Trip Notes for May 28-29: Charles Whittingham, Winning Colors, and more

Churchill
Winning Colors (race 10)
COMMENT: To say Diva Express and I’m a Looker are closely matched is an understatement. When they met here May 3, Diva Express beat I’m a Looker, but by a head. This time there was nothing between them as they dead-heated for the victory. Diva Express, getting her first stakes win, dogged pacesetting favorite Enchanting Lady from the start, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, and battled back when hooked by I’m a Look inside the eighth pole. I’m a Looker, also notching her first stakes win, sat back off the hot pace, moved wide on the turn and into the lane, and finished resolutely. Spelling Again, a Grade 2 winner here in the fall, was last on the far turn, swung wide into the lane, and finished well. Enchanting Lady, the 4-5 favorite off a third to Taris in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard here May 7, set fast splits and tired in the lane.

Arlington
Arlington Matron (race 6)
COMMENT: Flipcup hadn’t raced since finishing fifth on Aqueduct’s inner track Dec. 12, but the layoff and a return to synthetic did the trick. From her rail slot she sat in midpack early as Tiz Lately set the pace. Flipcup moved closer as She’s Not Here took command into the lane, came with a run to grab the lead by midstretch, and fended off favorite No Fault of Mine to her outside. Five of Flipcup’s seven wins have come on synthetic. No Fault of Mine, the 9-5 favorite, sat behind Flipcup, swung wide into the lane and finished well. Brooklynsway stumbled at the start to be last early, was still well back on the far turn, then put in a solid run along the inside, though she was no danger to the top two.

Arlington
Arlington Classic (race 7)
COMMENT: Surgical Strike showed he’s the real deal. A rallying third in the Grade 3 Spiral on Turfway’s synthetic track and then third in the Grade 2 American Turf May 7 on the Kentucky Derby undercard, he found a somewhat easier spot, added blinkers, and flourished. He stalked in fourth as Two Step Time led, swung out for the stretch drive, and closed well to win. One Mean Man dogged Two Step Time, moved up with Swagger Jagger to contender for the lead into the lane, got the better of that foe but couldn’t fend off Surgical Strike. Swagger Jagger stalked in third, moved up to grab the lead by midstretch, and finished third. Cocked and Loaded, trying turf for the first time after fading to 13th in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile May 7 on the Kentucky Derby undercard, was in midpack until turning for home and then gave way.

May 29

Santa Anita
Charles Whittingham (race 8)
COMMENT: Si Sage, making his third start off a long layoff, used his speed to post an upset. He popped right out to a clear lead, set a solid pace, kicked away from Bal a Bali turning for home, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Patentar, coming off an optional claiming win here Feb. 7, sat fourth early, moved closer turning for home, seemed to idle a bit into the lane but got going again late to get second. Montego Bay, sixth in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile April 30, sat midpack, came with a run along the inside but couldn’t sustain it. Bal a Bali, the favorite off a third in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, chased the winner from the start, moved closer turning for home, and weakened in the final furlong. Finnegans Wake, a Grade 1 winner, lagged back and could make only modest headway in the lane. Same with Royal Albert Hall, who returned home after a third in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland April 23. Quick Casablanca, easy winner of the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano here April 10, was well back to the top of the lane and could pass only a couple tiring rivals. - Comments by Michael Hammersly