Trip Notes for November 14-15, 2020: Bob Hope and Mrs. Revere

Nov. 14

Churchill
Mrs. Revere (race 10)

COMMENT: Race was moved from the turf to the main track due to soft turf condition, and the main track was listed as fast despite some light showers. The surface switch didn’t bother Princess Grace in the least as the daughter of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Karakontie was racing on dirt for the first time and handled it with aplomb. Coming off a second in the Grade 3 Valley View on Keeneland turf Oct. 16, the filly used her speed to sit outside and behind early pacesetter Positive Danger, dogged that rival through modest splits, took over on the far turn, and finished well. Pass the Plate, coming off a win at Keeneland Oct. 21 in an allowance race washed off the turf, lagged well back, advanced while wide, came with a run through the lane, was never really a danger to the winner but kept on well to be a clear second. How Ironic, who rallied strongly to be third just behind Princess Grace and winner Stunning Sky in the Valley View, sat at the back of the pack until turning for home while behind Pass the Plate, swung wide into the lane, and finished with energy for third. Stunning Sky, the favorite off a rallying win in the Valley View and a winner of her only prior start on dirt, stalked the pace while a few lanes off the fence, crept closer turning for home to briefly loom a threat but came up empty.

Nov. 15

Del Mar
Bob Hope (race 8)

COMMENT: Red Flag, a $220,000 son of Tamarkuz, switched back to dirt after winning his maiden on turf, and dominated this race. He got position sitting fourth early as Weston and 3-5 favorite Spielberg dueled up front, moved up wide to challenge for the lead on the far turn, took command, and drew away to win in a romp. Off this a shot at the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 19 could be in the cards, and since his sire won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile you’d expect the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Futurity would be within his reach. Uncle Boogie, a sharp second sprinting against winners here Oct. 31, was away slowly to be last early. He was still last on the far turn while wide, remained wide into the lane and finished decently to get up for second. Ambivalent, back to Southern California and down in class after fading to sixth in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Oct. 10, broke a bit slowly from his rail slot, came off the inside down the backstretch to get position just behind the early leaders, followed the winner on the turn, but couldn’t keep up with that foe in the lane and got outfinished for second. Spielberg, a $1 million son of Union Rags coming off two Grade 1 placings and then a maiden win here Nov. 1, vied for the early lead between rivals down the backstretch but started to get outrun into the far turn and tired thereafter. His trainer, Bob Baffert, said he didn’t ship well from his Santa Anita base, so maybe that accounted for his dull run.