Trip Notes for November 16: Red Smith, Commonwealth Turf, Mrs. Revere

Saturday, November 16

Aqueduct - Red Smith (race 7)

COMMENT: Imagining, a winner of 2 of his last 3 with the lone loss coming when overmatched in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, dropped in class and got back on track. He bided his time early, moved closer down the backstretch to be in stalking position while staying in the clear, moved up in earnest to challenge for the lead turning for home, got the better of stubborn pacesetter Mission Approved, and stayed on gamely to keep a couple hard-charging closers at bay. He could show up in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Dec. 14 or go to Florida and wait for something there. Hangover Kid and the filly Tannery were at the back of the pack from the start and both rallied smartly while wide to finish second and third, a nose apart. Slip and Drive, a 94-1 longshot, stalked the pace, was still in the thick of it in midstretch, but weakened a bit late. Howe Great lagged back, made a run into the lane, but flattened out. Hyper, the heavy favorite off some strong form, was never a factor. After a busy summer and fall, Hyper looks as though he’s in need of a break. Mission Approved broke sharply, went right to the lead, was able to set a snail-like pace, battled back when hooked in midstretch, but then gave way readily once headed.

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Churchill - Commonwealth Turf (race 7)

COMMENT: River Seven, coming off a freakish 10-length win on turf at Woodbine last month, showed he’s the real deal as the son of Johannesburg shipped to the U.S. and beat a nice bunch. He stalked the pace of Ruler of Love, gamely went after Frac Daddy after that horse had taken command into the lane, wore down that rival, and edged past. This shows also he’s not just a Woodbine specialist. He’ll reportedly go to Gulfstream for the winter. Frac Daddy, considered Derby material last winter, dogged pacesetter Ruler of Love from the start, took the lead into the lane, and battled back gamely when hooked by River Seven. The fact he handled turf so well opens up options for him, including possibly going next in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby Dec. 1. Kaigun sat midpack and finished well. Golden Sabre, who came into this a perfect 3 for 3 on turf, including a neck win over River Seven last time out, got away awkwardly to be well back early and was unable to get involved. He’s capable of better.

Churchill - Mrs. Revere (race 9)

COMMENT: Emotional Kitten, who more than held her own in some Grade 1’s in recent months, took advantage of this class drop and got her first graded stakes win. She was well back early, had to steady while inside going to the far turn to lose more ground, angled out into the lane and blasted home to get up in the final few yards. She could be a big player in the division next year. Effie Trinket, coming off two smart wins over New York-breds at Belmont, showed she’s the real deal as she sat midpack, came with a smart run to grab the lead into the lane to look like the winner, but couldn’t quite fend off Emotional Kitten while clear of the rest. Dance Again, a stakes winner at Woodbine last time out, was well back early, remained wide throughout, was still well back turning for home, but finished with good energy. Praia was back with the winner and closed well. Tapicat was far back early, put in a smart rally to reach contention into the lane but couldn’t quite sustain her bid. Nellie Cashman, a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner, stalked in fourth, loomed a big threat into the lane, but died on her run.