quickly got back into stride, came out for room, and closed well. Wyeth was with the winner to midstretch, and ducked out late when tiring. Hootenanny, who won on synthetic at Keeneland over three years ago in his debut and making his first start since running fifth in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita Oct. 8, stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, but was one-paced in the lane. He may enjoy returning to turf.

Santa Anita
Lazaro Barrera (race 5)

COMMENT: American Anthem looked like a possible Derby horse after a second in the Grade 3 Sham here Jan. 7, but dull efforts in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby took him off the trail. Trainer Bob Baffert moved him down in class and back to sprinting and it paid off. From his rail slot he bided his time early as Sutton Impact went out to set a brisk pace. American Anthem moved off the rail down the backstretch, crept closer to Sutton while wide on the far turn, took the lead into the lane, opened up by midstretch, and kept Kimbear at bay. Stretching him back out shouldn’t be an issue, so a race like the Grade 3 Affirmed at 1 1/16 miles here June 24 may be next. Kimbear, who beat maidens sprinting here Feb. 25 and was then sixth in the Santa Anita Derby, was last until turning for home, though not that far off the lead in the tightly bunched field. He loomed a threat just behind American Anthem into the lane, but couldn’t close the gap. Aristocratic, impressive winner of the San Pedro here April 16, stalked the pace, made a bid between horses on the far turn, was still in the hunt into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with the top two. Sutton Impact, easy winner over maidens in his debut here April 15, found the big class hike here a bit too much to handle as he set a strong pace but wilted once headed into the lane. -Comments by Michael Hammersly