Trip Notes for May 27, 2019: Gold Cup and more

May 27

Santa Anita
Gamely (race 7)

COMMENT: Vasilika, claimed for $40,000 in February 2018, has to be one of the greatest claims of all time. She bobbled a bit at the start here but gathered herself, bided her time toward the back of the pack, though she wasn’t too far away from the pace set by as longshot Ahimsa, bided her time there as Ahimsa was pressured through modest splits by Streak of Luck, remained outside in the clear, angled further out into the lane and powered home to get up in the final half-furlong. With this win she’s now 12 for 14 since being claimed by Jerry Hollendorfer, seven of them graded stakes, two of them Grade 1’s. Her last loss came when a solid fourth in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar in the fall when facing some of the game’s elite. She’s now 11 for 12 on this course as well and remember the Breeders’ Cup is here this year. There’s really nothing else for her here the remainder of this meet so they could ship back East or await the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar Aug. 3. Rymska, from the ever-dangerous Chad Brown barn and coming off a sharp second to top-class stablemate Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 13, stalked in fourth just ahead of the eventual winner, remained narrowly in front of that rival to the far turn while saving ground, came with a smart run between horses on the turn and into the lane, finished well inside the winner but couldn’t finish with that foe while edging Ahimsa, to her inside, for third. She probably returns to her East Coast base and the Grade 1 Diana is a possibility, though trainer Brown already figures to have a few of his big girls pointing for that. Ahimsa, a smart optional-claiming winner in her first start vs. elders here April 14, also her first start in nine months, shot right out to a clear early lead, was soon joined by Streak of Luck to her outside who pressed her through modest splits, rebuffed that rival by midstretch while staying on the fence but couldn’t quite finish with the top two. Elysea’s World, smart winner of the Grade 3 Santa Ana here March 30, lagged back from the start, came wide into the lane and finished with good energy though she was never really a threat. This trip might be a short of her preferred distance. Ollie’s Candy, making her first start since finishing a game second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last Aug. 18, broke slowly in her first start for trainer John Sadler to be last early remained at the back of the pack, saved ground into the lane, then pitched out as if ready to make a run but the run never came. Causeforcommotion, romping nine-length winner of the Grade 3 Santa Barbara at 1 1/2 miles here May 11, broke well from her outside slot, established a nice position stalking in third, was still there turning for home but then gave way readily. This trip may be just too sharp for her, at least at this level, and maybe that big winning effort in the Santa Barbara took more out of her than her connections thought.

Santa Anita
Gold Cup at Santa Anita (race 8)

COMMENT: Vino Rosso found the 7 furlongs of the Grade 1 Carter last time out at Aqueduct April 6 a bit too sharp (ran fourth). His connections toyed with the idea of the Grade 1 Met Mile on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 8 but trainer Todd Pletcher said he thought that race might be coming up too tough, so instead the $410,000 son of Curlin was freshened, moved to this longer trip and ran maybe the best race of his career, despite shipping across the country. From his outside slot he stalked in fourth as Blitzkrieg as a strong pace under pressure from heavy favorite Gift Box, advanced whle remaining wide, moved up to engage leader Gift Box to his outside turning for home, got the better of that rival by midstretch and was just edging away in the final furlong. This gives him all sorts of options, be it returning to New York for the big races at Saratoga such as the Grade 1 Whitney and Grade 1 Woodward or even shipping back to SoCal for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at this same trip (against likely the same type of opposition) at Del Mar in August as he’s now proven he can ship West and bring his “A” game. Gift Box, the 7-10 favorite off a game win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap here April 6, dogged early pacesetter Blitzkrieg from the start, took over from that foe on the turn for home, battled back gamely when engaged by Vino Rosso to his outside, but couldn’t quite finish with that rival while ending up far clear of the others. While he got beat he again ran well, so surely the Pacific Classic figures on his radar. Lone Sailor, last finishing second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 13, was devoid of speed, as is his custom to sit last early, was still last turning for home, pitched out and finished with good energy though he was never a danger to the top two. Core Beliefs, freshened since a game win in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap March 23, stalked in third, was still in the hunt going into the far turn but then came up empty. Could be this distance off the layoff was too much to overcome.

Santa Anita
Shoemaker Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: A few years ago (2016/2017) Bolo was considered among the elite turf milers in the game. Alas, things soured in 2017, he wasn’t seen again for almost two years and when he did resurface here April 28 in an optional claimer her set the pace before tiring some to end up fifth. Well, apparently he got what he needed out of that race as the 7-year-old son of Temple City notched his first Grade 1 win, using his speed to lead his rivals on a merry chase. At a hefty 32-1 he went right out to a clear lead, set a brisk pace as Ohio chased, held the fence throughout, looked in a bit of trouble when Ohio and Sharp Samurai crept closer on the far turn but edged clear again into the lane and kept his rivals at arm’s length to the line. Off this a shot at the Grade 2 Eddie Read at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar July 21 figures next. River Boyne, who has been knocking heads with the best turf milers around, ran well again as he sat midpack from the start, saved ground and came with a nice run in the lane to get up for second, though it never really appeared he could get to the winner. Bowies Hero, fifth in this last year and back to SoCal after a dull run (sixth) in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate April 27, his first start in eight months, sat well back early, as is his wont, remained there to the far turn, pitched wide into the lane and finished smartly, just missing getting up for second. Sharp Samurai, making his first start since winning the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile last Oct. 6 before illness derailed his Breeders’ Cup aspirations, stalked in third, came with a smart run into the lane to loom a threat but couldn’t sustain his bid. Still, this wasn’t a bad run considering the layoff and type of opposition he faced for his first start back. Catapult, a sharp second to Ohio (beaten a nose) in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile here March 30, lagged back from the start, moved closer on the far turn while staying wide and in the clear but didn’t have the needed oomph thereafter. Ohio, game upset winner of the Kilroe Mile over a few of these here March 30, chased the winner from the start, saving ground from his rail slot, came off the inside on the far turn as if poised to make a run at the leader but flattened out in the lane. Delta Prince, favored off a big win in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland April 12, stalked while wide, remained wide on the far turn, was in a bit tight into the lane but wasn’t really moving like a contender at that point anyway, and was unable to make a dent. Maybe he didn’t ship well or maybe he didn’t care for this course. He’ll likely go back to his original summer goal, the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga in August.