Trip Notes for November 27-29: Cigar Mile, Seabiscuit, Remsen, Hollywood Derby, and more...

Friday, November 27

Aqueduct - Go for Wand Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Taris was going longer than seven furlongs for just the second time, and she relished the one-turn mile here and got her second Grade 3 win of the year. Taris was coming off a troubled third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and & Mare Sprint and had a new rider in Joel Rosario, when Gary Stevens took off due to illness. She dogged early pacesetter Spelling Again, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, grabbed the lead, and won comfortably. She’s now run well on the Aqueduct inner, at Laurel, on Presque Isle Downs synthetic, on Keeneland dirt, Del Mar dirt, Santa Anita dirt and now Aqueduct main track dirt, so she can take her game anywhere. Mei Ling bounced back nicely with a drop in class and a distance cutback after fading badly to be eighth in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland Oct. 4. She sat third, not far behind Taris, tried to make a run at her and leader Spelling Again turning for home, couldn’t keep pace with the winner, but edged past Spelling Again to get second. Spelling Again, who came into this having won three of her previous four, including the Grade 2 Chilukki at this mile trip at Churchill Nov. 7, set a modest pace while under pressure from Taris and tired a bit late to end up third.

Churchill - Commonwealth Turf (race 10)

COMMENT: Almasty finished off the board on his only prior turf start, but the 3-year-old son of Scat Daddy, claimed for $30,000 in March at the Fair Grounds, romped on turf this time. He went right out to the lead, took early pressure from Bucchero, steadily increased his advantage while setting slow splits, burst to a clear lead into the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Saham sat well back from the start, started to move going to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, and finished well for second. Quality Bird sat midpack, swung wide into the lane and finished decently. Nucifera, the 4-1 favorite who fell in the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby Oct. 17, broke slowly, lagged back and never made a move.

Churchill - Clark Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: The first four finished within a length of one another. Effinex, the 5-2 favorite off a second to superstar American Pharoah in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, notched his first Grade 1 win. He bided his time midpack early in the clear as Mr. Z set a solid pace pressured by Shotgun Kowboy. Effinex moved closer as first Shotgun Kowboy took the lead going into the far turn and the Race Day took command on the far turn, continued his run to grab the lead by midstretch and stayed on to win. Hoppertunity, the defending champ, sat midpack, came with a strong run on the far turn and carried it through the lane but couldn’t get to the winner. Looks to Spare, the longest-priced horse in the race coming off a sixth in Grade 2 Marathon at Keeneland Oct. 30, lagged back, came with a smart run along the inside and doggedly kept after the winner in a fine try. Keen Ice, best known for winning the Grade 1 Travers defeating Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, was slow into stride, as is his custom. He saved ground while sitting last, was still last straightening away into the stretch, but finished strongly between horses to be a good fourth. Protonico, second in this race last year to Hoppertunity, sat back early, moved up eagerly along the inside to loom a threat going to the far turn, but just as quickly backed out of it.

Del Mar - Seabiscuit (race 8)

COMMENT: Midnight Storm had flashed big-time ability, but a sour summer and fall kept him from his original target, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland. However, a layoff and return to his best game (middle distance on turf) did the trick and he beat a strong bunch. While his speed hasn’t always been under control, here he showed patience as he stalked early pacesetter Macro Access. He closed the gap on that foe, grabbed the lead into the lane and drew clear. Bal a Bali, coming off a win here Oct. 30, stalked in fourth, made a run at the winner into the lane, but just wasn’t good enough. Toowindytohaulrox bided his time and closed well. Seek Again, the 2.40-1 favorite, was well back early, last coming into the lane, and surged late to get fourth. Alert Bay stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home but flattened out. Avanzare was slow into stride, pitched wide into the lane but never mustered a run. This was a real tough bunch and while the winner impressed you get the feeling that if you ran this race five times you might get five different winners.

Saturday, November 28

Aqueduct - Demoiselle (race 3)

COMMENT: Lewis Bay was favored off a maiden sprint win at Belmont Oct. 18, and she had no trouble with the big step up in class or much longer distance as she won comfortably and stamped herself a filly to watch come 2016. It’s no surprise she handled the trip, being by 3-year-old champ Bernardini with plenty of stamina on the bottom (damsire is Grade 1 Preakness winner Summer Squall). She stalked in fourth as Lost Raven set a very slow pace, remained a few lengths off the lead going to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane for clear sailing, grabbed the lead early in the stretch and edged clear late. Thrilled, trying dirt for the first time after fading to 11th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, dogged Lost Raven from the start and kept to her task nicely for second. That she handled dirt was no shock considering she’s by 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo. Disco Rose sat back early, just behind Lewis Bay, made a wide move to go up and grab the lead turning for home, but couldn’t sustain her bid. Flora Dora, second in the Grade 3 Tempted at a mile here Nov. 4, broke slowly to be last early, saved ground, was still last turning for home and could make only minimal headway.

Aqueduct - Remsen (race 5)

COMMENT: Mohaymen cost $2.2 million at auction and we’re beginning to see why, as the son of Tapit and half-brother to 2013 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day stayed unbeaten in three starts and put his name among the top few for any Kentucky Derby prospect list. Coming off an easy win in the Grade 2 Nashua here Nov. 4 and getting Lasix for the first time (he reportedly trickled blood in the Nashua), he stalked toward the inside as Donegal Moon set a modest pace. Mohaymen bided his time there to the far turn while traveling very comfortably, was asked for run turning for home, came through between horses to engage the leaders and edged clear late. His final time for the 1 1/8 miles was almost three seconds faster than what Lewis Bay ran winning the Demoiselle about an hour earlier (1:50.69/1:53.41). Flexibility, a son of Grade 1 route winner Bluegrass Cat, ran second to Mohaymen in the Nashua and did it again here. He pressed pacesetter Donegal Moon, moved up to contest the lead with Mohaymen into the lane, but as in the Nashua he couldn’t keep up with that rival in the final furlong while drifting out some. It was still a nice run and there’s not a whole lot separating him from Mohaymen. Gift Box, a maiden winner at Belmont Oct. 3, gave trainer Chad Brown a 2-3 finish. He sat midpack, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it and finished third, five lengths clear of the rest. Sail Ahoy, third in the Nashua, added blinkers but still didn’t show much speed. He came with a threatening run on the far turn while on the rail, switched to the outside, but couldn’t sustain his run.

Aqueduct - Comely (race 7)

COMMENT: Forever Unbridled had only a maiden win to her credit but she was graded stakes placed. She moved forward off a rallying fifth in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland Oct. 17 to notch her first graded stakes win. She stalked in fourth as pacesetter Temper Mint Patty was pressed by favorite Carrumba through modest splits, moved closer as Carrumba took command on the far turn, challenged that foe into the lane and battled gamely to just edge that rival. This was just her second start after five months off so she may be primed for a strong winter and maybe beyond. Carrumba, coming off three straight romping wins over lesser, ran very well in defeat. She took over from Temper Mint Patty on the turn, battled back when hooked by the eventual winner, and finished second, 7 ½ lengths clear of the rest. Wonder Gal seemed in a great spot stalking the pace, loomed a threat on the far turn but then couldn’t keep up with the top two in the lane. Peace and War was very slow into stride, as is her custom, sitting last early, was still last turning for home, pitched very wide and passed a few rivals and get fifth.

Aqueduct - Cigar Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: Tonalist tossed in a rare clunker when fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, but apparently that was just a hiccup as he returned to New York, cut back to a mile (which he’d handled so well when second in the Grade 1 Met Mile), added blinkers and got back to form. He sat back as defending champ Private Zone shot out to a clear lead while very rank through moderate splits, moved closer going down the backstretch, then seemed to lose ground and looked in deep water while spinning his wheels on the far turn. Tonalist swung wide into the lane for clear sailing and unleashed a powerful late run – a final quarter in 23.23 - to get up in the final strides. He’s supposed to remain in training in 2016. Red Vine gave trainer Christophe Clement a 1-2 finish. Coming off a third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, he stalked from the rail, shifted off the rail for room in midstretch, and came with a strong run between horses in the lane. Matrooh, coming off an easy win in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler, stalked outside Private Zone, moved up with Mshawish to challenge for the lead in the stretch and stayed on to be third. Mshawish, making his first start on dirt, sat just behind the leaders, came out into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch looking as though he might win, but couldn’t sustain his run and just failed to hold third. This showed he handles dirt though he still appears better on turf. Private Zone, the defending champ and coming off a smart second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was very rank out of the gate, shot out to a clear lead, but didn’t have his usual fight in the lane as his early-race antics left him with little gas in the tank.

Churchill - Golden Rod (race 9)

COMMENT: The track was sloppy (sealed) as rain continued through the day. Carina Mia couldn’t handle Stageplay when the two debuted together at Keeneland Oct. 10, but she gained her revenge and stamped herself a potential challenger to Songbird come 2016. Coming off a 9 3/4-length romp over maidens sprinting at Keeneland Oct. 29, Carina Mia routed here for the first time, and it’s no surprise she could go at least this far, being by Malibu Moon. She bounced out to a clear early lead, was able to get away with soft fractions, rebuffed a challenge from favorite Stageplay turning for home, and won easily. Stageplay, the 8-5 favorite off a strong win in the Rags to Riches here Nov. 1, chased the winner from the start, got close to that foe in midstretch, and settled for second. Dream Dance lagged back early, came with a run on the turn and into the lane, but by then the top two were already long gone. Dothraki Queen, well backed after running third to Songbird in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, sat well back from the start, started to advance on the turn, swung very wide into the lane, and could make only modest headway.

Churchill - Kentucky JC (race 11)

COMMENT: Airoforce had raced only on turf – and very nicely, as a matter of fact – but with his pedigree and the way he’d trained over the surface, trainer Mark Casse figured now was as good a time as any to see if the son of Colonel John could handle dirt. The answer was an emphatic yes, though the race came on a sloppy (sealed) track. Racing with blinkers for the first time, he sat well back early as Derby Express set the early pace, moved closer going to the far turn while saving ground, found a clear lane into the stretch, and powered home to win going away. Mor Spirit, a maiden winner at Santa Anita Oct. 23 for trainer Bob Baffert, showed he’s one to watch. The son of Grade 1 winner Eskendereya stalked the pace, moved up to take the lead coming into the lane as if ready to go on with it, but then surrendered the lead to Gun Runner. He rallied again past that foe but the winner surged past. Mo Tom, winner of the Street Sense here Nov. 1, broke slowly, was well back while saving ground, and finished smartly. Gun Runner, unbeaten in his first two starts, stalked the pace, came with a run to grab the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his bid. Annual Report, previously unbeaten in two starts, including a win in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont Oct. 17, was well back from the start, swung very wide into the lane, and could make only modest headway. His rider said he didn’t handle the sloppy going.

Hawthorne - Hawthorne Gold Cup (race 8)

COMMENT: Commissioner, who won two Grade 3’s earlier this year before a couple dull outings, bounced back to form. The heavy favorite, he stalked in third as Majestic Harbor set a decent pace, moved closer to that foe turning for home, challenged that rival, put him away and drew off to win easily. Neck ‘n Neck, third in the Grade 2 Marathon at Keeneland Oct. 30, came with a steady run in the lane and finished well clear of the rest. Majestic Harbor, second in the Grade 2 Marathon, battled back briefly when hooked by the winner turning for home. Valiant City, stepping up in class after three straight allowance wins, chased Majestic Harbor from the start but weakened when it mattered. Mister Marti Gras, second in this last year, sat last early and could make no real headway.

Del Mar - Jimmy Durante (race 5)

COMMENT: East Coast shipper Family Meeting was facing winners for the first time and broke from post 12, and still was able to post the upset. The daughter of Sky Mesa was away a bit slowly, though that might have helped as she was able to avoid getting hung out to dry. She sat well back, came out on the far turn for a clear lane, and finished smartly to get up in the final few strides. There’s quite a bit of upside here. Mokat, so impressive blasting maidens in her first turf start here Oct. 31, sat midpack, came with a run into the lane, looked like the winner in midstretch, but couldn’t fend off Family Meeting. Sutton’s Smile, a maiden winner on the Santa Anita turf Oct. 17, raced with Mokat much of the way, moved earlier to loom a threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run. Jeremy’s Legacy, winner of her first U.S. start when easily beating maidens on turf here Nov. 21, dogged pacesetter Corps de Ballet from the start, was still in the thick of it in midstretch, but then weakened. Riri, favored after winning her first two starts, both on turf, stalked in third, was still in contention coming into the lane, shifted out looking for room, but then steadied sharply and gave way.

Del Mar - Hollywood Derby (race 7)

COMMENT: Trainer Tom Proctor won the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante on turf earlier on the card with Family Meeting and upset this turf race with Chiropractor. Coming off a rallying second to Poshsky here Nov. 6, Chiropractor sat eighth as Acceptance set a modest pace, edged closer before hitting the top of the lane, and got up in the final strides. March, fourth in a turf stakes at Belmont Oct. 25, his first grass start, sat back just in front of the eventual winner. He rallied with that foe while wider and came up just a head short. Om wasfavored off impressive wins in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby and Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. He won those on the front end. Here he was outrun early by Acceptance so he had to stalk the pace. He moved past that tiring rival to grab the lead on the far turn, opened up into the lane, and held for third. Fundamental, fifth in a turf stakes at Keeneland last time out, sat midpack, was in tight when trying to make a move into the lane, and got going again. Offering Plan, coming off a turf stakes win at Belmont, lagged well back early, was very wide into the lane, and finished well. Closing Bell seemed in a good spot stalking the pace in third but then came up empty.

Del Mar - Native Diver (race 8)

COMMENT: There were some concerns about Dortmund because a quarter crack prevented him from shipping to Churchill Downs for the Grade 1 Clark, but he was deemed well enough to run here and put to rest questions about his foot with a dominant victory. He stalked pacesetter Majestic City, had little trouble wresting command from that foe on the far turn, opened up into the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. It was later reported he mistakenly carried three pounds more than he should have. Imperative looks rejuvenated since moving to the barn of Richard Baltas. Winless since taking the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in April 2014, he lagged back and finished well, though he was never a danger to the winner. Iron Fist, second in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 19 before easily winning an optional claimer here Nov. 1, bided his time and finished decently.

Sunday, November 29

Golden Gate - Berkeley Handicap (race 6)

COMMENT: Poshsky won a tough optional claimer on turf at Del Mar Nov. 6, beating a horse named Chiropractor who came back to win the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar Saturday. Poshsky proved his quality as well here, as he shipped north and came away with a Grade 3 win. He stalked in third as Ankeny Hill set a solid pace, went after leader Pepper Crown in the lane, and got up in the final strides. Pepper Crown lagged back, made a strong run up the rail, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. G. G. Ryder, the favorite, chased Ankeny Hill from the start, stayed on gamely, but wasn’t good enough to counter the top two. Silentio lagged back while wide, made an early move to get closer, but then gave way to end up last.

Del Mar - Cecil B. DeMille (race 6)

COMMENT: Airoforce had already flattered the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with his win in Saturday’s Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. Dressed in Hermes further flattered that race, as after finishing fifth there he returned to Southern California and notched his first graded stakes win. The 7-2 choice, he sat well back early as Manhattan Dan set a solid pace, steadily advanced, kept wide into the lane, and powered home to win going away. Collected, winner of his debut down the hill at Santa Anita Oct. 12, chased Manhattan Dan, took over from that rival on the far turn, had a clear lead by the eighth pole and settled for second. Frank Conversation, a maiden winner down the hill at Santa Anita Oct. 16, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the lead turning for home, and stayed on for third. Rare Candy sat back with the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate as rapidly but got going late to just miss getting third.

Del Mar - Matriarch (race 8)

COMMENT: Stormy Lucy was once good enough to win a Grade 2 and Grade 3 in early 2014, but her form has been spotty since. However, she picked the right day to turn back the clock as she posted a huge upset while notching the biggest win of her career here. In a roughly run race, she sat back as Curlin’s Fox set a sharp pace, came with a smart run into the lane but was blocked behind a wall of horses, found a seam, moved through and to the outside, and surged late to get up for the 65-1 win. Recepta, back with females after not liking the soft ground and being no factor in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, rebounded with the return to firm footing. She stalked a few lengths off the pace, came with a wide run to grab the lead, looked like the winner in midstretch, but couldn’t fend off Stormy Lucy’s surge. Filimbi, multiple Grade 1-placed at a mile on turf, was well back early as the favorite, steadily advanced to the far turn, had traffic issues there, got clear late and finished well. Queen of the Sand, second in this last year and coming off a second in the Grade 2 Goldikova here Nov. 1, broke from post 12. She was far back early, ahead of only much-troubled Hard Not to Like, came out into the lane and finished well. Hard Not to Like, a two-time Grade 1 winner earlier this year and making perhaps the final start of her career, stumbled badly leaving the gate, going to her face and losing all chance.