Trip Notes for November 10, 2018: Commonwealth Turf

Nov. 10

Churchill
Commonwealth Turf (race 10)

COMMENT: Hot Springs, a $750,000 son of juvenile male champ Uncle Mo, continued his ascent, overcoming a far-outside post to capture his second straight turf stakes and maintaining his perfect record over this course in four starts. Coming off a smart win in the Jefferson Cup here Sept. 29, he lagged at the back of the field with rival Zero Gravity as Marzo set a modest pace on a course listed as “yielding,” remained at the back to the top of the lane while holding the rail, started to advance into the stretch, altered sharply off the inside in midstretch for room and finished strongly to win clear. This one could make some noise in the turf division next year. Zero Gravity, back to turf after a game third in an allowance race washed off the turf onto a sloppy main track at Keeneland on Oct. 14, sat back with the eventual winner after a troubled start, was just in front of that rival to the top of the lane, rallied decently but couldn’t finish with the winner. Marzo, a $1 million son of Medaglia d’Oro who was back to turf after fading to fourth in a race washed off the turf onto a sloppy main track here Nov. 1, went right out to the lead, set a modest pace while staying inside, was clear turning for home and still held a clear lead by midstretch but couldn’t withstand the top two thereafter. Reride, a game second as the 1-2 favorite, just a head in front of Zero Gravity, on Oct. 14, stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home and into the lane but couldn’t sustain his bid. March to the Arch, a rallying fourth in the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont last time out Oct. 6, finishing just ahead of multiple stakes winner Raging Bull, pressed Reride from the start, was wide turning for home and came up empty.