Trip Notes for November 21, 2020: Native Diver, Red Smith, and more

Aqueduct
Red Smith (race 9)

COMMENT: North Dakota made an early move into the stretch in the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland Oct. 15 but flattened out, ending up fourth behind Red Knight, Postulation and Ziyad, all of whom he faced again here. With that race under his belt (it came after 2 1/2 months off) and a bit more patience from his rider, North Dakota got his revenge as he notched his first graded stakes win. He sat midpack early as 151-1 longshot Real Factor shot out to a huge early lead. North Dakota got shuffled back a bit into the far turn but moved off the inside to start a run, pitched wider into the lane, and closed stoutly to catch leader Ziyad and outfinish Red Knight. Red Knight, well backed coming off that Sycamore win, sat far back while well off the rail, started to advance while wide on the far turn, pitched out into the lane to continue his run, and closed well while just inside the winner. Ziyad sat third, though he was well behind the runaway pacesetter, moved up to second into the far turn, inhaled Real Factor into the lane to take the lead, opened up in the stretch as if ready to go on to victory, but then tired a bit late. Sadler’s Joy, the defending champ and 9-5 favorite off a third in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Oct. 3, was devoid of speed, as is his custom, to be just ahead of Red Knight. He remained well back as Red Knight went past down the backstretch, swung out into the lane to start his run, moved toward the inside then back outside, and finished well for fourth.

Churchill
Chilukki (race 9)

COMMENT: Five straight wins including a couple Grade 2’s last fall/winter certainly established Finite among the best of her division. However, she suffered a setback requiring surgery to remove an ankle chip and went to the bench. After six months off came a dull return on Kentucky Downs turf Sept. 15 but that was followed by a very good second to top-class Venetian Harbor when moved back to dirt in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland Oct. 17. Finite confirmed she’s back on track as she was a handy winner here. She bided her time early as Risky Mandate set a solid pace, started to advance into the far turn while wide, and powered past her rivals. She looks primed to be a player this coming season in a strong that includes Gamine, Swiss Skydiver, Shedaresthedevil, Harvest Moon, Venetian Harbor, Speech, Bonny South, and Harvey’s Lil Goil. The Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita Dec. 26 could be next, though that’s also the reported target for Gamine. Sanenus, stepping up off a third in an optional claimer on this track at this trip Sept. 26, got bumped at the start but showed speed to sit second pressing pacesetter Risky Mandate. She took over from that foe turning for home, battled back when Finite came to her to her outside, and finished clear of the others. Whoa Nellie got away slowly to be last early, was still well back turning for home while saving ground, and finished with good energy along the inside. Grand Cru Classe, third just behind Finite in the Raven Run, stalked while inside, remained in the pacesetter’s wake to the midpoint on the far turn, got bounced around some when moving off the rail to go around that rival turning for home, and flattened out in the final furlong.

Del Mar
Native Diver (race 2)

COMMENT: Extra Hope was considered potential Kentucky Derby timber in late 2018/early 2019, but after a fourth in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn in 2019 was sidelined sixth months. After two good stakes tries a year ago he was then gone another nine months. But the 4-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby may be delivering on that early promise as he stepped up his game to notch his first graded stakes win. From his outside post in the four-horse field he went right out to a clear lead and was chased through modest splits by 2-5 favorite Midcourt, but wasn’t really under a lot of pressure. Extra Hope kept that rival at arm’s length and remained clear to the wire. Midcourt, the defending champ and coming off a third in the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita Sept. 26 behind Improbable and Maximum Security, got bumped hard by Royal Ship to his inside at the break, but still got a nice position sitting second behind the pacesetter. He tried to apply pressure down the backstretch only to get rebuffed, tried again in the lane but couldn’t get to the winner. Combatant stalked in third while saving ground and basically chased the top two throughout while staying inside. Royal Ship, a Grade 1 winner on turf in Brazil earlier this year and third in his only dirt start, stumbled badly at the start, going to his nose, then bumped hard with Midcourt which almost unseated his rider. Royal Ship got settled but was then last in the small field, made some headway going to the far turn while wide, remained wide into the lane, and couldn’t sustain his run.