Trip Notes for May 18-19, 2019: Preakness, Dixie, and more

May 18

Belmont
Soaring Softly (race 11)

COMMENT: Turf course was listed as good. Try to figure this out – a Chad Brown filly, in a turf stakes, is allowed to go off at 10-1. And wins. Well, Seek and Destroy, a $425,000 daughter of Verrazano, Grade 1 winner and Group 1 turf placed in Europe, did just that. This was her first start since two romping wins in races washed off the turf here last October. Prior to those she was a modest sixth in a turf race at Saratoga Sept. 3, hence the reason she was likely overlooked here despite her trainer. She was slow into stride, sitting at the back of the pack as My Galina set a solid pace, remained there to the far turn, angled out for clear sailing into the lane and finished strongly to get up for the score. Feel Glorious, who showed talent in Europe last year and progressed in the U.S. winning her first two starts including a stakes win at Aqueduct April 19, was just in front of the eventual winner from the start while saving ground, bumped a couple times with Stillwater Cove into the lane so she didn’t accelerate as quickly or as strongly as the eventual winner but got going late to get second. My Galina, a $275,000 daughter of Medaglia d’Oro who won her first start, a turf sprint at Aqueduct April 11, showed she’s not out of her element vs. this caliber as she went right to the lead, set a solid pace under some pressure from Missmizz, dispatched with that foe turning for home and then couldn’t finish with the top two in the final furlong. Stillwater Cove, second in a Keeneland turf sprint stakes April 12, stalked the pace while saving ground, tried to make a run into the lane while still inside, bumped a couple times with Feel Glorious and gave way a bit thereafter. Eyeinthesky, game winner of a turf sprint stakes at Aqueduct April 14, got bumped a bit at the start to be toward the back, was still in position to make a bid turning for home but came up empty. Some of these may get reacquainted in the Wild Applause at a mile here June 22.

Churchill
Louisville (race 9)

COMMENT: Tiz a Slam, a good fourth in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland April 20 at this same 1 1/2-mile trip, validated his affection for the distance as the 5-year-old son of Horse of the Year Tiznow proved best. From his rail slot he used his speed as he went right to the lead, set a modest pace under minimal pressure from Soglio and Royal Artillery, remained clear into the lane and had enough of a buffer to keep three hard-trying rivals at bay to the line. He might now return to his main base at Woodbine and target the Grade 3 Dominion Day at a 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic main track there June 30, a race he won last year, then move back to turf and this 12-furlong trip for the Grade 2 Nijinsky there June 28, a race he also won last year. Shahroze, a game second to Nessy in an allowance race at Keeneland April 20, gained some revenge as he defeated that rival here but was unable to get to the winner. He stalked the pace from the start, seemed content to sit there to the far turn, made a threatening move into the lane, doggedly kept after the winner but couldn’t get to him while edging rival Nessy for second. Nessy, coming off that aforementioned allowance win at Keeneland April 20, lagged well back from the start, remained there to the far turn, pitched wide to make his run, finished well but couldn’t quite get to the top two. Vettori Kin, the defending champ but winless since and coming off a fifth just behind Tiz a Slam in the Elkhorn, sat last from the start, was still well back on the far turn, pitched very wide into the lane, came with a run to loom a threat by the furlong pole but couldn’t sustain his run.

Pimlico
Maryland Sprint (race 6)

COMMENT: Main track is producing very fast times. The 6-furlong mark (1:09), first set in 1990 by Northern Wolf (and matched four times since), was shattered Friday by 3-year-old filly Covfefe (1:07.70) when she romped in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness. New York Central won this in a blistering time (1:08.74), which also bettered the old mark. Coming off a fifth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland April 6, New York Central, a $750,000 son of top sire Tapit, bobbled some at the start from his rail slot, was still able to establish a stalking position while staying on the fence as Lewisfield and Wentz dueled through strong splits, moved closer while continuing to save ground, came with his run along he inside to go past the two pacesetters, edging clear to win comfortably. Elliott Walden, president and CEO of WinStar Farm, owner of New York Central, said is probably a “one-turn horse” and might point for races like the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at 6 furlongs at Saratoga July 27 and Grade 1 Forego at 7 furlongs there Aug. 24. Proforma, who rallied from far back to be third in a turf stakes at Laurel April 20, moved back to dirt here, stalked in third just behind and to the outside of the two pacesetters, came with a run into the lane, was nearly abreast of the eventual winner by midstretch who was rallying to his inside, couldn’t finish with that foe but kept to his task to get second. Lewisfield, second in that same April 20 turf stakes at Laurel, broke alertly, went right to the lead, dueled inside Wentz, was getting the better of that foe turning for home, still held a narrow lead into the lane, was no match for the winner in the final furlong, battled gamely but couldn’t quite stay with the runner-up in the final half-furlong.

Pimlico
Gallorette (race 10)

COMMENT: Mitchell Road had done nothing wrong in her prior six starts, all on turf, with four wins and two seconds, only narrowly losing in each. The older half-sister to Grade 1 Kentucky Derby champ Country Road, by grass champ and crack turf sire English Channel, was a game winner of a stakes on Fair Grounds turf last time out Feb. 16 and the gal she beat (Beau Recall) came back to win her next two starts including the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4. She suffered a slight setback after that win (illness) but returned here with a move into graded stakes waters for the first time here and showed she belongs with another smart win. She again used her speed, going right to the lead, took some pressure from Dynatail to her outside while setting modest splits, maintained a narrow lead to far turn, opened up some into the lane, kicked clear once straightened away and held her rivals at bay. Off this a shot at even deeper water could be at hand. Could the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga July 13 at 1 1/8 miles be too ambitious? Thewayiam, a game second in her first start of the year against optional claimers at Gulfstream April 13, lagged back a bit off pace, moved closer between horses on the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane, but couldn’t get to the winner. Viva Vegas, a sharp third beaten just a neck in a turf stakes at Laurel April 20, lagged back along with Thewayiam while a few lanes off the rail, pitched very wide on the turn to start her run, moved wider still into the lane and finished well for third. I’m So Fancy, an interesting European import who was Group 2/3 placed there and ran well in a Group 1 attempt last summer, stalked while saving ground after breaking from the rail slot, remained there just a couple lengths behind the eventual winner, looked poised to make a race of it turning for home but flattened out some in the final furlong. This was her first start in eight months so she might have needed the race. Inflexibility, from the ever-dangerous Chad Brown barn, broke well, moved off the inside to stalk the pace outside of I’m So Fancy, remained there to the far turn, came under a ride on the far turn while wide to try and get involved but was unable to do so while remaining wide. Barkaa, another Brown runner who showed talent in France last year but faded to eighth in her U.S. debut in the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Sept. 15, disappointed again on her reappearance as she broke slowly, sat at the back of the pack, was asked for some run going to the far turn while saving ground, did make some headway but then came up empty.

Pimlico
Chick Lang (race 11)

COMMENT: Lexintonian, fifth in an optional claiming sprint at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4, his first start in five months, broke alertly, found Malpais, Admiral Lynch and Gladiator King quicker, took back just off the brisk pace, came off the rail into the lane and finished resolutely on his left lead between horses to nip a hard-trying Gladiator King. That rival broke sharply, went right up to duel with Malpais and Admiral Lynch, soon was dueling only with Malpais, dispatched with that foe into the lane, opened up as if primed to go on to victory but also didn’t change leads, staying on his left lead, got a bit weary in the final half-furlong and was just edged by Lexintonian to his outside. Admiral Lynch, second in a stakes at Charles Town April 20, broke sharply to press the issue, looked in deep water when losing position on the far turn and into the lane but moved wider out, got going again and finished well outside the top two to nearly grab the win. Pyron, winner of his first two starts at Oaklawn, stalked a few lengths off the lead while a well off the rail, remained wide throughout, kept to his task decently but couldn’t quite get into the fray with the top three. Preamble, the favorite after winning his first three starts including his last at Keeneland April 6, sat a few lengths off the lead while well off the rail, remained there to the far turn, was then urged to try to get involved, stayed wide in the lane but not only never mustered a run, actually faded to last as he was eased, making you wonder if something went amiss. Take nothing from the winner, but you get the feeling that if you ran this race five times you might get five different winners. Some of these figure to knock heads again in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes undercard June 8.

Pimlico
Dixie (race 12)

COMMENT: Catholic Boy, a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt last year, made his much-anticipated return here and showed he’s likely to have a say in some big races this year. Making his first start since a dull run (13th) in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Nov. 3, the son of More Than Ready broke well from his far-outside post, was able to get up and over and not hung wide on the first run, sitting second just off the hip of pacesetter Real Story. He seemed content to remain there as Real Story set a modest pace, crept closer going into the far turn, moved abreast of Real Story into the lane while a few lanes off the fence, got the better of him, edged clear and had enough of a buffer to get to the line before a hard-charging Admission Office to his inside. Trainer Jonathan Thomas had said earlier in the week that if all went well here he’d likely target the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont July 6, then one of both of the two big Grade 1 dirt races at Saratoga this summer (Whitney, Aug., 3; Woodward, Aug. 24). Admission Office, making his first start in a graded stakes after beating allowance foes at Keeneland April 4, his first start of the year, showed he might be a comer as the son of multiple Grade 1 turf winner Point of Entry sat back from the start, bided his time there to the far turn, shifted out to start his run, darted back to the inside in midstretch to continue unimpeded and finished well to at least give the winner a scary. Just Howard, fourth in a stakes at Laurel April 20, was a bit rank early and had to steady off heels going into the first turn, finally settled midpack off the modest pace while staying inside, came with a nice run between horses on the far turn, shifted out further for room in the lane and finished well. Real Story, second in that aforementioned April 20 stakes at Laurel, went right to the lead, set a modest pace while a few lanes off the fence, took some pressure from Catholic Boy to his outside with longshot Paret just in behind, gamely battled back when Catholic Boy ranged up alongside into the lane, couldn’t stay with that rival but kept to his task well. Inspector Lynley, big winner of a turf stakes at Aqueduct April 7 when setting a record on the inner course, sat a couple lengths off the pace while a few lanes off the rail, basically just behind Catholic Boy, remained there tracking that foe to the far turn, was then asked for run to follow Catholic Boy and go after him into the lane but came up flat when it mattered.

Pimlico
Preakness (race 13)

COMMENT: It would probably be a reach to say the interference suffered by War of Will in the Kentucky Derby cost him the win, but it surely cost him a better placing. There was no interference at any point here and the son of War Front showed his ability and notched the second jewel of the Triple Crown. From his rail slot he broke alertly and got a dream position stalking as Warrior’s Charge set a strong pace. He remained on the fence stalking throughout, was under a hold so he wouldn’t run up on horses’ heels on the far turn, found a seam turning for home when Warrior’s Charge came off the rail a bit, eagerly moved through, opened up and won nicely. Trainer Mark Casse said the Grade 1 Belmont at 1 1/2 miles June 8 is very much on his radar. Everfast, a big longshot who entered this off a ninth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and fifth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile, ran the race of his life as he was far back from the start, remained well back to the far turn while saving ground, came off the inside some turning for home to start his run, moved back to the rail in midstretch and finished strongly. The Belmont could be in his plans as well. Owendale, a strong rallying winner of the Grade 3 Lexington April 13, validated that form as he was well back from the start while a couple lanes off the rail, remained toward the back to the far turn, pitched very wide on the turn to start his run, remained very wide in the lane and finished well. Trainer Brad Cox said the Belmont is a possibility. Warrior’s Charge, also trained by Cox and coming off two romping wins over lesser at Oaklawn, showed he was no fish out of water as he went right to the lead, set a solid pace under pressure from Market King and Anothertwistafate, rebuffed their challenges on the turn, still had the lead into the lane, came off the rail slightly allowing War of Will a path to go by and tired a bit once headed. Cox said they would give him some time to recover from what had to be a grueling effort. Improbable, the favorite after a fifth (moved up to fourth via disqualification) in the Kentucky Derby, threw a fit in the gate, finally settled, broke well, sat between horses while midpack, moved closer going to the far turn, loomed a threat while wide into the lane but flattened out. Trainer Bob Baffert and rider Mike Smith both said his antics in the gate cost him. Bourbon War, well backed to be the second choice coming off a fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream March 30, lagged back from the start while saving ground, swung very wide on the far turn and into the lane but never mustered a run. Anothertwistafate, a bit troubled when second to Owendale in the Lexington, stalked the pace while outside pacesetter Warrior’s Charge, remained there to the far turn but came up empty. Alwaysmining, the prime local hope after six straight wins at Laurel, the last five being stakes wins, was midpack early, moved up nicely to loom a threat going into the far turn but gave way thereafter. Bodexpress, the maiden who ran well to be second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and was significantly hindered in the Kentucky Derby to end up 14th (moved up to 13th via disqualification), reared badly as the gates opened, losing his rider. While he ran with the field all the way around he was well to the outside most of the way and did not hinder any of his rivals.

Santa Anita
Lazaro Barrera (race 8)

COMMENT: Mucho Gusto was a heavy favorite as he cut back to a sprint after some good work routing including second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity and a first in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis. But this may be the best game for this $625,000 son of Mucho Macho Man as the 3-year-old colt handled his foes easily, making it three easy wins in as many sprints. From his rail slot he went right to the lead, took pressure from Principe Carlo to his outside, was pushed by that rival through a fast half-mile but dispatched with him, opened up and cruised home. Off this something like the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at this same 7-furlong trip on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 8 could be next. Manhattan Up, a smart optional claiming sprint winner here April 5, broke a bit slowly to be last early, remained toward the back, pitched wide into the lane to make his run and finished gamely to just get second, though he was never really a danger to the winner. Vantastic, back to dirt and sprinting after a seventh in a mile turf optional claimer here April 4, stalked in third from the start, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, proved no match and just lost second in the final strides. In his only other dirt sprint it was Mucho Gusto who beat him as well. Sparky Ville, game winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente at this trip here Feb. 10 and back to sprinting and dirt after a sixth in the California Derby on Golden Gate’s synthetic track April 7, stalked while between horses early, remained inside down the backstretch and into the far turn, had to wait for room as he stayed on the rail turning for home, finally found a seam in the lane but by then it was too late and he didn’t really punch it in once the lane materialized.

May 19

Santa Anita
Desert Stormer (race 8)

COMMENT: Earlier rain had the main track listed as wet-fast’ to start the day, was upgraded to fast for race 3. Field was cut down to just three after two scratches, including heavy 7-5 morning-line favorite Selcourt (reported to be “off behind” by trainer John Sadler). That left Danuska’s My Girl the overwhelming favorite and she delivered. Coming off a smart win in the Grade Las Flores here April 7, she went right to the lead, took immediate pressure from Yuvetski through a sizzling first quarter, continued to set a brisk pace as Show It N Moe pressured her into the far turn, opened up on that rival into the lane and then gamely held as ‘Moe gamely closed the gap in the final half-furlong. The Grade 2 Great Lady M. at Los Alamitos July 6 is her next target. Show It N Moe It, third to ‘Girl in the Las Flores, chased in vain again but ran well. She broke a bit slowly in the small field, was soon pressuring Danuska’s My Girl into a fast half-mile split, lost ground to that foe into the lane but kept to her task gamely to close the gap and nearly get to her. The Great Lady M. could be on her radar as well. Yuvetski broke well, pressured the eventual winner through a brisk early quarter but couldn’t keep up with that rival going to the far turn and was wrapped once it was evident she wasn’t going to be involved with the finish.