Trip Notes for May 9-10: Man o' War, Peter Pan, Vanity, and more

May 9

Belmont
Peter Pan (race 3)

Madefromlucky, last seen giving hopeless chase to American Pharoah in both the Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, showed he can do some damage in the right spot. With blinkers off he bided his time as Wolf Man Rocket set a strong pace. Madefromlucky came with a wide run to grab the lead into the lane and was edging away late. Conquest Curlinate was just behind the eventual winner from the start, and was still last in midstretch, but found his top gear late to be a clear second. Two Weeks Off dueled early with Wolf Man rocket, relinquished pacesetting duties to that foe while still pressing the issue, loomed a threat into the lane but then finished one-paced.

Belmont
Ruffian (race 4)

Wedding Toast had originally targeted the Grade 1 La Troienne on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2 but waited a week and it paid of. She bided her time early while entrymate Via Strata set a brisk pace. Wedding Toast came with a strong run into the lane to grab the lead and win comfortably. The Grade 1 Ogden Phipps here June 6 is her next target, though that’s also on the agenda for champion Untapable. Princess Violet, coming off a win in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland, stalked Via Strata from the start, took over from that foe turning for home, but was no match for Wedding Toast in the lane. House Rules, winner of three of her last four including the Grade 3 Top Flight at Aqueduct April 11, was next to the eventual winner from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly or as rapidly but plugged along well to just get up for third. Via Strata, part of the heavily favored entry with the winner and previously unbeaten in three starts, set a solid pace but and faded.

Belmont
Beaugay (race 7)

Discreet Marq was already the best in here on paper, and she also had a huge pace advantage. Making her first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar Nov. 30, she went right out to the lead, was able to get away with dawdling splits while under only modest pressure, kicked clear into the lane and held off a hard-charging Photo Call. The Grade 1 Just a Game on the Belmont Stakes undercard here June 6 may be her goal. She was fourth in last year’s Just a Game. Photo Call, shortening up after setting the pace and running sixth in the Grade 3 Orchid at 12 furlongs at Gulfstream March 28, lagged well back from the start and finished well. Recepta stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home and just held third. Testa Rossi lagged back while saving ground but never made a move.

Belmont
Man o’ War (race 9)

COMMENT: Twilight Eclipse notched a Grade 1 win after a string of close calls at that level. He dogged pacesetter War Dancer from the start though slow splits, kept after that foe in the lane and finally got the better of him in the final strides. The Grade 1 Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard here June 6 figures next. War Dancer had plenty of fuel left for the stretch drive and finished well clear of third. Hyper stalked in third, stayed on well but wasn’t a threat in the lane. Imagining, the defending champ, steadied sharply soon after the start, ended up last going into the clubhouse turn, and made a mild move between horses on the far turn. Hardest Core threw a fit prior to the start, delaying the start. He broke well to establish a good position stalking on the outside, made a mild move on the far turn but then gave way, ending up last. This was his first start since he set the pace and faded to eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 1, so he can surely improve.

Santa Anita
Vanity (race 5)

With Beholder scratched, Warren’s Veneda looked dominant on paper, but that’s not the way it played out on the track. My Sweet Addiction set a snail-like pace, which left her more than enough fuel in the tank to rebuff challenges from Warren’s Veneda and Gas Total. She’ll reportedly get a break now and return at Del Mar this summer. Gas Total, winner on turf here March 29 in her first U.S. start after racing in France, bided her time and came with a steady run for second. Warren’s Veneda, the 1-9 favorite off three straight powerful wins this meet, came with a strong run into the lane to look as though she was ready to take over, but suddenly flattened out and lost second in the final strides.

Santa Anita
American (race 8)

Bal a Bali, a Brazilian invader, made quite the auspicious U.S. debut and stamped himself a potential big player in the turf division. A winner of 11 of 12 in his native land and making his first start in over 11 months, Bal a Bali remained in midpack to the top of the lane, rallied between horses and finished well and get the win. He has excelled at distance up to 1 1/2 miles so while this was at a mile he can surely be effective at a longer game. He will reportedly next target the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile June 13, and should all go well there then races like Del Mar’s Grade 1 Eddie Read July 18 and the Grade 1 Arlington Million Aug. 15 would be very much in play. Talco, winner of his last two, lagged back and finished strongly in another good effort. Gabriel Charles was just in front of the winner early, got shuffled back into the lane but came home smartly once clear. Without the traffic woes he could have been in the thick of it late. Winning Prize dogged pacesetter War Academy from the start, got the better of that foe into the lane but was immediately tackled by Talco and weakened to finish fourth. After some stellar form to start his U.S. career after coming from Argentina, he’s now winless in his last five with only one second-place finish in that stretch.

May 10

Santa Anita
Lazaro Barrera (race 7)

Kentuckian, a son of Tiznow, cost $610,000 as a yearling and looked worth every penny when he romped by 11 in his debut at Golden Gate March 7. He came back in his first start vs. winners, first time on dirt and first time shipping to be third in the San Pedro here April 12, but he obviously learned his lessons there well. From his outside post he stalked the pace in fourth, moved closer going to the far turn, surged to the lead and drew off under a hold. The Grade 3 Affirmed here June 7 figures next and that would be his first route. Of course, with his pedigree that trip should pose no problem. Forest Blue, making just his second start after winning his debut here April 18, was just behind the winner from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly or as strongly as that foe turning for home but finished up nicely to be a clear second. The Gomper was last early after getting bumped at the start and ran on decently for third. Yiannis, front-running winner of the San Pedro over Kentuckian here April 12, set the pace under pressure from Serbian Syclone and both wilted in the lane.