Trip Notes for May 27-28: Gold Cup, Charles Whittingham, and more

May 27

Monmouth
Red Bank (race 9)

COMMENT: Irish Strait was fourth on yielding turf in the Henry Clark at Laurel last time out April 22, and he returned to a course he loves and notched his first graded stakes win. The gelded son of grass champion English Channel went right out to the lead, took some pressure from Rose Brier through modest splits, opened up turning for home, and maintained a clear advantage. He’s a half-brother to top 3-year-old Irish War Cry, who could go in the Grade 1 Belmont June 10. Synchrony, who ran second ahead of Irish Strait in the Henry Clark last month, stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a threat into the lane, chased the winner, and finished well clear of the others. Rose Brier further flattered the Henry Clark, having run seventh as the favorite in that race and then third here. He chased Irish Strait, but couldn’t keep pace when he turned up the heat turning for home. Can’thelpbelieving, winner of the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger here last August and dropping off an 11th in Churchill’s Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic May 6, sat back while saving ground, came with a decent run on the turn and into the lane, but was never really a factor. All Included the favorite after finishing third (moved up to second via disqualification) in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Feb. 11 and winning the Grade 3 Appleton there April 1, bobbled at the start to be well back early and never made a move.

Churchill
Winning Colors (race 10)

COMMENT: Finley’sluckycharm had shown considerable talent in her career, winning 6 of her first 8 starts, but this marked her first graded stakes win, and she did it easily. She was second to top-class Constellation in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita Dec. 26, was given time off, and came back to win the Roxelana here April 29. Today, she shot right out to a clear lead, set a solid pace, opened up turning for home, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Trainer Bret Calhoun said her main summer target is the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga Aug. 26 – where she could run into the likes of Paulassilverlining, Carina Mia, Finest City, and Constellation – and the Grade 3 Chicago here June 24 may be her bridge to that race. Mayla, stablemate of the winner and fifth to her in the Roxelana, sat well back early, swung very wide into the lane, and closed well. Sweetgrass, fourth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 6, was slow into stride, sat last until turning for home, and finished decently. Athena, second in the Roxelana, stalked the pace, tried to make a move while wide turning for home but faded in the final furlong.

Arlington
Arlington Classic (race 8)

COMMENT: Cowboy Culture found the Grade 3 Palm Beach and Grade 3 Transylvania waters too deep, but he didn’t face that type of opposition here and loved the yielding footing. He stalked in third as Fast and Accurate shot out to a clear early lead, remained midpack while saving ground as Fast and Accurate and Sakonnet dueled through modest splits, came off the rail and angled out turning for home, and blasted past his rivals to win in a romp. The Grade 3 American Derby here July 8 is likely next. Gorgeous Kitten, son of turf champion Kitten’s Joy and coming off an allowance win at Keeneland April 26, broke a bit awkwardly and seemed content to bide his time at the back of the pack, moved closer turning for home, angled out, and finished well. Parlor, fifth in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs May 6, got pinched back at the start to be last early, steadily improved his position, came with a run to grab the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his bid. Fast and Accurate, a winner of three straight (including his only turf start) before finishing 17th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby May 6, moved back to turf here. He stumbled at the start but had the speed to go out to a clear early lead, was quickly joined by Sakonnet, dueled with that rival through modest splits, tried to battle back when passed by Parlor in midstretch, but then gave way.

Santa Anita
Daytona (race 3)

COMMENT: Stormy Liberal continued his superb form as he notched his fourth straight win, all stakes and all on this hillside course. He beat a few of these in the Siren Lure down the hill April 23. Today, in a field reduced to four after a couple scratches, he dogged early pacesetter Blackjackcat while outside, moved up to challenge that foe with main rival Ambitious Brew, was able to wrest the lead from that rival, and stayed on while mainly under a hand ride to beat him to the line. He’s now 7 for 12 and has won 5 of his last 6 down the hill. Since being claimed for $40,000 last fall he’s run six times, has four wins, all stakes, and two seconds, including in a Grade 3 down the hill, and over $232,000. The bad news for him is this was the last open stakes on the hillside course for the meet. Ambitious Brew loves this course as well, having won 7 of 13 on it including a Grade 3. After winning the Sensational Star here Feb. 25 he was a sharp second to Stormy Liberal in the Siren Lure and filled that slot again. He pressed the pace from the inside, moved up to grab the lead heading for the dirt crossing, fought with Stormy Liberal, but came up just short again. There isn’t much between these two. Ambitious Brew could see the hill again this meet as the Lennyfrommalibu for Cal-breds is slated for July 4. Blackjackcat, with blinkers added and back to turf after running third in a race washed off the turf here May 6, his first start of the year, set the early pace while being hounded on both sides by the top two. He battled back when hooked but couldn’t stay with them once they hit the dirt crossing.

Santa Anita
Gamely (race 5)

COMMENT: Lady Eli looks good as ever, winning this despite shipping and having the race shape against her. Coming off a second in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 15, her first start of the year, she showed enough speed to track Avenge through strong splits, ranged up to challenge her entering the far turn, was stride for stride with that foe to the top of the lane, took command and then kept Goodyearforroses at bay. She’s now won Grade 1’s at 2, 3, 4 and 5. Trainer Chad Brown has her campaign figured out: the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga July 22, the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Oct. 8 and another shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 4. Goodyearforroses, who finished fifth in the Jenny Wiley but only about 1 3/4 lengths behind Lady Eli in second, stalked in third while saving ground just inside the eventual winner, came off the rail on the far turn, came to Lady Eli’s hip into the lane, but couldn’t get to her. The Grade 3 Wilshire here July 1 could be next or she could await the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar Aug. 5. She figures tough in both or either. Avenge, making her first start since running third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf here last Nov. 5 (a length behind Lady Eli in second), went right to the lead, as expected, set strong splits under pressure from Lady Eli, battled back when hooked by that rival on the far turn, but couldn’t keep and just held third. She can benefit from this outing and like Goodyearforroses could target the Wilshire or Yellow Ribbon this summer.

Santa Anita
Monrovia (race 7)

COMMENT: Illuminant won last year’s Grade 1 Gamely here, but the presence of invading Lady Eli (who is co-owned by one of Illuminant’s owners) prompted her connections to send her in this sprint stakes. She bided her time early while saving ground, began to advance while holding the fence into the lane, came with a run to grab the lead just inside the furlong pole, and fended off Coniah. Coniah, second at 36-1 in the Mizdirection on this course April 22, stalked the pace, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Anita Partner, stepping into stakes ranks after four straight wins here, the last three on this hillside course, was slow into stride to be last early, was still well back coming over the dirt crossing, and finished well. Juno, third in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine here April 8, was just behind Coniah from the start, loomed a threat into the lane, but couldn’t sustain her run. Enola Gray, easy winner over statebreds in all three of her starts on this hillside course, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain her bid. She did run third in the Grade 1 La Brea on dirt last winter so she’s by no means out of her element with this kind. Paquita Coqueta, winner of the Mizdirection after running fifth to Illuminant in the Wishing Well March 10, dueled early with Watch This Cat through hot splits and gave way.

Santa Anita
The Gold Cup at Santa Anita (race 8)

COMMENT: Cupid was supposed to run in the Grade 2 Californian here April 22, but while taking a bath earlier that day slipped and cut a hock, and had to be scratched. Healthy for this, he bided his time early as his favored stablemate American Freedom and Prime Attraction dueled early through strong splits. Cupid crept closer by the turn, moved up to challenge leader Midnight Storm turning for home, took command, and drew away for the easy win. Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday would target Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney Aug. 5 and Grade 1 Woodward Sept. 2 for Cupid. Follow Me Crev, third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and second last time out in the Californian, got bumped hard by American Freedom right out of the gate, sat fifth a ways behind Cupid, who was fourth, and got going in the lane to finish well for second. He was no threat to the winner but finished far clear of the rest. Hard Aces, third in this last year and coming off a win in the Grade 3 Tokyo City here April 1, sat behind the top two and plugged along to get up for third. Midnight Storm stalked the pace, took the lead into the lane, but couldn’t sustain his run. He now has one second in three starts at 1 1/4 miles, so this just isn’t his forte. American Freedom was favored after running fourth in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs on May 5, his first start in over eight months. He added blinkers for this race and broke sharply, but took a right-hand turn out of the gate, bumping hard with Follow Me Crev. He still was able to go right out to duel with longshot Prime Attraction, set solid splits, but gave way once headed on the far turn.

May 28

Lone Star
Lone Star Park Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Danzing Candy made it a big weekend for trainer Bob Baffert, who also won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Coming off an optional-claiming win at Santa Anita May 5, Danzing Candy broke sharply from his rail slot and went right to a clear early lead while enjoying the muddy (sealed) footing. He set a solid pace while a couple lanes off the rail, was asked for run at the top of the lane, and increased his advantage to the wire. His long-term goal, according to Baffert, is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 4. Texas Chrome, the second choice after finishing second to Danzing Candy’s stablemate Mor Spirit in the Grade 3 Sexton Mile here May 7, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner on the far turn and stayed on well to be second, well clear of the others. Shotgun Kowboy, fourth in the Sexton Mile, chased the winner, crept closer going down the backstretch, but was no match.

Santa Anita
Charles Whittingham (race 7)

COMMENT: Ashleyluvssugar, winner of this race in 2015, was had been off since finishing third to Itsinthepost and Syntax in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey here March 25. The break apparently did the trick. He broke alertly but was amenable to being taken back some as Patentar set a decent pace under pressure from Frank Conversation and A Red Tie Day. Ashleyluvssugar bided his time while holding the rail going to the far turn, took aim at Patentar, had to wait for room to the top of the lane, found a seam between horses, and surged through to go past a tiring Patentar and outfinish Frank Conversation. He might be seen next in the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar July 22, a race in which he was a sharp second last year to top-class Midnight Storm, and should all go well there he’d be set up to defend his title in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Aug. 19. Frank Conversation, coming off a second in an optional claimer here April 23, his first start of the year, stalked the pace and looked in trouble when Patentar opened up on him going to the far turn. But Frank Conversation reeled in Patentar, came out a bit into the stretch giving Ashleyluvssugar a clear lane, and couldn’t quite outfinish that rival. The Eddie Read may be next for him as well. Syntax, coming off a sharp second to Itsinthepost in the San Luis Rey and a second in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano, put in another good effort. He lagged back and finished decently to get up for third. He hasn’t won in two years but continues to run well. The Eddie Read or Del Mar Handicap figures on his radar as well. Itsinthepost won the Grade 2 San Luis Rey here March 25 and in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland April 22, and was sent off the 9-5 favorite here. However, he failed to reproduce that form. He stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but then flattened out. Could be shipping across the country and back may have taken more out of him than first thought. Texas Ryano, who held good form among this caliber from last spring into the fall, was closer than usual early on. He stalked the pace while wide, remained in touch to the top of the lane, but failed to muster a run. That makes for a fourth straight so-so effort, making you wonder if he’s in need of an extended break – or a class drop. Patentar opened up on the far turn and into the lane, still held a clear lead at the eighth pole, but then hit a wall.