Trip Notes for May 30: Aristedes, Penn Mile, American Oaks, and more...
Saturday, May 30
Churchill - Aristides (race 8)
COMMENT: Alsvid ran the best race of his life (105 Beyer) winning the Grade 3 Count Fleet at Oaklawn last time out on April 9, and he showed that run no fluke as he came back to upend champion sprinter Work All Week. Alsvid bided his time early as Googleado set the early pace. Alsvid moved closer going to the far turn as 3-5 favorite Work All Week took over. Alsvid continued a wide run to move past that rival into the lane and edged clear in the final half-furlong. Work All Week, making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and champion sprinter honors, looked sharp as he stalked the early pace of Googleado. He had no trouble taking over from that foe going to the far turn but couldn’t fend off the winner. He can certainly improve off this run. This was also his first loss in 11 dirt starts. Nates Mineshaft stalked early, was in tight and had to steady significantly going down the backside to lose position, got going again and ran on well for third. Surely the trouble kept him from being closer.
Penn - Penn Mile (race 4)
COMMENT: Force the Pass was second to Woodwin W as the 2-1 favorite in a turf stakes at Pimlico May 16, but he stepped up his game here to post the mild upset. He lagged well back as Comanche’s Storm set a strong pace pressured by Gallery, lacked room turning for home but angled out, found a lane and finished strongly to get up in the final strides. Night Prowler, coming off a win in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland April 15, likewise sat back, moved earlier than the eventual winner to get into contention turning for home, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Granny’s Kitten, unbeaten in his first two starts and stepping up in class here, sat back with the top two as well, was in tight while racing inside going down the backstretch, was in tight in traffic again coming into the lane, found a clear path and finished well, and might have been closer but for a late bump with the tiring Gallery. Ocho Ocho Ocho, making his first start on turf after finishing 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, stalked the pace while saving ground and kept to his task well. He just wasn’t good enough. Woodwin W, previously unbeaten in four starts, was quite disappointing. He was slow into stride to be last early and never really picked up his feet.
Santa Anita - American Oaks (race 5)
COMMENT: Spanish Queen hadn’t even begun her career less than three months ago but she showed she’s the real deal. After winning the Grade 2 Honeymoon here May 3, she stepped up in class, moved to a longer trip and prevailed, despite her saddle slipping. She was eager early, pulling herself into position to stalk the pace of Feathered while saving ground, and that’s when her rider reported that his saddle slipped forward. Despite this, she moved closer coming into the lane, got the better of Feathered in the lane and was edging away late. The Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Mar July 19 figures next and should all go well there, perhaps the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks there Aug. 15. Feathered, coming off a wire-to-wire win in her first turf try in the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill May 1, went right to the lead, took pressure from Mrs. McDougal while setting a modest pace, rebuffed that rival turning for home, was taken on by the eventual winner, battled back but couldn’t keep pace in the final furlong. Consumer Credit, one of two highly regarded Eastern invaders from the Chad Brown barn, sat last early while saving ground, moved closer turning for home while staying on the rail, then had to steady and wait behind horse coming into the lane. She altered course and finished well. The trouble kept her from getting closer. Mrs. McDougal, the other highly regarded Brown runner, prompted the pace, loomed a big threat turning for home but couldn’t sustain her run. This distance may be a bit too much for her.
Santa Anita - Californian (race 8)
COMMENT: An off-the-pace type in his prior U.S. starts, South American raider Catch a Flight showed more speed and still came home well to get the win. He won the Grade 3 Precisionist here May 2 and now has a Grade 2 win. He stalked in third while Big Cazanova set a solid pace, pressured by Moreno. He moved closer on the far turn, engaged Moreno after Big Cazanova fell away, got the better of that fight and was edging away late. He looks like the favorite for the Grade 1 Gold Cup here June 27. Moreno, the favorite after a smart win in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, dogged pacesetter Big Cazanova from the start, moved up to challenge with Catch a Flight as Big Cazanova gave way, but couldn’t quite keep pace late. Hard Aces lagged back and finished decently, though he was no danger to the top two. Blue Tone stalked the pace in fourth. He looked poise to make a run into the lane but it never materialized.