Trip Notes for May 26-27: Gold Cup, Charles Whittingham, Gamely, and more

May 26

Arlington
Arlington Classic (race 8)

COMMENT: Earlier rains led to the turf course being listed as ‘yielding’ but that didn’t affect heavy 1-2 favorite Ezmosh in the slightest. He fought his rider early as he was being pulled back off the pace while staying inside, finally settled into a rhythm and not pulling, remained inside throughout, moved closer by the top of the lane, assumed command by midstretch and drew off to win easily. The Grade 3 Arlington Handicap here July 7 could be next, and should all go well there maybe a crack at the deepest waters in the Grade 1 Secretariat here in August. Pont Du Gard bounced back nicely after a dull run when 12th in the Grade 2 American Turf on a soggy course at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5; he bided his time early, saved ground, followed the eventual winner to the top of the lane and finished well to get second, though he was never really a danger to Ezmosh. Cuestion de Tiempo went right to the lead, held the rail as he dueled with Papa Rizzo through modest splits, got the better of that foe turning for home, stayed on gamely and while no match for the winner nearly held second. Alternative Route stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane and stayed on decently for fourth, beaten just a neck and a head for second.

Churchill
Winning Colors (race 10)

COMMENT: Miss Kentucky continued her ascent, winning for the third time in her last four starts and notching her first stakes win. The 4-year-old daughter of Blame who was coming off a game optional claiming win here April 28 showed the speed to dog early pacesetting longshot Brave Daisey through brisk splits, exchanged a couple hard bumps with heavy 1-2 favorite Golden Mischief going into the far turn, soon took command, rebuffed a challenge from ‘Mischief into deep stretch, dispatched with that rival and then gamely held Treble at bay in the final half-furlong. The Roxelana here June 23 may be next. Treble, who ran second to Miss Kentucky in that aforementioned April 28 race here, bided her time early, steadily advanced while wide, doggedly kept after the winner in the lane but just couldn’t get to her. Golden Domer sat back, moved to the inside to save ground, was asked for run on the turn, made progress while staying inside, came off the rail and finished decently, though she wasn’t really a danger to the top two. Golden Mischief, heavily favored off a romping allowance win at Oaklawn April 4, bumped at the start with Brave Daisey, held her position pressing the pace while inside, bumped hard a couple times with the eventual winner while holding her ground on the far turn, remained in contention to midstretch but then gave way.

Monmouth
Salvator Mile (race 11)

COMMENT: The terrific old warrior Page McKenney showed there’s still gas in the tank as the 8-year-old posted his 22nd career win. Freshened since running fourth in the very tough Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile on March 31, he sat fourth early, saving ground as Shaft of Light set a solid pace, remained inside as he advanced on the far turn, pitched wide to continue his run in the lane and finished resolutely to catch the stubborn pacesetter. This could lead to a shot at the Grade 3 Philip Iselin here June 30. Shaft of Light, coming off two huge wins at Gulfstream and Charles Town, struck another blow for the veterans as the 7-year-old went right out to a clear lead while setting a solid pace, battled back gamely when confronted by Sunny Ridge on the turn, remained locked in battle with that foe to deep stretch, finally got the better of that foe only to have Page McKenney bear down on him late and go past. The Iselin could be on his radar as well. Sunny Ridge, third in the Grade 1 Haskell here two years ago and favored here off a good second in a strong optional claimer at Aqueduct on April 20, his first start in 10 months, chased Shaft of Light from the start, moved up to engage that foe on the far turn, battled gamely with ‘Light but couldn’t get past and tired some in the final half furlong as the winner swept past to his outside. Chip Leader, coming off a second in the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland on April 14, stalked in third while staying wide and in the clear, remained there to loom a threat turning for home but came up empty in the lane.

Monmouth
Monmouth Stakes (race 12)

COMMENT: Surprise, surprise, another graded turf stakes and another victory for trainer Chad Brown as his veteran Money Multiplier got the job done. In fact, Brown also ran third with Projected. Money Multiplier, coming off a third in a Group 1 in Qatar, showed the speed to hound pacesetting favorite Frostmourne from the start, moved up to engage on the turn, battled gamely between horses as he was joined in the fight by Divisidero to his outside and stayed on to get the victory. Last July he easily won the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup here so that could be the target again July 29. There’s also the Grade 1 United Nations here June 30, a race in which he ran second two years ago. Divisidero, a multiple Grade 1 winner and making his first start since he rallied for fourth in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Oct. 7, sat last early in the small field, came with a smart wide run on the far turn to challenge, stayed on the outside but just couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. This was a nice comeback run and the United Nations could be on his radar. Projected, second in a stakes at Aqueduct on April 8, his first start in more than six months, stalked the pace, steadily advanced up the inside on the far turn, had to wait for room into the lane, found a seam inside and finished well to get third. The Monmouth Cup on July 29 could be in his plans. Frostmourne, fifth in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland on April 13, went right to the lead, set modest splits while under some pressure from Money Multiplier, battled back when taken on by that foe turning for home, continued to fight as he still held the lead to inside the eighth pole but finally relented late.

Santa Anita
The Gold Cup at Santa Anita (race 5)

COMMENT: Accelerate couldn’t quite outduel City of Light when second a neck behind that foe in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 14, but this longer trip helped him gained his revenge and firmly entrench him among the elite older horses going 10 furlongs. He broke well, established himself in third stalking pacesetter Dr. Dorr through modest splits, moved closer as archrival City of Light took a short-lived lead from Dr. Dorr into the lane, quickly moved up to challenge, surged past and drew clear to win easily. He’s now won this to go with the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March and surely the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at this same trip at Del Mar in August, a race in which he ran third last year, is on his radar. Only Game On Dude (2013) and Lava Man (2006) have swept California’s three signature races in the same year, a feat Accelerate will look to duplicate this summer at Del Mar. Dr. Dorr, a winner of three straight including a romp in the Grade 2 Californian here April 28, went right to the lead while saving ground, set modest splits, was taken on by favored City of Light coming into the lane but gamely kept to his task to re-rally and pass ‘Light to reacquire second, though he was no match for the winner in the lane. City of Light, the 6-5 favorite off three straight wins including the Oaklawn Handicap last time April 14, was trying 1 1/4 miles for the first time. He showed the speed to stalk the pace, moved up nicely to challenge Dr. Dorr into the lane, took the lead but was no match for the winner who quickly surged past and clear. He then tired a bit in the final furlong as Dr. Dorr re-rallied to get second. While he ran well, the way he finished indicates he might not have been fond of the 10th furlong. Pavel, fourth in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup, stalked in fourth not far off the lead from the start, was asked for run on the far turn but was unable to get involved, finishing fairly one-paced to hold comfortably hold fourth.

Santa Anita
Charles Whittingham (race 6)

COMMENT: Itsinthepost continued his domination of the West Coast turf distance set as the 6-year-old returned West after a good third in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland April 21 and got back to his winning ways. A winner of three straight Grade 2s here this year before his trip to Keeneland got some revenge for finishing only fifth in this race last year. He relaxed nicely to sit fourth early as What a View went out to a clear lead while setting slow splits, crept closer going down the backstretch, was asked for run coming into the lane, came with his run outside then-leader Kenjisstorm once straightened away, got the better of that foe inside the eighth pole and edged clear. After this last year they shipped East for the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth, where he was a decent fifth, so maybe they will target that race again for him this year (June 30). Kenjisstorm, third to What a View in the Grade 3 American here April 21, sat second behind pacesetter What a View from the start, crept closer to that foe going into the far turn, engaged that rival into the lane, got the better of him to grab the lead but then couldn’t finish with the winner. Frank Conversation, second in this last year and coming off a sixth to Flamboyant in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate March 31, stalked the pace, came out into the lane to make a run, stayed on decently but wasn’t really a threat to the top two. What a View, trying this longer distance for the first time after gamely winning the American here April 21, went right to the lead, held a clear advantage while setting slow splits, battled back briefly while inside when taken on by Kenjisstorm turning for home but then tired. It appears he’s not a 10-furlong type. Syntax, moving to what seemed a better, longer trip (ran third in this last year) after fourth in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile and San Francisco Mile, was disappointing as he was slow into stride from the start and never mustered any type of run..

Santa Anita
Gamely (race 8)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when Uni, who would have been one of the favorites, scratched after being taken ill. It changed further when heavy favorite Hawksmoor stumbled badly at the start, going to her belly and getting away last instead of being on the lead, as was expected. Sophie P took full advantage, winning the narrowest of photos in just her second start in the U.S. Sophie P, only sixth in her U.S. debut in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine here April 7 after winning her final two starts in England last October (the second over males), bided her time in fourth as Madame Stripes held a narrow early advantage, remained there as Madame Stripes opened up going into the backstretch, crept closer turning for home, came out for clear sailing and finished resolutely to win the three-horse blanket photo. The Grade 3 Wilshire here June 24 could be next, though that’s at a mile and may be short of her best distance. If they pass on that she could instead wait for the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 4. Of course, there are always options out of town. Madam Dancealot, back to her home base after finishing a better-than-looked seventh in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile run in a bog at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 5, lagged back as is her custom, remained there to the top of the lane while saving ground, came with a strong run up the inside to finish resolutely only to miss by just a nose. Madame Stripes went out to the lead, took some pressure early from Midnight Crossing, soon opened a clear lead going down the backstretch, had Midnight Crossing come back at her on the far turn, rebuffed that foe, opened up again and just got nailed in the final strides by the top two, missing by just a nose and a neck. Beau Recall, rallying winner of the Royal Heroine, lagged well back, as usual, swung out into the lane and finished well but was never really a danger to the top three. Hawksmoor, the heavy even-money favorite, fell to her belly at the start to get away last, was a bit rank and pulling while fifth as that trouble forced a change of tactics, made some headway going to the far turn but then came up empty after using her fuel to try to get back into the game.

May 27

Lone Star
Lone Star Park Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Shotgun Kowboy, third in this last year and coming off a third in the Grade 3 Sexton Mile here May 6, stepped up his game and used his speed as the 6-year-old gelding proved best. In the small field reduced to four after the scratch of Full of Luck, he went right out to the lead, took some pressure early from heavy 2-5 favorite Mubtaahij, took more pressure from South Beach to his outside going down the backstretch and on the far turn, put away that rival turning for home and gamely kept to his task to keep Mubtaahij at bay the length of the stretch. The Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows on July 6 could be next. Mubtaahij, dropping off a second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and third in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, broke well, dogged the eventual winner from the start, took back a bit going down the backstretch and into the far turn, allowing South Beach to assume pacepressing duties, doggedly went after Shotgun Kowboy into the lane when South Beach fell away but just couldn’t get to him. Fear the Cowboy, third in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic last time out April 21, was last early, tried to make a run at the leaders coming into the lane but was never able to really threaten the top two.

Santa Anita
Desert Stormer (race 8)

COMMENT: Marley’s Freedom was second to top-class Selcourt in the Grade 2 Santa Monica here March 24 and then a big winner over some nice optional claimers here April 20. Making her first start for Bob Baffert, she validated her quality with a romping win here as the 9-10 favorite. From her outside post in the small field she bided her time early as Miss Sunset set a sharp first quarter under early heavy pressure from Cuyathy, then moved up to assume those pacepressing duties, pushing Miss Sunset through a strong half, easily took over from that gal into the lane and drew off to win easily. The Grade 2 Great Lady M at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 7 might be next. Miss Sunset, a strong second choice (1-1) off a game second in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 7, went right to the lead, took immediate early pressure from Cuyathy to her inside, was then pressured hard by Marley’s Freedom on the turn, tried to battle back against that foe into the lane but proved no match while staying on decently to be a clear second. The Great Lady M may be on her radar as well. Yuvetski stalked in third and kept to her task to maintain that position while never really a danger to the top two.