Trip Notes for May 25-26, 2019: Charles Whittingham, Triple Bend, and more

May 25

Churchill
Winning Colors (race 10)

COMMENT: Honey Bunny came into this off four straight big wins but was stepping up in class to face graded stakes foes. Well, the daughter of Tapizar showed her development is for real as she continued her ascent to post a smart win. The mare lagged well back early as Upset Brewing set a strong pace, steadily advanced while remained wide, came full throttle into the lane while staying wide and in the clear, driving past her rivals to win going away. Trainer John Ortiz claimed her for this ownership for a meager $16,000 in April 2018 and she’s certainly validated his eye. There are no more graded sprint stakes for distaffers here this meet so she likely has to travel in her plans. Astrollinthepark, making her first start since finishing sixth in an optional claimer in slop at the Fair Grounds Dec. 13, sat midpack early, steadily advanced to the top of the line, gamely went after then-leader Upset Brewing, was getting to that foe only to have the winner blow on by to her outside. The Roxelana here June 22, a race in which she ran third last year, could be next. Upset Brewing, stepping up off a second in slop against optional claimers here May 3, went right out to the lead, set a brisk pace under pressure from Classy Act, dispatched with that foe as she opened up some into the lane, was no match for the winner and then lost second in the final strides. Let It Ride Mom, making her first start since finishing third in the Grade 2 Bessarabian at Woodbine Nov. 25, sat midpack from the start while saving ground, pitched wide into the lane as if poised to make a run but was unable to make a dent thereafter.

Monmouth
Salvator Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: Sunny Ridge was good enough to be third in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct last fall. He showed signs of returning to that form with a rallying third in the Grade 3 Westchester in slop at Belmont last time out May 4 and continued that form here to get the win. A solid third in this race last year, the 6-year-old gelded son of Holy Bull bided his time in fourth as longshot Jeezu Jim set a strong pace, remained there while saving ground, had to for room on the rail into the lane, finally got a clear lane, came through to grab the lead from Diamond King and edge ahead for the score. A return to the State Dinner (a race in which he romped last year) at Belmont July 7 may be in the cards. Diamond King, a sharp second in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic April 20, cut back in distance and nearly got his first graded stakes win as the $235,000 son of Quality Road sat second, dogging the early pacesetter, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, was first tackled by Hoffenheim to his outside but while rebuffing that foe was challenged to his inside by Sunny Ridge and couldn’t quite finish with that rival while ending up well clear of the others. Bal Harbour, freshened since a fourth in the Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct Jan. 19, ran a big race. He broke terribly, giving the field a headstart, moved to the inside to save ground as he bided his time, pitched wide on the far turn and finished decently though he was never really a danger to the top two. Hoffenheim, fourth in the Westchester but well behind Sunny Ridge in third (4 3/4 lengths), stalked in third, loomed a threat into the lane when coming up to then-leader Diamond King’s hip but couldn’t sustain his bid and flattened out.

Monmouth
Monmouth Stakes (race 11)

COMMENT: Last summer Almanaar looked like another monster turfer for trainer Chad Brown after finishing a sharp rallying second to stablemate Robert Bruce in the Grade 1 Arlington Million. However, he was no factor in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile or Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile so he dropped in class for the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream Dec. 15 to get back on track. However, he was dull again and you wondered if the 7-year-old gelding was past his prime. Freshened since, the son of Dubawi came back smartly, capturing this race in game fashion to show he’s far from done. He sat well back early as Irish Strait held a clear lead while setting a strong pace, remained well back going to the into the backstretch, came with a strong wide run heading to the far turn to reach contention, continued his run to grab the lead on the turn, looked as though he might go on to a clear victory but drifted out slightly in the upper stretch and more so in deep stretch while fighting gamely to get to the line before hard-charging favorite Synchrony. He had to survive a claim of foul from the runner-up for that drifting out in the lane to keep the win. This may not mean he’s ready for another shot at the Arlington Million at this stage of the game but shows he can still surely do damage in the right spots. The Grade 1 United Nations here June 22 is a possibility, or if they could await the shorter and likely not-as-rugged Grade 3 Oceanport here July 20. Synchrony, tired of chasing top turf horse Bricks and Mortar (also from the Brown barn) recently, still ran into another tough Brown runner and fell to him. With blinkers removed he sat second from the start tracking the pacesetter, was content to remain in stalking mode as the eventual winner surged past going down the backstretch, came out into the lane to launch his bid, gamely went after Almanaar in the lane, steadying a bit when that foe came out some, got back into stride to go after that rival again, got floated out some as that runner drifted out again late (though head-on shots indicate Synchrony was drfiting out as well) and just failed to catch Almanaar while finishing far clear of the others. His rider lodged a claim of foul but it was disallowed. He won the Oceanport here last year so he could be back to defend his title. Force the Pass, a smart second in his comeback run vs. optional claimers at Laurel May 3, his first start in eight months, stalked in fourth, came with a mild rally in the lane to get up for third but was never really a danger to the top two. Monarchs Glen, who competed in a couple Group 1s overseas and a rallying sixth in his first U.S. start, the Opening Verse at Churchill May 2, was away slowly to be last early, remained well back as he’d done at Churchill, came wide into the lane and, as he did at Churchill, made some headway late but was never really a threat. Projected, a terrific veteran also from the Brown barn and coming off a sharp second in the Cliff Hanger here May 4, didn’t repeat that good effort as the 7-year-old lagged back from the start and never mustered a run.

Santa Anita
Daytona (race 5)

COMMENT: Eddie Haskell has been knocking heads with some of the best turf sprinters around (in fact, he beat Stormy Liberal on this course at this trip Feb. 22, that runner being the two-time winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and last year’s turf champion) but had never managed a stakes win. Well, that was remedied here for the son of Square Eddie who was claimed for $50,000 by trainer Mark Glatt in April 2018. Coming off a second in the Sensational Star down the hill here March 31 he went right out to duel with What’sontheagenda to his outside, took back some as that rival cleared off going into the far turn while setting a fast pace, came after him again into the lane moving outside that rival, reeled him in and drew clear to win easier than the margin might suggest. The Siren Lure on this course at this trip June 23, a race in which he ran third way back in 2017, could be next. What’sontheagenda, coming off a dull ninth in an allowance turf sprint at Keeneland April 19, bounced back to form with the return to SoCal as from his outside post he shot right out to the lead, dueled early with Eddie Haskell, soon moved off to a clear lead while setting a fast pace, opened up some turning for home, moved to the rail, battled back when hooked again by Eddie Haskell inside the eighth pole but couldn’t stay with that foe thereafter. Kanthaka, trying turf for the first time after knocking heads with some of the best dirt sprinters around, handled it decently as he was part of the early duel from his rail slot, took back off the strong pace while staying inside, came off the fence into the lane to try to make a run at the top two but couldn’t get to them. Brandothebartender, back to sprinting after running third in the Crystal Water at a mile here April 27, lagged back between horses, made some headway in the lane but was never a factor.

Santa Anita
Charles Whittingham (race 7)

COMMENT: Marckie’s Water had always flashed potential but after finishing last in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic here Jan. 26 it was revealed he had a breathing issue. He underwent surgery and now that he’s getting air he’s taken flight, finishing third in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey here March 29, winning an optional claimer here April 28 and then taking this, his first graded stakes win. The 5-year-old son of Tribal Rule bided his time early as Morse Code and Tizzarunner dueled up front through modest splits, remained there to the top of the lane, remained inside to save ground, came off the rail some on the far turn, swung further out into the lane to start his run, was still actually last at the eighth pole before blasting home in the final furlong to get up for the win. They could either try the much longer Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano here June 23 (about 1 3/4 miles) or await the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar July 21. That is at a shorter trip (1 1/8 miles) than this but it’s a distance at which he’s won. United, a $300,000 son of European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway, stepped into graded stakes waters for the first time and moved to this longer trip for the first time and handled both with aplomb as he was in a bit tight early coming off the hill, then clipped heels coming over the dirt crossing, gathered himself to toward the back not far in front of the eventual winner, made a smart wide run coming into the lane between horses looking as though he was going to win but then couldn’t counter the winner’s charge in the final half-furlong. Ashleyluvssugar, the terrific old warrior (8-year-old) who won this in 2015 and 2017 and was a good third to Marckie’s Water in that aforementioned optional claimer here April 28, stalked in third, loomed a threat between horses into the lane, kept to his task gamely but couldn’t quite finish with the top pair. Surely at this stage of the game he’s not the horse he once was but this stakes placing shows he can still do some damage in the right situation. Prime Attraction, the 8-5 favorite with his return to Southern California after fading to 12th behind the country’s top turf horse (Bricks and Mortar) in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs May 4, stalked in fourth while saving ground, remained inside as he loomed a threat into the lane, was still there to midstretch but couldn’t quite finish with the top three.

Santa Anita
Triple Bend (race 8)

COMMENT: When Air Strike made a strong midrace move in the Grade 3 Sexton Mile at Lone Star April 28 before flattening out to finish fourth, trainer Phil D’Amato wondered if instead the son of Street Sense was better suited as a late-running sprinter. Well, they got their answer in the affirmative here as the 4-year-old colt posted the upset. He was last early after a slow start as Cistron set the pace under heavy pressure from The Hardest Way to his outside, remained well back to the far turn, started a strong wide run into the lane and sustained it to the wire to get up in the final strides. Off this he figures to target the big sprints at Del Mar this summer, the Grade 1 Bing Crosby July 27 and Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Aug. 24. That said, nice as this effort was, it seems to indicate that if sprint champ Roy H comes back anything like his former self he has little to worry about. Cistron, big wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 2 Kona Gold here April 20, showed that run no fluke as he again shot out to the lead, took heavy pressure from The Hardest Way to his outside, dispatched with that foe turning for home, opened up a clear lead as if ready to go on to a big win only to succumb late to the winner’s charge. Nero, a $950,000 son of Pioneerof the Nile who was back sprinting after a smart optional claiming win at a mile here March 30 and some super works, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain his run, ending up third. American Anthem, the 9-5 favorite off a good second in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4, his first start in over nine months, was a bit slow into stride, bided his time while saving ground, pitched out on the far turn and into the lane but never really mustered the necessary run. The Hardest Way, the 2-1 second choice off a monster optional claiming win at Keeneland April 6, his first start in over 13 months, dueled early with Cistron while outside that foe and inside All Out Blitz, was still there turning for home, angled toward the inside but then hit the brakes.

May 26

Santa Anita
Summertime Oaks (race 6)

COMMENT: My Majestic Rose won her last race, over maidens, at Churchill, in the mud. Here she not only faced winners for the first time, in a stakes no less, raced here for the first time and was back on dry land but none of that deterred the daughter of Majestic Warrior as she proved victorious. From her rail slot My Majestic Rose stalked as favorites Sneaking Out and Flor de La Mar dueled through modest splits, moved out and up to challenge then-leader Sneaking Out on the far turn as Flor de La Mar fell away, battled with that rival to deep stretch to her outside and gamely got the better of her in the final half-furlong. This was nice, but it shows what a drop-off there is among the West Coast 3-year-old fillies after Bellafina. Sneaking Out, the heavy 9-10 favorite after finishing first in the 7-furlong Angel Flight here May 4 (was disqualified to second) and routing for the first time, went right to the lead, took immediate heavy pressure from Flor de La Mar to her outside, set a modest pace under continual pressure from that foe, saw that rival fall away on the far turn but was immediately confronted by My Majestic Rose to her outside, battled back gamely on the rail only to succumb in the final few strides while finishing far clear of the others. Colonial Creed, trying dirt for the first time after a game optional claiming win on turf here last time out May 3, stalked in fourth, moved closer on the far turn to loom a threat but was unable to keep up with the top pair in the lane while staying on for third. Flor de La Mar, the second choice after showing promise earlier this year (second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks) and back to SoCal after being a non-factor 12th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill May 3, pressed the issue from the start, dueling with Sneaking Out while to that foe’s outside, continued to press the pace to the far turn but then gave way readily. It looks like it’s back to the drawing board for this $500,000 daughter of Horse of the Year Tiznow.

Santa Anita
Monrovia (race 7)

COMMENT: The forecast of rain resulted in this being move to the dirt, though by post time the rain had not arrived. The footing change suited S Y Sky to a tee as while the 5-year-old daughter of Grazen has done well on turf this (dirt) may play better for her. Coming off a second in a stakes at Golden Gate she pressed the issue in third just inside dueling leaders Lady Suebee and Belvoir Bay, came off the inside on the far turn, made a run at those two into the lane to their outside, got the better of them in midstretch and was edging away in the final half-furlong. Belvoir Bay, the favorite off a series of big efforts including a second in the Grade 1 Al Quoz Sprint on turf in Dubai March 30 (to Blue Point, one of the elite turf sprinting males in the world) and proven on dirt as well (2 for 2), dueled from the start with Lady Suebee who was to her outside, remained engaged with that foe to the far turn, was getting the better of that foe when taken on by S Y Sky to her outside, battled back when hooked by that foe but just couldn’t quite keep up with her in the final half-furlong. Lady Suebee, whose last win came on dirt at Belmont last fall, broke well, went right to the lead, dueled with Belvoir Bay to her inside, remained locked in battle with that foe to the top of the lane but then tired a bit from her earlier work. Spectator, sixth in the Grade 3 Las Flores here April 7, her first start in eight months, stalked in fourth behind the top three, got closer on the far turn but then couldn’t keep pace with them while staying on for fourth. A number of these could point for the Grade 2 Great Lady M. at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos July 6.