Trip Notes for November 26-27: Cigar Mile, Remsen, Kentucky Jockey Club, Native Diver

Nov. 26

Aqueduct

Comely (race 3)

COMMENT: Verve’s Tale, stepping way up in class off just a maiden win, ran down heavy favorite Lewis Bay for the upset. From her rail slot she stalked in fourth off a slow pace while saving ground, starting her run on the turn, still had work to do by midstretch to get to Lewis Bay and kept to her task while well off the rail. Lewis Bay had a bit of an odd trip. Heavily favored off a wire-to-wire win in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm, she again shot right out to the lead, but then seemed to hesitate going into the first turn, handing the lead to Mo d’Amour, who volleyed with Big Mara through modest splits. Lewis Bay got back on track, stalked the pace while staying wide and in the clear, moved up to grab the lead on the far turn, opened up as if ready to go on to a big win, only to tire late and finish well clear of the rest. Going for Broke was well back early and came with a wide run into the lane to get third. Unbridled Mo, the second choice after four straight wins, stumbled at the start and never got involved.

Aqueduct

Demoiselle (race 6)

COMMENT: Miss Sky Warrior may have passed on the Breeders’ Cup, but this win, her third straight and second straight graded stakes win, stamps the daughter of First Samurai a filly to watch next season. Coming off a tally in the Grade 3 Tempted here Nov. 5, she went right out to set the pace. She set modest splits under pressure from Libby’s Tail, slowed the pace even further going to the far turn, dispatched with Libby’s Tail into the lane, and kept favorite Jamyson ‘n Ginger at bay to the line. Jamyson ‘n Ginger, a 15 1/4-length winner in mud at Belmont Oct. 9 and then a troubled fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, lagged well back early, came with a threatening run into the lane, bore out some in the lane, and finished far clear of the rest. Bonita Bianca, easy winner against New York-breds in her two starts, was well back early and finished with good energy to get third though. Libby’s Tail, second to Yellow Agate in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Oct. 8, dogged the winner, moved up to challenge her on the turn, but ended up a well-beaten fourth. Elandress and Ladies Day, each coming off a romping maiden win at Belmont, failed to threaten. Elandress sat way back early and never made a run, while Ladies Day stumbled and got bumped at the start, sat midpack, and made a mild move on the far turn.

Aqueduct

Remsen (race 8)

COMMENT: Mo Town stamped himself a potential Triple Crown player next season with a smart win here. A slight setback forced him to miss the Grade 3 Nashua here earlier this year after he easily beat maidens at Belmont in late September. In this race, the son of 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo sat second behind pacesetter Takaful, moved closer going into the far turn, made his challenge on the turn, grabbed the lead, and finished strongly to win going away. His final time (1:51.58) was nearly two seconds faster than the fillies ran in the Demoiselle (1:53.34) the same day. No Dozing, fourth to likely juvenile champion Classic Empire in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 8, bided his time early, advanced to fourth going to the far turn, moved closer on the turn, made his run into the lane, and finished well for second. Takaful, favored while making just his second start after a smashing debut sprint win at Belmont Oct. 29, held a clear lead to the far turn but couldn’t go with the top two and held on for third. Considering this was his first start vs. winners and that he was jumping in distance from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, this was a good effort. You’re to Blame, a maiden winner at Belmont Oct. 15, sat midpack and never mustered a run.

Aqueduct

Cigar Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Connect made it five wins in his last six starts and notched his first Grade 1 win here. The son of Curlin, coming off a win over Gun Runner in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, bided his time early as Anchor Down shot out to set a brisk pace while dueling with Threefiveindia. Connect began his run going into the far turn, continued his run while wide, joined leaders Anchor Down and Divining Rod on their outside into the lane, went toe-to-toe with Divining Rod as Anchor Down gave way, and prevailed by a nose. Divining Rod, second in the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland Oct. 29, stalked the pace, came with his run into the lane and battled Connect hard all the way to the line. Realm, a romping allowance winner here Nov. 5, stalked the pace, made a run with Divining Rod into the lane to briefly be in the hunt, but couldn’t finish with the top two. Anchor Down, winner of the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont, broke sharply from the rail to take the lead, set brisk splits dueling with Threefiveindia, got rid of that foe coming into the lane, but was immediately taken on by the top two to his outside and weakened. Economic Model, third in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Belmont Oct. 29, was away slowly and never mustered a serious run.

Churchill

Golden Rod (race 9)

COMMENT: Farrell was third to Lovely Bernadette and China Grove in the Rags to Riches here Oct. 30, her first route, but she had no trouble turning the tables on those gals while proving much the best here. A daughter of Malibu Moon, Farrell went right out to a clear lead, set modest splits, opened up into the lane, and continued to extend her advantage. Daddys Lil Darling, fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, was well back to the far turn, swung wide, and put in a sustained rally to get second. Ever So Clever, second to Daddys Lil Darling in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland Oct. 19, was bothered at the start, sat well back early, though a few places in front of Daddys Lil Darling. Ever So Clever made a move into the lane, and lost second to Daddys Lil Darling in the final strides. Lovely Bernadette, the second choice, chased the winner, made a mild run at her turning for home, but couldn’t keep pace. Dream Dancing, fifth in the Alcibiades, added blinkers for this race. She was well back early, pitched very wide into the lane, and was unable to get involved.

Churchill

Kentucky Jockey Club (race 11)

COMMENT: McCraken, a son of Ghostzapper, had no trouble making it three wins in as many starts, stamping himself a potential Triple Crown player next year. He was well back early as Uncontested shot out to set the pace, started his run while wide into the lane, and powered home to win under a hand ride. Wild Shot, third to likely champion Classic Empire in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 8, chased pacesetter Uncontested, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of him, and stayed on well to be a clear second. Warriors Club, winner of a restricted sprint stakes at Churchill Oct. 30, was routing for the first time. He stalked the pace, made a bid into the lane, and couldn’t keep pace with the top two. Uncontested, winner of his debut at Keeneland Oct. 16, took pressure from Wild Shot going to the far turn, battled back, but relented in the lane while able to hold fourth.

Gulfstream Park West

My Charmer Handicap (race 5)

COMMENT: Isabella Sings had her fill of chasing the likes of Tepin and Dacita this year and with no foes like that in this spot her speed proved lethal. The favorite, she shot right out to a clear lead, set modest splits, rebuffed a mild challenge from longshot Artesian on the far turn, and maintained her comfortable advantage to the line. Sea Coast bounced back after a seventh over soft turf in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont Oct. 23. She sat midpack early, steadily advanced, and ran on to finish second, well clear of the rest. Dad’s Princess stalked the pace and stayed on decently. Strike Charmer, the second choice after facing many of the division’s best, was well back early, steadily moved closer, came out wide into the lane, but could make only modest headway.

Gulfstream Park West

Tropical Park Turf Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: Lubash won this race in 2014 and came back to do it again this year – though he needed an assist from the stewards as original winner Rose Brier was disqualified. The 9-year-old Lubash sat well back early as Applicator set a modest pace, steadily advanced on the turn, pitched wide into the lane, and was putting in a strong run when Rose Brier veered to the right, forcing Lubash to check sharply. The DQ seemed the right call. Rose Brier, winner of a Maryland-bred stakes at Laurel last time out, stalked the pace, took command turning for home, but was struck by a left-handed whip and impeded Lubash. Coalport, coming off a victory at Keeneland Oct. 15, stalked the pace while saving ground, angled out into the lane, and stayed on well. War Correspondent, making his first start since running sixth in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Feb. 13, stalked in fifth, had traffic issues coming into the lane but kept on well for fourth.

Del Mar

Jimmy Durante (race 6)

COMMENT: Journey Home had raced just once, winning in a maiden turf route at Laurel Nov. 4. So, here she was being asked to ship to new surroundings and face winners for the first time. Well, the $200,000 daughter of War Front was up to the task. She was far back early, came with a run on the far turn, grabbed the lead inside the final furlong, and drew away. There was an inquiry because the foam pads that cover the drainage grates blew onto the course at the first turn and bothered several runners. Defiant Honor, coming off a maiden win at Belmont, went right to the lead, steadied and drifted out when coming up to the debris on the first turn, got back into stride, opened up a bit of a lead into the lane, but couldn’t match the winner in the final furlong. With Honors, winner of the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf here Sept. 5, steadied when coming up to the debris while pressing the pace, got back into stride, made a challenge into the lane, and just failed to catch the runner-up. Happy Mesa, second in the Surfer Girl on Santa Anita turf Oct. 10, steadied on the first turn when coming up to the debris, remained well back, and was able to make only modest headway in the lane.

Del Mar

Seabiscuit (race 8)

COMMENT: Ring Weekend, seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, bided his time early as Om dueled with What a View on the lead. Ring Weekend remained midpack to the far turn, swung out into the lane, and just got up to edge Vyjack. Vyjack, winner of Santa Anita’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, was just behind Ring Weekend to the far turn, and got going strongly between horses to just miss. Om, a strong-finishing second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, dueled with What a View through solid splits, finally got the better of that foe by midstretch while staying on the fence, but then couldn’t fend off the top two. Hunt, back to turf after finishing eighth in a dirt sprint stakes on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Nov. 4, was last early, still well back turning for home, and finished strongly. What a View, who blasted out to a big lead in the Breeders’ Cup Mile before ending up last of 14, grabbed the lead coming into the lane, but couldn’t maintain his run and tired to sixth. Hi Happy, the undefeated 2015 Argentine Horse of the Year, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but then gave way. This was his first race in almost a year.

Golden Gate

Berkeley Handicap (race 6)

COMMENT: Stryker Phd, off since a romping stakes win at Emerald Downs Aug. 28, was last early as Bronze Star and Southern Freedom volleyed on the lead. Stryker Phd swung wide at the top of the lane and blasted home to get up in the final strides. G. G. Ryder bided his time, came with a run to grab the lead, opened up in midstretch as if going on to a clear victory, but couldn’t fend off the winner’s charge. Tamarando stalked the pace, got shuffled back to last coming into the lane, but kept to his task for third. Southern Freedom and Bronze Star faded to end up next-to-last and last.

Nov. 27

Del Mar

Native Diver Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Midnight Storm was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and moved to dirt here. From his outside post he went right to the lead on a track listed as good after overnight rain, set a solid pace while on the rail, then blew the race open coming into the lane. Point Piper, sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last time out, sat fourth early, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and stayed on to hold second. Hard Aces, cutting back in distance after a second in the 1 7/8-mile Marathon at Santa Anita Nov. 4, was away slowly to be last early, remained well back going down the backstretch, steadily advanced, and came with a nice run in the lane for third. Imperative, the second choice after a stakes win at Santa Anita Nov. 3, stalked the pace in third while saving ground, loomed a threat turning for home, but gave way.