Trip Notes for November 21: Delta Downs Jackpot, Tropical Turf, Red Carpet, and more...

Saturday, November 21

Churchill - Cardinal Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Button Down, second in the Grade 2 Canadian at Woodbine Sept. 13 and fifth in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor there Oct. 18, made a class drop pay off, winning as the favorite. She sat midpack as Invading Humor set the pace, edged closer going to the far turn, swung wide on the turn to launch her bid, and surged past her rivals. Lady Fog Horn, a winner of 6 of her last 7, all at Tampa Bay Downs and Indiana Downs, handled a big class hike with aplomb. She stalked the pace, tried to run with the winner into the lane, and stayed on to finish a clear second. Lacy, 12th in the E. P. Taylor, was bothered at the start to get away poorly, and came with a run in the lane to get third. Faulfiler, the second choice after some good French form and an eighth-place finish in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont Oct. 17, sat midpack and never mustered a run.

Delta Downs - Delta Downs Princess (race 6)

COMMENT: Jet Black Magic was a non-threatening third to La Apassionata in the My Trusty Cat here Oct. 23, but some time to mature, more distance and mud brought about a big move forward and she gained her revenge on that rival. Jet Black Magic was last early as Shesthewinner set the pace, started to advance going down the backside while saving ground, came out on the far turn for clear sailing, and swept to the lead and well clear. La Apassionata, the 1-5 favorite after two romping wins to start her career, stalked the pace, came with her run on the far turn to grab the lead from Above Fashion, still had the lead by the eighth pole, and finished second, far clear of the rest. Above Fashion sat just in front of the eventual winner, made her move to challenge for the lead turning for home, but couldn’t sustain her run. Shesthewinner drifted in going to the far turn, interfering with Angelita, and was disqualified from fourth to sixth. Angelita pressed Shesthewinner from the start but had to check and steady when that rival came over on her, losing her action and all chance.

Delta Downs - Delta Downs Jackpot (race 7)

COMMENT: On paper Exaggerator had the edge as he was a Grade 2 winner, Grade 1 placed, and coming off a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile - and it worked out that way on the track. Exaggerator broke from an outside post but had no trouble moving over to save ground and stalk early pacesetter Iron Dome. He had no trouble going past that foe after a half-mile, was headed by Sunny Ridge on the far turn, battled back, and outdueled Sunny Ridge to the line. Sunny Ridge seemed like the other class horse in the field, coming off a second in the Grade 1 Champagne in the slop at Belmont Oct. 3. He bided his time early, took the lead between calls on the far turn, and finished far clear of the others. Harlan Punch, second in the Jean Lafitte here Oct. 24, added blinkers and finished decently. Forevamo, winner of the Jean Lafitte, lagged back, made a mild move turning for home and flattened out.

Gulfstream Park West - My Charmer Handicap (race 4)

COMMENT: Lady Lara spent much of this year facing tougher foes, including a win in the Grade 2 Honey Fox at Gulfstream in March. The 8-5 favorite here, she stalked in fourth, saving ground as Pink Poppy set a modest pace. Lady Lara moved closer on the far turn, engaged Pink Poppy coming into the lane, got the better of that gal and drew off. Hope Cross lagged well back early, steadily advanced, and came with a nice run. Sandiva, making her first start since June 6, stalked the pace with the winner, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that gal but got going late and missed second by a nose while finishing just a nose ahead of fourth finisher Lori’s Store. Kitten’s Dumpling, well backed after winning a turf stakes here last month, sat midpack and weakened in the lane.

Gulfstream Park West - Tropical Turf Handicap (race 6)

COMMENT: Although the course was still rated as firm, heavy rain slowed down the course, and the final time here was more than seven seconds slower than what Lady Lara raan in the My Charmer an hour earlier (1:50.95/1:43.32). Lochte, a Grade 1 winner in 2014, showed he still has plenty left in the tank as he notched a third straight romping win. After winning the Mr. Steele by 4 1/4 lengths here and the Spider John by 3 3/4, he stalked the very slow pace of Inchcape, moved closer as Flashlight took the lead into the lane, got the better of that rival, and drew away to win easily. Flashlight was just in front of Lochte from the start, moved up to challenge Inchcape turning for home, grabbed the lead from that foe, was immediately confronted by Lochte, and stayed on well for second. Amigo was well back early and finished well. All Included, favored after running fifth in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker at Belmont Oct. 10, sat just behind the top two early and never mustered a run.

Del Mar - Red Carpet (race 8)

COMMENT: Rusty Slipper, fourth in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont Oct. 17, was impressive in victory, though she had to overcome a claim of foul from the runner-up. From post 11 she was able to get a nice stalking trip in fifth while wide early, then angled in toward the rail as defending champ Three Hearts ran out to a clear lead. Rusty Slipper came out into the lane and finished strongly to win going away. Her victory may have shown the relative weakness of the turf distaff division out West. Elektrum, the favorite, sat well back early, had to steady on the first turn, came out into the lane, and finished well. Her rider claimed foul against the winner for the trouble on the first turn but the stewards let the result stand. Three Hearts was still a clear leader by midstretch while noticeably tiring, and ended up third. Personal Diary stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her bid.