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

May 21

Belmont

Vagrancy Handicap (race 11)
COMMENT: Paulassilverlining had little trouble validating her 1-5 favoritism. She broke alertly from her rail slot, was content to sit third staying on the rail as West Coast Chick set a solid pace under pressure from Momameamaria, found a seam turning for home, moved through to grab the lead, and won geared down. West Coast Chick had no answer when the winner surged past but kept to her task to hold second. Stormy Sky lagged back and ran on decently.

Arlington

Hanshin Cup (race 7)
COMMENT: Trace Creek took advantage of a hot pace to post a 44-1 upset. He bided his time toward the back of the pack early while saving ground as Valiant City, pressured by One Go All Go and Recount, set fast splits. Trace Creek was asked to for run on the far turn, came through inside his tiring rivals to grab the lead and then seemed to wander a bit, but the issue had been settled. Francois, sent off at 21-1, lagged back as well, rallied with the winner but while wide, and ran on for second. Valiant City stayed on gamely for third. Midnight Cello, the favorite, sat back with the winner but was unable to get involved.

Churchill

Louisville Handicap (race 6)
COMMENT: Bullards Alley showed the “good” course was to this liking as he notched his first turf win. He sat third as Wireless Future set an unbelievably slow pace of 1:19.04 for six furlongs. As Bullards Alley moved closer, favorite Dynamic Sky took command on the far turn. Bullards Alley got the better of that foe in the lane and drew away to win fairly comfortably. Johns Kitten was slow into stride and was last to the far turn, came with a run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Roman Approval lagged back early, just in front of Johns Kitten, loomed a big threat by midstretch, but flattened out. Dynamic Sky stalked early pacesetter Wireless Future, took command turning for home, but then fell apart in the lane.

Pimlico

Maryland Sprint (race 5)
COMMENT: The rain came as anticipated, leading to a sloppy track. Always Sunshine couldn’t handle Salutos Amigos when he was second to that foe in the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct March 12, his only loss in his last four starts. Well, he gained his revenge here and is destined for some of the bigger sprint stakes on the East Coast. Always Sunshine stalked in third as Cinco Charlie cleared off to an early lead, moved closer to that foe going to the far turn, took command into the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. All Star Red, coming off an optional-claiming win at Aqueduct, chased Cinco Charlie while staying on the rail, angled out into the lane, and stayed on to be second. Rockinn On Bye, a longshot stepping up in class, lagged back, angled out into the lane and finished decently for third. Salutos Amigos came here sharp and was a perfect 7 for 7 on wet tracks coming into this. He was last to the far turn, swung widest of all into the lane, and made little headway.

Pimlico

Gallorette (race 10)
COMMENT: Mizz Money handled the “good” course nicely. Off since winning a stakes at Fair Grounds March 26, she dogged pacesetter Jodesanimaux, the got the better of that foe into the lane, and got to the line ahead of hard-charging rivals Vielsalm and Heath. Vielsalm, a 76-1 longshot, lagged back, moved to midpack by the far turn, swung out for the stretch run, and finished strongly between horses to just miss. Heath sat last, started her run on the far turn, was widest of all into the lane, and finished strongly just outside of Vielsalm. Tiger Ride, favored after chasing champion Tepin last time out, got jostled around on the first turn, had to wait for room into the lane, and when a seam finally opened she didn’t have enough to take advantage.

Pimlico
Dixie (race 12)
COMMENT: Takeover Target again proved he relishes non-firm going. He lagged well back as first-time turfer El Kabeir set a modest pace while well off the rail, remained well back to the far turn, was last as the field straightened away, pitched widest of all, and got up in the final strides. Ring Weekend, making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March 2015, bided his time after getting carried wide into the first turn, moved closer to be just behind the leaders on the far turn, grabbed the lead late just outside Grand Arch, and looked like the winner until Takeover Target came storming home. Grand Arch, making his first start since running third to champion mare Tepin in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, stalked the pace, moved up nicely on the outside, had no trouble putting away tiring pacesetter El Kabeir, battled with Ring Weekend, but couldn’t quite outfinish that. Conquest Typhoon stalked the pace while saving ground, was in tight and had to steady going into the far turn, got going again, came through along the inside to challenge into the lane, but couldn’t sustain his run.

Pimlico
Preakness (race 13)
COMMENT: Well, the fifth time was the charm for Exaggerator as he finally got the better of champion and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist. He sat back early as an eager Nyquist dueled for the lead with Uncle Lino. Exaggerator was asked to get involved much earlier than in the Derby and came up the rail to be within a couple lengths of the lead, swung out for room at the top of the lane, surged past a spent Nyquist, and drew off for the easy win. He certainly handles the wet going but the pace and trip may have been the difference this time. Cherry Wine, who missed the Kentucky Derby due to insufficient points, lagged back, steadily advanced while a few lanes off the rail, and came home nicely between to edge Nyquist for second. Nyquist lost for the first time in nine starts. He was hustled from his inside post, ending up with Uncle Lino to his inside and Awesome Speed to his outside through a very fast first quarter. He seemed to relax some on the backstretch, finally got the better of the other speed types turning for home, tried to battle back when headed by Exaggerator, but tired and lost second in the final stride. Stradivari sat a few lengths off the pace while wide and in the clear, came with a nice run while wide into the lane, and stayed on in a fine try.

Santa Anita
Kona Gold (race 9)
COMMENT: Wild Dude, coming off a second in the Grade 3 Los Angeles at Los Alamitos last month, bided his time early while saving ground as 9-10 favorite Subtle Indian shot out to a clear early lead. Wild Dude started his run into the lane, challenged Subtle Indian inside the eighth pole, got the better of that foe, and edged away late. Subtle Indian, who invaded from Oaklawn off four straight wins, maintained his lead to midstretch, but couldn’t quite keep pace late with Wild Dude. Cautious Giant chased Subtle Indian and tired. San Onofre was pulled up early down the backstretch and had to be euthanized.

May 22

Santa Anita
Californian (race 9)
COMMENT: Second Summer, stepping up of two wins in optional claimers, stalked in fourth as Lieutenant Colonel set a solid pace under pressure from El Huerfano. Second Summer came with a smart run in the lane to grab the lead, and kept to his task to fend off Hard Aces. Hard Aces, seventh in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic last month, remained last to the far turn, swung out into the lane, and finished with good energy for second. Lieutenant Colonel set a brisk pace under pressure, battled back inside when hooked into the lane, but weakened in the final half-furlong in a good try. Follow Me Crev, winner of four straight, lagged back with Hard Aces and was unable to muster a run. - Comments by Michael Hammersly