Trip Notes for May 30-31, 2020: Winning Colors, Santa Maria, and more

May 30

Churchill
Winning Colors (race 7)

COMMENT: Bell’s the One looked on her way after running second to eventual champion stablemate Covfefe here last summer and then winning the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland in the fall. However, she was no factor when fifth in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita Dec. 28 and a non-factor seventh in a turf stakes at the Fair Grounds Feb. 25. After the time off since, with the return to dirt and a track she’s handled she bounced back nicely, rallying to beat a strong bunch. She bided her time early toward the back while wide and in the clear as Break Even shot out to a clear lead setting a sizzling pace with favored Mia Mischief in pursuit, remained wide on the turn as she started her run, pitched wider into the lane and rallied smartly, blowing past the leaders to their outside in the final furlong and win going away. The Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland July 11 figures next, and considering that’s where she posted her big Raven Run win she would be dangerous, though that could prove a brutal spot with not only a few of these foes returning to take her on, but such standouts as Guarana, Indian Pride and Bellafina possibly taking aim as well. Since she does love Keeneland it also doesn’t hurt her the Breeders’ Cup is there this fall. Break Even, well backed off a strong optional-claiming win at Oaklawn April 19, shot out to a clear early lead from her inside post, set sizzling fractions with Mia Mischief applying some pressure to her outside, looked in trouble turning for home when Mia Mischief ranged up alongside to her right, showed guts to rebuff that foe but then had no answer to the winner’s charge. Considering the fractions she set she ran splendidly and surely the Madison figures on her radar, though she could also go to Belmont for the Grade 3 Victory Ride July 4. Mia Mischief, heavily favored off a smashing win in the Carousel at Oaklawn April 25 where she earned her career-best Beyer Figure, showed good speed to just a couple lengths off Break Even from the start, remained there going to the far turn, crept closer on the turn, loomed ominously outside that rival into the lane but flattened out in the final furlong. Could be sitting close to those hot fractions took too much out of her. The Madison would still a possible target despite her tiring in the final furlong. Spiced Perfection, making her first start for new trainer Mark Casse after being privately purchased and first start since running fourth in the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream Jan. 25, was disappointing as she was never in it, breaking slowly to be last early, remained wide while still last on the far turn a couple lengths behind the eventual winner, swung out wider still into the lane but was never able to get involved. She did win last year’s Madison so with this under her belt she could target a title defense.

Churchill
Mint Julep (race 11)

COMMENT: Secret Message soured last summer/fall and hadn’t been seen since being a non-factor 10th in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine Oct. 12. Off that long layoff, with a drop and move to a shorter trip the 5-year-old mare popped up with maybe her best effort, posting the upset. She broke well from her midpack post, was content to sit midpack as Mitchell Road set a modest pace taking pressure from favorite Juliet Foxtrot, remained a few lanes off the rail, pitched wider still into the lane and finished gamely between horses to get the win in a blanket finish (the top five all finished with a length of one another). Her best work has come at this type of trip so this could lead to a shot at Belmont for the Grade 1 Just a Game II at a mile June 27 or the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at this same 1 1/16-mile trip at Keeneland July 11. Either one will likely be tougher as some of the division heavyheads (Uni, Rushing Fall, Got Stormy) are targeting those. La Signare, a rallying winner of the Sand Springs at Gulfstream last time out March 28, showed she’s remains on top of her game as she sat back just behind the eventual winner while a few lanes off the rail, came with her run in the stretch, had to check and steady a couple times when in traffic but split rivals late and surged to just miss. Zofelle, second to La Signare in the Sand Springs, finished just behind that rival again as she got bounced around at the start, was still able to establish a nice stalking position just behind pacesetter Mitchell Road and favorite Juliet Foxtrot, made a bid into the lane as Juliet Foxtrot took the lead and stayed on gamely to miss by just a head and a neck. She’sonthewarpath, winner of her last two, both stakes on turf at the Fair Ground, sat back just ahead of the eventual one-two finishers, saved ground throughout, loomed a big threat into the lane but wasn’t quite good enough. Altea, second a nose behind She’sonthewarpatch in a stakes at the Fair Grounds March 21 finished just behind that rival again here as she was far back from the start, remained well back to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and finished strongly. Juliet Foxtrot, the favorite who was making her first start of the year after knocking heads with the best of the division last year, broke alertly from her rail slot, immediately came off the inside to take the early lead, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Mitchell Road to her outside, took back a bit as Mitchell Road took a clear lead on the first turn, got a dream trip as she moved outside Mitchell Road while continuing to apply pressure, loomed ominously turning for home, battled with that rival to her inside for the lead but couldn’t sustain her run between horses and like Mitchell Road got swallowed up by a number of closers to her outside. Could be she was a tad short after the layoff. The Just a Game II or Jenny Wiley figure on her radar as well. Nay Lady Nay, winner of three of her last four including the Mrs. Revere on this course at this trip last time out Nov. 29, seemed in a good position sitting behind the first flight, moved out for room on the far turn as if poised to make a run but the run never came. Beau Recall, making her first start since running second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita last Sept. 28, was jostled at the start to get away poorly and be well back (though that’s about where she would have been regardless), bided her time while saving ground, remained inside into the lane and in the stretch, made up some ground but was never really a factor. Varenka, making her first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keenland last Oct. 12, sat midpack, just behind Nay Lady Nay, crept closer into the far turn while wide, was still in the hunt turning for home while wide but came up empty once straightened away.

Santa Anita
Honeymoon (race 7)

COMMENT: After two turf stakes wins here in the winter, Laura’s Light’s connections thought enough of the daughter of Constitution to ship her to Turfway Park to try the Bourbonette Oaks on synthetic footing and she was a decent fourth. After the time off she moved back to turf here and got back on track, using her tactical speed and versatility to get the job done. She sat second as Parkour moved out to a huge early lead, bided her time there as the pacesetter remained far in front setting a solid pace, started to close the gap on that foe on the far turn, surged past that tiring rival into the lane getting first run on a couple closers, opened up to give herself enough of a buffer to get to the line before those closers could get to her on her outside. The Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar July 25 figures next, and should all go well there a shot at the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 22 is likely in the cards. Stela Star, the favorite after rallying strongly for second in her U.S. debut, the China Doll, here March 7, bided her time early, started to advance heading to the far turn, started a run along the inside on the turn, came off the inside a bit into the lane to continue her run, rallied gamely between horses in the stretch to loom a big danger, moved outside Laura’s Light to continue her run, finished but couldn’t quite get to winner to her inside while outfinishing Croughavouke to her outside. The San Clemente/Del Mar Oaks path figures likely for her as well. Croughavouke, a bit troubled when only seventh in the China Doll (but beaten by just 2 1/2 lengths) lagged well back from the start, started to advance while wide into the far turn, remained wide as the continued to rally, swung wider into the stretch and finished well, but wasn’t quite good enough. Parkour, a romping winner of an optional claimer on this course March 22 by using runaway tactics, tried that again here as she shot out to the lead, opened up double digits down the backstretch while setting a solid pace, had the field come to her turning for home and came up empty once challenged.

May 31

Santa Anita
Santa Maria (race 7)

COMMENT: Fighting Mad used her speed to dominate an eventful running of this race. First, Hard Not to Love, the second choice, delayed the start as she wouldn’t go to the starting gate. Her quirks and insecurities are well known. They finally got her to the gate and loaded and once the field broke Fighting Mad, third (disqualified to fourth) in the Grade 3 Desert Stormer at 6 furlongs here March 17, shot right out to the lead, held a clear advantage through modest splits as Horologist and Kaydetre chased, looked in trouble on the far turn when Ce Ce made a run at her but rebuffed the heavy favorite into the lane, opened up again and stayed on well to win easily. Off this a shot at the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar Aug. 2 figures next. Still, it’s hard to believe what happened here scares the likes of Midnight Bisou and Monomoy Girl. Hard Not to Love, whose issues may stem from the fact she has just one eye, last ran second to Ce Ce in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile here March 14. She delayed the start as she planted herself at the top of the lane and refused to go to the starting gate. They finally got her there after significant coaxing, she broke slowly (last) from her rail slot when the gates opened, bided her time, moved off the rail down the backstretch, crept closer going to the far turn while staying wide and in the clear, following heavy favorite Ce Ce, remained wide on the far turn and into the lane and kept to her task to outrun Ce Ce for second, though she was never a danger to the winner. Considering her pre-race antics this was pretty smart, though you get the feeling she’s simply better going one turn. But with her insecurities and antics can the Breeders’ Cup still be in play? Ce Ce, the heavy favorite off a big win in the Beholder Mile here March 14 and game win in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn April 18, bided her time a few lengths off the pace while moving off the inside for clear sailing, made a threatening move on the far turn to nearly challenge the eventual winner but just as quickly flattened out and got outfinished by Hard Not to Love for second. This effort was surely a drop-off form her previous work. The Clement L. Hirsch may be on her radar as well, though this run could be that’s a sign she’s ready for a break. Horologist, a much-troubled fourth in the Apple Blossom, showed more speed to stalk the pace while saving ground, was asked to go after the leader and eventual winner on the far turn but was suddenly pulled up into the lane as if something went amiss. She did walk off under her own power.