Trip Notes for November 23, 2019: Red Smith and Native Diver

Nov. 23

Aqueduct
Red Smith (race 9)

COMMENT: Sadler’s Joy has been knocking heads with some of the best turf horses in the world the past few seasons, and more than held his own, posting numerous graded stakes wins including a Grade 1 and coming off a sharp third in the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Belmont Oct. 5. He got some class relief here and made it pay as he stormed home for the win. The 6-year-old son of turf champ Kitten’s Joy lagged well back, as is his custom, as Glorious Empire and Red Right Hand dueled up front through modest splits, remained well back to the far turn while remaining well off the rail, swung further out to start his patented charge into the lane, surged to a clear lead by the eighth pole and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter, striding clear for the win. A dive back into the deep end of the pool could be at hand as trainer Tom Albertrani said the Grade 1 Pegasus World Turf Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 25 might be next. However, Albertrani added that the Pegasus may be too short for him, so he could instead await the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in late March. Red Knight, stepping up after a smart stakes win at Belmont Oct. 13, sat further back, a few lengths behind the eventual winner, swung wide on the turn to be alongside Sadler’s Joy, swung wider than that rival in the lane, gamely chased that rival, wasn’t good enough to threaten him but proved best of the others. Dot Matrix, trying graded stakes for the first time after a string of good races, the last few vs. NY-breds, stalked the pace from the start, continued to track the leaders while just off the inside, moved further off the rail down the backstretch, moved back toward the inside on the far turn and into the lane and kept to his task to get third, though he was never really a danger to the winner. Tiz a Slam, coming off a fourth in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer at Woodbine Sept. 14, stalked the pace, continued to stalk while well off the rail down the backstretch, moved closer while moving back toward the inside on the far turn to loom a threat but came up empty in the lane. Marzo, smart winner over a few of these in the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland Oct. 17, sat midpack from the start, crept closer going to the far turn, was in a bit tight, found a lane between horses in the stretch but was unable to threaten. Glorious Empire, a Grade 1/multiple Grade 2 winner but coming off a couple modest outings after a setback and a long layoff, dueled from the start with Red Right Hand while outside that rival, continued to volley with that foe to the far turn but gave way readily once headed in the lane. Could be that at 8 after that aforementioned setback he’s just not the same horse.

Del Mar
Native Diver (race 8)

COMMENT: Field was taken down to four with the scratches of Leading Score and Zestful earlier in the day. Midcourt, a $450,000 son of champion sprinter Midnight Lute (who was also a Grade 2 route winner) continued his ascent, winning his fourth straight, indicating he may be a force in the SoCal handicap ranks this coming winter/spring. Coming off a game win in the Comma to the Top at Santa Anita Oct. 27, the gelding went right to the lead here, set a modest pace under some pressure from Extra Hope, maintained that narrow lead to the far turn before rebuffing that foe, opening up and drawing off to win with ease. This showed versatility, too, as his prior three wins were all accomplished from off the pace. The Grade 2 San Antonio at Santa Anita opening day Dec. 26 may be next. Extra Hope, back to routing after a good third in a sprint stakes at Santa Anita Nov. 2, dogged the winner from the start, moved closer to loom a big threat going down the backstretch, tried to keep pace with that foe to the top of the lane, was unable to do so but kept to his task to hold second comfortably. Two Thirty Five broke last in the small field, sat back with heavy favorite Roadster, tried to make a run into the lane but was unable to challenge. Roadster, the 4-5 favorite off a sharp second in a sprint stakes at Santa Anita Nov. 2 (when beating Extra Hope), his first start in almost five months, was disappointing as he got away a bit awkwardly, sat at the back with Two Thirty Five while between horses, moved to the inside down the backstretch, came off the rail on the turn and into the lane but never mustered a run.