Trip Notes for November 19-20: Delta Jackpot, Bob Hope, De Francis Dash, and more

Nov. 19

Churchill

Cardinal Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: After facing top-class turf distaffers last time out when sixth in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 8, Cash Control had no trouble proving her superiority here. The 5-year-old mare stalked in third as longshot Belle de Nuit set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, swung very wide for clear sailing, took command into the lane with ease and drew off to win with complete authority as the favorite. Kitten’s Roar, the 4-1 third choice after two big wins in Kentucky over lesser, bided her time early, came with a smart run but was no match for the winner. Lots o’ Lex sat second, dogging Belle de Nuit from the start, got the better of that rival going to the far turn, opened up on the turn, was no match for the winner but stayed on gamely, only losing second in the final strides. Real Smart, the 7-2 second choice after running ninth in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Oct. 10, broke very slowly, was sluggish early and never made a move in a disappointing outing.

Laurel

De Francis Dash (race 9)

COMMENT: On paper this looked like an intriguing match-up between X Y Jet and Ivan Fallunovalot, but on the track it was the latter who dominated the proceedings, winning easily. Coming off three straight wins, two of them stakes, Ivan Fallunovalot dogged X Y Jet, the heavy 1-5 favorite, from the start through solid splits, moved up easily to challenge that foe going to the far turn, wrested command from X Y Jet while still in hand coming into the lane before really being urged for run, and drew off to win easily. He’s been a wonderful claim – since trainer Howard took him for just $25,000 in early 2014 he’s earned over $740,000. Rockinn On Bye, whose last win came here over a year ago, bided his time early, moved closer going to the far turn, tried to make a run at the winner in the lane, was no match for that foe but kept to his task well to take second in the final strides. X Y Jet, fifth in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont last month, his first start in over six months, showed his customary speed to go right to the lead from his inside slot, took pressure immediately from the eventual winner while staying on the rail, tried to battle back when hooked by that foe turning for home, proved no match for him, tired some in the lane while changing leads a number of times, and lost second in the final strides.

Delta Downs

Delta Princess (race 6)

COMMENT: Shane’s Girlfriend, a romping winner of her only start, a sprint at Santa Anita Oct. 28, had no trouble with shipping, with new surroundings, with the huge step up in class and move to a route. She sat second as Flatter Up broke best and went right to the lead, continued to stalk that foe through modest splits, moved to the inside down the backstretch, had little trouble passing a tired Flatter Up turning for home, took command and drew off to win in a laugher. Her final time was quite a bit faster than what the boys ran for a mile about 20 minutes later in the 1 1/16-mile Delta Jackpot (1:37.98/1:38.64). Cajun Delta stalked the pace, tried to make a run going into the far turn, gamely went after the winner but was no match while finishing well clear of the others. Flatter Up went right to the lead, set modest splits, was no match for the winner when that gal made her move turning for home but stayed on decently to hold third. Golden Mischief, favored after three straight wins including a victory in the local prep for this, the My Trusty Cat here Oct. 21, blew the start, was well back early and never able to get involved. Caroline Test, fourth in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland Oct. 7, stalked the pace to the far turn but fell apart, ending up last.

Delta Downs

Delta Jackpot (race 7)

COMMENT: Gunnevara, favored after winning a Grade 2 at Saratoga and then running fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 8 (won by eventual Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire), showed his class as the son of Dialed In proved best. He broke slowly to be last early, was still last going down the backstretch, started to advance on the far turn with a strong run, circled the field to grab the lead by midstretch and drew off to win easily. Hot Sean, winner of two straight at Santa Anita last month for Bob Baffert, dueled from the start with Our Stormin Norman, stuck with that foe to the top of the lane, dispatched with that rival but had no answer for the winner’s charge by finishing far clear of the rest. He’s a son of Flatter who cost $550,000 so there’s reason to be optimistic here. Dangerfield, easy winner of the Oak Tree Juvenile at Pleasanton Oct. 1, his first route, lagged back just in front of the eventual winner, moved earlier to get involved by the far turn, was in the thick of it turning for home, but couldn’t challenge the runner-up and stayed on decently to hold third. Line Judge, winner of his last three including the main local prep for this, the Jean Lafitte here Oct. 22, was well back from the start and never got involved.

Del Mar

Bob Hope (race 5)

COMMENT: Mastery, a dazzling maiden winner for Bob Baffert in his debut at Santa Anita Oct. 22, confirmed himself a comer as the $425,000 sales buy by Candy Ride proved a smart winner here. He led wire to wire in his debut win and did so again here, going right to the lead in the seven-furlong event, only to be immediately challenged by stablemate Bernin Sensation. He dueled with that foe while to his outside, dispatched with that rival into the lane, and held a clear lead to the wire while not really being asked, keeping hard-trying California Diamond at bay. California Diamond, now with five wins and three seconds in eight starts, ran his race again but just wasn’t good enough. He sat fourth from the start, came with a run into the lane to briefly scare the winner but couldn’t close the gap while under a ride. Ann Arbor Eddie stalked in third, tried to make a run at the lead on the turn and into the lane, was no match for the winner and couldn’t quite keep pace with the runner-up in the final furlong.