Trip Notes for May 21-22: Preakness, Dixie, Gallorette

May 20

Pimlico
Maryland Sprint (race 9)

COMMENT: Whitmore made it five straight wins and confirmed his status among the sprint elite – but it wasn’t easy. He showed more speed than at Oaklawn in his last couple to sit just behind a trio who dueled on the lead. Whitmore didn’t seem comfortable there taking dirt in the face on the “good” track, swung out very wide on the far turn to avoid the kickback and was asked for run. He still had plenty of work to do coming into the lane while widest of all, and closed resolutely to get up for the win. Owner Robert LaPenta said he expects Whitmore to race just twice more this season: once at Saratoga (likely the Grade 1 Vanderbilt July 29) and in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November. A. P. Indian, the second choice coming off a sharp second in his comeback run at Keeneland last month, shot right out to duel with Holy Boss and Awesome Banner, held a narrow lead from Awesome Banner while holding the rail, and couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Awesome Banner, a bit reluctant to load, went right up to duel between horses, and fought all the way around to be third. Holy Boss was still there by midstretch, but couldn’t keep up with the top three in the final furlong.

Pimlico
Gallorette (race 10)

COMMENT: Cambodia was coming off a troubled third to Danilovna in a stakes at Laurel last month. She got her revenge and then some. She showed more speed than last time to dog pacesetter Come to Mischief through slow splits on the “good” turf, was alongside that rival by the far turn, had no trouble surging past to take the lead into the lane, and had enough of a buffer to keep a few closers at bay. On Leave, making her first start since running fourth in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II last October, stalked the pace while saving ground, was just behind the leaders coming into the lane, came off the fence to make her run, but couldn’t get to the winner while switching to her left lead inside the sixteenth pole. Elysea’s World, favored off back-to-back seconds to top distaffer Dickinson, was last down the backstretch in a well-bunched field while a few lanes off the rail and in the clear. She was asked for run on the far turn, swung wide into the lane, and finished well to get third. Danilovna sat back just in front of the favorite, and never made a move.

Pimlico
Dixie (race 12)

COMMENT: World Approval was scratched from the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve on the Kentucky Derby undercard because of soft turf, and that proved a good move. The favorite, he broke alertly but was content to allow Security Risk on the rail to set the pace. World Approval dogged that rival through slow splits on a “good” course, took over comfortably turning for home, shot out to a clear lead when asked for run, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Projected, the second choice off a win at Keeneland last month, stalked just behind the leading pair and ran on well for second. Blacktype sat midpack while saving ground to the far turn, had to wait for room, found a seam into the lane, and finished decently. Ring Weekend, a Grade 1 winner but coming off three modest outings, was slow into stride to be last early, was still well back going down the backstretch, was asked for run on the far turn, started to make some progress, but then gave way to end up last. It’s possible this 6-year-old just isn’t the horse he once was.

Pimlico
Preakness (race 13)

COMMENT: Cloud Computing had earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby field with a second in the Grade 3 Gotham and a third in the Grade 2 Wood, but those were just his second and third starts, and trainer Chad Brown didn’t want to rush him, so he decided to wait for the Preakness. Well, the plan worked perfectly. Cloud Computing’s trip couldn’t have worked out any better. He sat just behind dueling favorites Always Dreaming and Classic Empire, moved off the inside to take up the chase as Classic Empire took the lead, and was able to wear him down in the final strides. Classic Empire, a troubled fourth in the Kentucky Derby, pulled his way right up alongside pacesetting favorite Always Dreaming, the Kentucky Derby winner. Classic Empire dogged that rival while on his outside through strong splits, took over eagerly on the far turn, opened up into the lane as if he were going on to victory, but tired a bit in the final half-furlong. He won the pace battle but lost the war. Senior Investment, a longshot, lagged well back, came very wide into the lane, and finished with good energy to get third. Lookin At Lee, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, was well back early, as expected, started his run on the turn, remained wide, and finished decently. He got neither the same type of pace nor same dream trip up a good rail that he got at Churchill. Gunnevera saved ground and showed more speed than usual, sitting a few lengths off the lead, and could only make a mild run along the inside. Always Dreaming took the early lead under his own power, was immediately confronted by Classic Empire while holding the inside, set strong splits under pressure, but couldn’t keep pace with Classic Empire on the far turn. He’s had a busy first five months of the year.

Churchill
Matron (race 10)

COMMENT: Walkabout rallied to beat optional claimers at Keeneland last month, her first start of the year. She took a step forward here to earn her first graded stakes win. She sat well back early as Belle Hill and Improv volleyed up front through modest splits, was very wide on the turn when starting her run, shifted inward, and wore down Improv. Improv, a 28-1 shot, got the better of Belle Hill by the far turn, opened up into the lane, but couldn’t fend off the winner while finishing well clear of the rest. Divine Elegance stalked the early pace, got shuffled back to lose position down the backstretch, was still well back turning for home, but rallied while staying inside to get third. Curlin’s Approval, the heavy favorite making her first start since she was fifth in a Grade 2 sprint at Gulfstream March 18, bided her time early, loomed a threat turning for home, but then fell apart.

Churchill
Louisville (race 11)

COMMENT: Some in Tieme came to the U.S. from Brazil and was no factor in his first two U.S. starts, which came earlier this year at Santa Anita. Then he perked up to be a sharp second against allowance foes at Keeneland last month. He took another step forward here. Some in Tieme was well back to the top of the lane, swung wide to make his run, and powered home to grab the lead inside the eighth pole and draw clear. Reporting Star went out to a clear lead while setting a slow pace, battled back when confronted on the far turn, rebuffed a number of challenges, but was no match for the winner while finishing well clear of the rest. Bullards Alley stalked the pace and came with a threatening run turning for home. Danish Dynaformer, the second choice, lagged well back and never mustered a run. Twilight Eclipse, the favorite after facing some of the game’s top turf runners, sat midpack but never made a run. This 8-year-old has had a terrific career but he’s now just 1 for his last 10 (and that win was in allowance race), so could be graded stakes waters are just too deep for him now.

Santa Anita
Kona Gold (race 9)

COMMENT: Ransom the Moon, a former synthetic track specialist, proved best in his first stakes. In his first start on dirt, which came here last month, he blasted optional claimers. Today, he bided his time early as Kentuckian and Moe Candy dueled through hot splits, and came with a strong run into the lane to blow past the leaders. The Grade 2 San Carlos at seven furlongs here July 1 or the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at six furlongs at Del Mar July 29 will reportedly be next. Moe Candy, who returned home after finishing sixth to Whitmore in the Grade 3 Count Fleet at Oaklawn last month, dueled early with Kentuckian, who soon fell away. Moe Candy was immediately taken on by Lord Simba, held a small advantage over him, but was no match for the winner. Lord Simba, winner of the Los Angeles in his first start against winners, pressed the early pace, challenged Moe Candy on the lead, and finished just behind him. Kobe’s Back, among the top sprinters in the land the past few seasons, was last early, came with a steady run, but was never a threat. That makes two straight races where he hasn’t really been competitive. Calculator, multiple Grade 1-placed and returning to dirt after trying turf in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland last month, sat back just in front of Kobe’s Back but could make only modest headway.