Trip Notes for November 24-25, 2018: Clark, Kentucky Jockey Club, and more

Nov. 23

Aqueduct
Comely (race 9)

COMMENT: After dominating New Mexico fillies, Blamed missed the Kentucky Oaks due to injury (fractured right hind pastern) and went to the sidelines. She returned in the care of Bill Mott and showed up in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 20, her first start in seven months. She set a strong pace and stayed on well for second, a run that looks even better when you note the filly who beat her (Shamrock Rose) came right back to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill a few weeks ago. Moving back to a route here, the daughter of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Blame used her speed, her main weapon, to notch her first graded stakes win and stamp herself as a potential player in the distaff division in 2019. She went right to the lead, as expected, set a slow pace while under some pressure from Alberobello, was asked for run into the lane, quickly opened up a big lead and then held on as runner-up Remedy closed the gap on her. And while the runner-up had a terrible start, things didn’t go completely smooth for Blamed, as her undergirth came unbuckled during the running, though it didn’t seem to have an impact. Mott said the Grade 1 La Brea at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 is a possibility. Remedy, second in the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks last time out Sept. 30, basically went spread-eagle at the start to get away poorly, bided her time at the back of the pack once she got her footing reestablished, started to advance going to the far turn, came with a nice run on the turn and into the lane to close the gap on the winner but just couldn’t quite get to her while finishing far ahead of the others (10 lengths). Considering her lousy start and an unfavorable pace scenario, she ran extremely well. Indy Union, a rallying winner over first-level allowance foes routing at Belmont on Sept. 21, stalked the pace, moved closer turning for home and plugged along to get third while no threat to the top two. Alberobello, a smashing first-level allowance winner at Saratoga on July 26 but then a disappointing eighth in the Remington Oaks, pressed the eventual winner from the start through slow splits, was still on that foe’s hip on the far turn but then came up empty.

Churchill
Mrs. Revere (race 10)

COMMENT: Princess Warrior ran fourth in the very tough Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland last time out Oct. 13, and getting some class relief here did the trick as the drop into Grade 2 waters helped her garner her first stakes win. The daughter of Midshipman was a big overlay here, dismissed at 11-1 after being 7-2 on the morning line. On a course listed as “yielding,” she bided her time early as Arabella and Cool Beans volleyed on the front end. She remained in midpack to the far turn, moved out wide for clear sailing, came with a strong run in the lane to engage and go past leader Cool Beans and stayed on well to keep the hard-trying Get Explicit at bay in the final half-furlong. She could make some noise in the turf distaff division next year. Before that, though, she could go in the Grade 1 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on Dec. 29. Get Explicit, who rallied strongly for second at 70-1 in Keeneland’s Grade 3 Valley View on Oct 19, ran well yet again as she sat farther back than the eventual winner after getting bumped at the start, remained well back to the top of the lane before unleashing a strong run to pass all but the winner. Cool Beans, just a head behind Get Explicit in the Valley View, finished just behind that rival again as she dueled early with longshot Arabella Bella, dispatched that foe going down the backstretch to the far turn, opened up into the lane as if poised to go on to victory but couldn’t sustain her run in the final furlong. She’s good, but it could be that this distance is a bit beyond her, at least at this level. Stella di Camelot, favored off a smashing win in the Pebbles at Belmont on Oct. 13, her first start in the U.S. after being Group 3-placed in Europe, was disappointing as she seemed a bit eager early, stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home but never mustered a run when it mattered. You can’t blame the footing as her Pebbles win came on non-firm turf. Angel of Mischief, stepping up after two big wins in her first two starts on turf (and just her second and third career starts to boot), stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a threat turning for home as she got within a length of leader Cool Beans, only to then give way. This may have been a case of biting off a tad too much too soon, but it’s far too early to give up on her.

Churchill
Clark Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: Leofric continued his fine form as the son of Candy Ride made it 11 straight top-three finishes, eight of them victories, with another fine performance here. A good third in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Sept. 1, then a game winner of the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland on Oct. 27, he got his first Grade 1 victory as the 5-year-old again showed his courage, as he’d done with his narrow win in the Fayette. He sat fourth early as Prime Attraction set a decent pace, crept closer going to the far turn, came with his run into the lane, edged past a stubborn Prime Attraction, only to have Bravazo come immediately at him hard, fighting gamely to the line to rebuff that rival’s challenge. Bravazo, a well-beaten third in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here Nov. 5, ran well again as the son of Awesome Again sat back just behind the eventual winner, didn’t move as early or as strongly as Leofric but found his best stride in the lane to pose a big threat to him, but just couldn’t quite edge past. Seeking the Soul, the 3-2 favorite and defending champ who ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, sat back from the start, just behind the eventual top two finishers, shifted out for room on the turn as if poised to make a run but was never really a danger to the top two in the lane. Prime Attraction, a sharp second to Leofric in the Fayette when beaten just a head, went right to the lead, set a decent pace under pressure from Sightforsoreeyes, got the better of that foe turning for home, came off the inside into the lane, battled back when confronted by Leofric and, while unable to go with the top two, kept to his task, only relenting late. The top three could all target the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream on Jan. 26, which looms mouthwatering with the likes of Accelerate, City of Light, Mendelssohn, Yoshida, Audible, Battle of Midway, and Gunnevara also eyeing that big event.

Del Mar
Hollywood Turf Cup (race 6)

COMMENT: Chicago Style couldn’t quite get to Bigger Picture when they met in the Grade 3 Connally at Sam Houston earlier this year. But after a long layoff and a good return fifth in the Lure (at a mile, which is too short for him) at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, the son of turf champion and top turf sire Kitten’s Joy was primed for his best, turning the tables on ‘Picture to get his first graded stakes win. A horse you could have claimed for $16,000 in early 2017, the 5-year-old gelding ran second in this race last year as well. Here, he was away slowly, sitting last from the start as Ashleyluvssugar set a slow pace under some pressure from Marckie’s Water, remained last to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, put in a strong run, drifted inward near the sixteenth pole, got straightened and grabbed the lead late for the narrow win. He did have to survive a claim of foul from the trainer of Ya Gotta Wanna, who claimed interference when Chicago Style came inward during the stretch run, but the result was allowed to stand. He’ll reportedly point for the Grade 2 San Marcos at Santa Anita on Feb. 2. Bigger Picture, second and third in back-to-back Grade 3s in Kentucky in recent months, stalked the pace while saving ground, came out for room in the lane, made his run between horses, poked his head in front in deep stretch but just couldn’t quite fend off the winner in the final strides. The 7-year-old still has gas in the tank. Beach View was a big winner of the Grade 3 Cougar II on this main track July 25 and was supposed to then try the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, only to have those plans derailed by an injury. After four months off, he returned here on turf and showed he’s just fine after the setback and time off, lagged back while saving ground, came off the inside looking for room to make his run in the lane, had to steady when blocked much of the stretch, moved back toward the inside to find clear sailing and finished well along the rail. Ashleyluvssugar, the terrific veteran who has been a fixture in SoCal graded turf stakes the past few seasons, set a slow pace under some pressure from Marckie’s Water, stayed on the fence while holding a narrow lead, bounced out to a clear lead by midstretch as if going on to victory but tired and was overwhelmed by a few rivals in the final half-furlong. Of course, he’s a 7-year-old now and might no longer be quite up to this level, at least at this longer trip.

Nov. 24

Aqueduct
Discovery (race 6)

COMMENT: Three scratches knocked this down to a four-horse field, but the main story line remained – could Gronkowski get back on track toward being a really good horse, or was his big Grade 1 Belmont second the exception and not the rule, and he’s not cut out for top-level company? Well, this result may mean it’s back to the drawing board for Gronkowski as he was a nonthreatening third as Plainsman, who actually went off the 9-10 favorite, was a handy winner, notching his first stakes win. Coming off two straight wins this fall, the $350,000 son of Flatter went right to the lead, was quickly confronted by Bon Raison to his outside, volleyed for the lead with that rival through slow splits, held a narrow lead as the field was lined up abreast going to the far turn, kept the lead while holding the rail, dispatched with main pace rival Bon Raison turning for home, moved off the rail, quickly opened up a big lead and won geared down. He’ll likely winter with trainer Brad Cox’s first string (Monomoy Girl, Leofric) at Oaklawn and target that track’s series for older horses. Title Ready, second in a tough optional claimer at Keeneland on Oct. 21, stalked in third, pitched wide into the lane to make his run, kept to his task well but was never really a danger to the winner despite closing the gap on that foe. One reason the gap closed was that the winner was geared down at the wire. Gronkowski, eighth in the Grade 1 Travers and sixth in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup after his stirring second to Justify in the Belmont Stakes, was devoid of speed, as is his custom, to be last early in the small field, advanced smartly while wide going down the backstretch to reach contention as the field was four abreast, pulled back a bit and moved to the inside, came under a ride to try to get involved and, while able to make up some ground coming up the inside (he did nearly catch the runner-up), was never really a threat to the winner.

Aqueduct
Long Island (race 9)

COMMENT: If it’s a graded turf stakes for distaffers in New York, the theme likely has to do with trainer Chad Brown. That was the case again here as his onetime French runner Lady Paname closed with a rush to get the win. After competing in France in 2017, she was gone more than a year before surfacing in the U.S. for Brown at Belmont on Oct. 17 and rallying to nip allowance foes. She showed again here no ill effects from whatever sent her to the bench for so long as she lagged back as 5-2 favorite Lady Montdore set the pace before soon being supplanted by Night of England, remained in midpack to the far turn, came with a strong run into the lane to reach contention, then blasted home between horses in the final half-furlong to get the money. This doesn’t necessarily mean she’s ready to dive into deeper waters – heck, in her barn alone sit Sistercharlie and Rushing Fall, among others – but she could certainly do damage in the right spots. Tricky Escape, dropping after dueling and fading to sixth in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont on Oct. 7, stalked in third from the start, came with a smart run between horses in the lane, just inside the eventual winner, finished strongly but just wasn’t quite good enough. Danceland, fourth in the Flower Bowl, lagged far back, remained there to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane and finished with good energy. Night of England, also from the Brown barn, Group 1/Group 2-placed in Germany and making her first start in the U.S., was second at the first call to Lady Montdore but soon took command, moved out to a clear lead while holding the fence, came into the lane and held her clear lead to deep stretch before getting overwhelmed late. Lady Montdore was a bit disappointing. The onetime French runner won her first two U.S. starts this summer, both at Saratoga, including the Grade 2 Glen Falls, and was then a respectable third in the Flower Bowl. Here, however, she broke sharply, going right to the lead, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Night of England, continued to stalk that rival to the top of the lane, was still in with a chance by midstretch, only to then weaken. This could be a sign she’s in need of a freshening. Pollara, the third Brown entrant who was a Group 3 winner in France and sixth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine on Oct. 13 last time out, sat in midpack while saving ground, moved off the inside into the lane as if ready to make a run, but the run never came.

Churchill
Golden Rod (race 9)

COMMENT: Main track was listed as “sloppy/sealed”. Liora was allowed to go off the highest-priced horse in the race (27-1) despite the fact she was coming off a nine-length romp over maidens at this trip on this track Oct. 28. Obviously, she was taking a huge step up in class, but the $175,000 daughter of Candy Ride showed she’s the real deal, posting the big upset over heavy favorite Restless Rider. Liora went right out to the lead, set a modest pace under some pressure from 5-2 second choice Break Curfew, kept that girl at bay to the far turn, dispatched with her, only to be immediately confronted by 7-10 favorite Restless Rider to her outside, but fought on gamely for the narrow win. She’ll reportedly winter at Fair Grounds and take that path toward the Kentucky Oaks. Restless Rider, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 2, got a dream trip as she stalked in third, loomed ominously coming into the lane as if poised to blow on by Liora but was unable to get past that foe. She might have lost a little luster with this loss but remains one of the ones in the division. High Regard, third to Mother Mother in the Rags to Riches here Oct. 28, lagged back from the start while saving ground, steadily advanced, loomed a threat into the lane but flattened out. Break Curfew, the impressive winner of her debut at Belmont on Oct. 24, was jostled and bothered at the start, still had the speed to stalk the eventual winner, moved closer to that foe on the far turn but then gave way.

Churchill
Kentucky Jockey Club (race 11)

COMMENT: Track was still listed as “sloppy/sealed.” Signalman ran on well for third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here Nov. 2, and he validated that run and his affection for this track with another fine effort here, notching his first stakes win. From his rail draw, the son of General Quarter sat in midpack from the start as Topper T set a modest pace, crept closer going to the far turn, had to wait for room into the lane, found it, came through nicely, grabbed the lead and was able to outfinish a stubborn Plus Que Parfait for the narrow win. Trainer Ken McPeek said his primary spring goal would be the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland in April. Plus Que Parfait, coming off a game maiden win at Keeneland, sat well back from the start, made some progress to the far turn but remained well back, came out into the lane and finished with good energy to just miss. Limonite was at the back of the pack from the start, still had only one horse beaten turning for home but then came home with a smart, wide run to just get up for third. King for a Day, an impressive maiden winner in his first route at Belmont on Oct. 4, sat in midpack from the start, came with a nice run into the lane to grab the lead by midstretch but couldn’t sustain his run. Dunph, well backed after two romping wins to start his career, including an easy win in the Street Sense here Oct. 28, sat in midpack from the start, was wide turning for home and came up empty. Knicks Go, the tepid 3-1 favorite off a second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (where he finished a length ahead of Signalman), showed his customary speed to dog early pacesetter Topper T through modest splits, was still there turning for home but then gave way readily in a disappointing try. Could be after big efforts in the Breeders’ Futurity and Breeders’ Cup, his tank was empty.

Golden Gate
Berkeley Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Editore’s only prior start on this track was in this race a year ago, and he won easily. Well, it’s apparent he loves this place as he successfully defended his title. The Brazilian-bred, coming off a fifth in the Rolling Green on turf here Sept. 3, his first start in six months, didn’t have quite as easy a time of it this year as the 6-year-old lagged back early as longshot Black Tie Event set a modest pace, remained toward the back to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and finished resolutely to win a three-horse photo. Camino Del Paraiso, a modest sixth in the Bowling Green and third in this last year, appreciated the return to this main track (three of his four wins have come on this track) as he sat midpack, not far in front of the eventual winner, moved earlier than that foe, making his run on the turn, surged to the lead by midstretch and stayed on gamely, only to get foiled by Editore by just a neck. Flamboyant, second in his only prior try on this main track and dropping after finding Grade 2 foes in Southern California too tough in his last three starts, got knocked around at the start to be away slowly, sat well back at the start, steadily advanced into the lane and finished smartly to miss by just a neck and a nose. Mithqaal, dropping after finishing ninth in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita, stalked the pace, was still there to the far turn but then gave way readily.

Del Mar
Jimmy Durante (race 5)

COMMENT: Elsa was only seventh as the even-money favorite in the Selima at Laurel on Sept. 22, but it’s possible that the yielding turf was her undoing. They still thought enough of her to ship across the country for this, she caught firm turf and got back to top form, posting the upset. The daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom sat well back early as longshot Courteous ran out to a clear early lead, steadily advanced going down the backside, moved out wider for clear sailing, came with a strong run into the lane to engage and go past leader Courteous before drawing off to win easily. This doesn’t mean she wants anything to do with the likes of Newspaperofrecord, but she can surely do damage in the right spots. Courteous, a game winner over maidens in a sprint on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 6, her first try on grass, broke sharply from her outside post to go right out to a clear early lead, set a solid pace, then, taking some pressure from Creative Instinct, rebuffed that rival going to the far turn, rebuffed her next challenger, Velvet Queen, into the lane, fought on gamely and, while no match for the winner, showed heart in holding the place. Pivottina, the 2-1 favorite off a good fourth in the very tough Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine on Sept. 16, got away sluggishly, remained well back to the far turn while saving ground, pitched wide into the lane and finished with good energy, though she was never really a threat to the winner. Lakerball, a winner of her first two grass starts, including a romp in a stakes at Golden Gate on Oct. 27, stalked the pace while saving ground, was still in the mix turning for home and kept to her task decently, though she wasn’t really a factor in the lane. Monette, who showed ample ability in France and was then a sharp, rallying second in her U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Matron at Belmont on Oct. 8, was in midpack early, came out for room on the far turn but came up empty in a disappointing run.

Del Mar
Seabiscuit (race 7)

COMMENT: Despite the absence of the best SoCal miler/middle-distance turfers (Catapult, Fly to Mars, Hunt, Sharp Samurai, Next Shares), contention ran deep here, and Caribou Club picked the right day to run the race of his life, posting the mild upset. He showed quality when a good third in the Grade 3 Eddie D down the hill at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, nearly catching winner Stormy Liberal, who would come back to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill. From his rail slot while trying this distance for the first time, he bided his time early as Kenjisstorm set a solid pace under pressure from Secretary At War, remained in midpack to the far turn while saving ground, came out into the lane, came with a smart run to collar leader Secretary At War inside the eighth pole and edged clear. This was surely a nice win, though you get the feeling that if you ran this race five times, you’d get five different winners. He will reportedly point next for the Joe Hernandez down the hill at Santa Anita on Jan. 1 and, should all go well there, go for the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile there March 9. Secretary At War, a longshot at 72-1 after finishing sixth in the Lure at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, pressed pacesetter Kenjisstorm from the start, got the better of that foe into the lane while immediately challenged by Caribou Club and kept on gamely for second, though he was no match for the winner’s final half-furlong. Synchrony, a Midwest raider and multiple Grade 2 winner sent off the 8-5 favorite, lagged well back from the start, commenced a run turning for home, only to steady at the quarter pole, got going again and finished well, albeit too late. Big Score lagged back, just in front of Synchrony, moved earlier than that foe into the lane, though not as strongly, flattening out some in the final half-furlong to end up fourth. Ohio lagged back, advanced some going to the far turn, got shuffled back turning for home, swung very wide into the lane and was unable to make a dent.

Nov. 25

Del Mar
Native Diver (race 3)

COMMENT: Race was decimated by scratches, as an original field of six was taken down to three. Gift Box, who may well have been the second choice, scratched to await the Grade 2 San Antonio at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, while Kershaw scratched after winning an optional claimer here Saturday. Even before the scratches, Battle of Midway appeared to hold all the aces, but after the scratches, he had his two rivals over a barrel. Last year’s winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile returned to training this year after fertility problems. He looked like his old self with a romping win in the Comma To the Top at Santa Anita on Oct. 28 and showed courage here. A $410,000 son of Smart Strike, the 4-year-old went right for the lead, was immediately joined by Dabster to his outside, dueled with that foe, saw Dabster actually take a narrow lead going down the backstretch but stayed engaged with that foe, battling all the way to the line for the narrow win. Next up will reportedly be the San Antonio and, should all go well there, maybe a shot at the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream on Jan. 26. Dabster, a game second in the Grade 2 Marathon at Churchill on Nov. 2, dueled with the winner from the start, took a narrow lead down the backstretch but couldn’t quite outduel the winner in a fine try. Isotherm, third in the Grade 1 Awesome Again but then a dull ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, chased the top two and wasn’t really persevered with once his rider saw he couldn’t get to the pair.

Del Mar
Cecil B. DeMille (race 6)

COMMENT: Flying Scotsman, a son of grass champion and top grass sire English Channel, showed turf-miling ability when a game winner over maidens in his second career start at Santa Anita on Sept. 29. Well, he handled this big step up in class nicely as he sat second as the even-money favorite, just behind Vantastic who set a brisk pace, remained there to the far turn, came with a smart run to engage that foe into the lane, got the better of him and opened up to win with ease. He figures to target something like the Pasadena at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on March 2. There really aren’t many opportunities for him prior to that. Rijeka, coming off a decent third in the Zuma Beach on turf at this trip at Santa Anita, lagged back early, improved his position to be just behind the eventual winner turning for home, came with a decent run into the lane, was no match for the big winner but kept on well to get second. Vantastic, a big maiden winner on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 20, went right out to a clear early lead, setting a solid pace, held a narrow lead turning for home while holding the fence, was no match for the winner but kept to his task decently to only miss second by a half-length. Takeo Squared, third in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf here Sept. 2 and fourth, just behind Rijeka, in the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita at this trip on turf Oct. 8, broke a bit slowly to be last early, got pushed out wide even on the first turn even in this small field, stalked the pace from there but never mustered a run.