Trip Notes: Mother Goose, United Nations

July 2

Belmont

Mother Goose (race 9)
COMMENT: Last seen finishing second to Carina Mia in the Grade 1 Acorn here June 11, Off the Tracks was considered No. 2 of the three Todd Pletcher fillies in here, behind Rachel’s Valentina. But she bounced out to a clear lead, set quick early splits while under pressure from longshot Mom’s On Strike, dispatched with that foe, and had enough to fend off a challenge from Lewis Bay into the lane and draw clear to win comfortably. Lewis Bay, freshened since running third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 6, stumbled badly at the start, bumped with Rachel’s Valentina, was still able to get into stalking position while saving ground to the top of the lane, loomed ominously, and finished second. Lightstream, previously unbeaten in three starts, all at seven furlongs, lagged back, swung wide into the lane and closed decently. The disappointment here was Rachel’s Valentina, who was making her first start since fading to sixth in the Kentucky Oaks. She seemed in a good spot stalking in fourth after stumbling at the start and then bumping with Lewis Bay, made a bit of headway turning for home, swung out into the lane but never mustered a run.

Monmouth

Salvator Mile (race 11)
COMMENT: Likely favorites Green Gratto and Comfort scratched, leaving a field of four. Without those two speed horses to deal with, Res Judicata took advantage and notched his first graded stakes win. Coming off a fifth in a sprint stakes at Parx June 18, his first start of the year, he set a modest pace under pressure from 9-10 favorite Mr. Jordan, dispatched with that foe turning for home, opened up and didn’t have any worries in the lane. Allied Air Raid, coming off an optional-claiming win at Churchill June 3, was last early after stumbling at the start, came with a run on the far turn to look threatening but couldn’t sustain it. Mr. Jordan, winner of the Grade 3 Pegasus here a year ago and making his first start in almost five months, dogged the winner early, tried to make a bid on the turn, weakened, only narrowly held third.

Gulfstream

Carry Back (race 8)
COMMENT: Rated R Superstar was good enough to be Grade 1-placed routing last year at 2, but sprinting could be his best game now as he backed up an optional-claiming win at Churchill May 30 with a nice win here. A son of champion sprinter Kodiak Kowboy, he was allowed to settle early at the back, ahead of only first-time starter Jacopone. He started to advance as 2-5 favorite Awesome Banner set a fast pace while holding a clear lead, came out into the lane, reeled in the leader by the sixteenth pole, and was edging clear at the line. Awesome Banner, a graded winner sprinting, set fast splits, still held a bit lead by the eighth pole, but couldn’t fend off the winner’s charge while much the best of the rest. Bullet Gone Astray, a well-beaten fourth to Awesome Banner in the Big Cypress at Gulfstream June 4, lagged back with Rated R Superstar, and got going well enough to be a clear third.

Gulfstream

Smile Sprint Handicap (race 10)
COMMENT: Delta Bluesman notched his first graded stakes win. He broke sharply from the rail to get the early lead, was immediately joined by Chief Lion on the front end, dueled with that foe through hot splits, looked in deep water when Chief Lion took the lead from him on the turn, but regained the lead and opened up in the final furlong. Limousine Liberal, second in Churchill’s Grade 3 Aristides June 4, got a dream trip stalking the two duelers, was asked for run coming into the lane, but couldn’t get to the winner and only just nipped Chief Lion for second. Chief Lion, a winner of three straight, took command through a sizzling half-mile and just got edged on the line to lose second.

Gulfstream

Princess Rooney Handicap (race 12)
COMMENT: Spelling Again, romping winner of the Grade 2 Chilukki at Churchill last fall, got a dream trip stalking pacesetter My Miss Venezuela. She grabbed the lead while inside, was challenged by Kiss to Remember, dispatched with her, opened up a bit of an edge into the lane and fended off a hard-charging Cali Star. Cali Star, cutting back in distance after running fifth in a stakes on Aqueduct’s inner track May 5, lagged back early, was in tight turning for home, still had lots to do once straightened away, and finished strongly to just miss. Birdatthewire, favored off a fifth in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 7, was last early, came with a run on the turn to look very dangerous, but didn’t maintain her punch. Kiss to Remember lagged back, challenged for the lead with the winner on the far turn, dueled briefly, and flattened out.

Churchill

Bashford Manor (race 7)
COMMENT: Classic Empire stayed unbeaten in two starts, with a style and a pedigree that gives every reason to believe he can be a big player in the division as the furlongs add up. He rallied to win his debut in the slop here May 4, and here he was away slowly, ducking in at the start. He lagged back early as 1-2 favorite Recruiting Ready set a strong pace, moved out for room, returned to the inside to make his run into the lane, then swung out and finished strongly to surge past Recruiting Ready. He’s by Grade 1 route winner Pioneerof the Nile (sire of American Pharoah), with Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Cat Thief as his damsire, so he’s bred to go long. Recruiting Ready, 10 1/4-length winner of his debut at Pimlico May 28, set fast splits under some pressure from Tip Tap Tapizar, dispatched with that rival into the lane, opened up as if the issue was no longer in doubt, but then couldn’t fend off the winner. He still finished far clear of the rest. He’s got a pedigree that says he isn’t confined to sprinting. Tip Tap Tapizar, smart debut winner here June 11, dogged Recruiting Ready, but then couldn’t keep pace and stayed on for third. Riv, winner of his debut on Arlington’s synthetic track June 3, stalked in third, was wide on the far turn and weakened.

Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (race 9)
COMMENT: Smack, a longshot who was winless in seven starts this year and last ran fourth behind a couple of today’s foes in the Rasmussen Memorial here May 30, picked the right day to produce his best form. He sat back early as Shotgun Kowboy and S’maverlous dueled on the lead through solid splits, started to advance on the turn, swung wide, and got up in the final strides. Shotgun Kowboy, second in the Grade 3 Texas Mile and Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap in his last two starts, did all the hard work. He dueled early with S’maverlous, retreated to fourth by the eighth pole, but re-rallied to just miss getting the win. Pain and Misery, coming off three straight stakes placings at Sunland Park, was well back early while racing wide, began his run on the far turn while staying wide, and missed by just a neck and a head. S’maverlous, the favorite off three wins in his last four starts, got the better of Shotgun Kowboy turning for home to grab a narrow lead, and weakened a bit in the final half-furlong. Code West, who beat the winner when taking the Rasmussen Memorial here May 30, stalked in fourth, got shuffled back turning for home, but got going again to finish a length behind S’maverlous. Cyrus Alexander, easy winner of the Lone Star Park Handicap, stalked in third, loomed a big threat when second turning for home, but then gave way.

Santa Anita

Affirmed (race 5)
COMMENT: Dalmore backed up his route win here May 29 by stepping up and upsetting heavy favorite Danzing Candy. He stalked as Beaumarchais and Danzing Candy dueled through brisk splits, went after Danzing Candy after Beaumarchais fell away into the lan,e and outbattled that stubborn foe. Danzing Candy, making his first start for new trainer Bob Baffert and first since setting the hot pace and fading to 15th in the Kentucky Derby, was outrun early by Beaumarchais. He dogged that rival, moved up to challenge for the lead going to the far turn, took command, but was immediately taken on by Dalmore. He battled back and finished far clear of the others. Prince of Arabia, second to Dalmore May 29 and then ninth in a turf stakes here June 18, raced just behind Dalmore and plugged along to be a clear third.

July 3

Monmouth

United Nations (race 9)
COMMENT: World Approval came into this off a second in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill and a third in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont. It was finally his day in the sun. He sat second as longshot Cement Clement set a slow pace, surged past that faltering runner to grab the lead at the top of the lane, and stayed on well to prove clearly best. Money Multiplier, one of the three Chad Brown runners in the race, came with his run into the lane but couldn’t close the gap. Wake Forest, winner of the Man o’ War, came with a steady run but never was a threat to the winner. Triple Threat dwelt at the start, steadily advanced, and did quite well to get fourth. Mr Maybe, another Brown trainee, was well back until turning for home and then could pass just a couple outclassed foes.