Trip Notes for November 28-29, 2020: Clark Handicap, Hollywood Derby, and more

Nov. 27

Churchill
Clark Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Up to this point, Bodexpress’s story arc had been more tilted toward infamy rather than fame as he ran second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby as a maiden, lost his rider in the Grade 1 Preakness in 2019, and had pre-start issues in a few other races. However, this was a day of fulfillment as the son of Bodemeister put it all together and notched his first stakes win, a Grade 1 at that. Coming off an 11 1/4-length win over optional claimers at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 17, he showed his customary speed to dog early pacesetter and 155-1 longshot Phantom Currency through modest splits, was still in the mix turning for home as Mr Freeze took over from the tiring Phantom Currency, got the better of Mr Freeze by midstretch, opened up some, and had enough left to fend off hard-charging 8-5 favorite Code of Honor in the final furlong. Off this, a shot at the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 23 figures on his docket. Code of Honor, the favorite off a second to top-class Complexity in the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Oct. 3 at a one-mile trip likely short of his preference, was a bit slow into stride early. He settled midpack a few lanes off the rail into the backstretch, advanced on the far turn, was in a bit tight between horses into the lane, surged through between rivals for clear sailing, and finished strongly outside Bodexpress. He ran quite well in defeat and the Pegasus World Cup could be next as well. Tiz the Law, maybe Knicks Go, defending champ Mucho Gusto and upstart Forza Di Oro could all show up there as well. Owendale, coming off a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland Nov. 7, got bumped at the start to get away slowly, ending up well back into the first turn and the backstretch. He moved wide on the far turn as he advanced, pitched wider still turning for home to actually get ahead of Code of Honor into the lane while outside that rival, but couldn’t finish with that foe. The Pegasus World Cup could be on his radar as well. Mr Freeze, coming off a sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, stalked the pace, came with a run on the far turn to take the lead, was still in the thick of it into the lane as Bodemeister challenged to his outside, but couldn’t stay with that rival and the other closers in the final furlong. This trip is likely a bit beyond his reach, at least at this level. By My Standards, the 3-1 second choice off an eighth in the brutally tough Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7, was in midpack between horses to the far turn just behind Code of Honor. He was still threat the top of the stretch, came out for room once straightened away, but was lacked the needed oomph to get involved. Aurelius Maximus, coming off a second in the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland at this trip Oct. 10 when beaten just a neck by Mr Freeze, stalked to the far turn while wide, remained wide turning for home and came up empty.

Del Mar
Hollywood Turf Cup (race 7)

COMMENT: Arklow’s participation in this was at risk a few days ago due to some travel schedule issues, but the 6-year-old son of Arch got here and proved victorious. Coming off a sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland Nov. 7 where he was beaten by just 3 3/4 lengths by world-class foes, he showed the tactical speed to be midpack early while saving ground as Acclimate ran out to a clear lead through modest splits. Arklow moved closer outside the pacesetter down the backstretch, looked in trouble going to the far turn as he lost some position, but got going again turning for home. He challenged for the lead into the lane, overtook Acclimate by midstretch and kept Laccario at bay to his outside. He is almost a 7-year-old now, so if he stays in training surely another shot at the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 25 is in the cards. He ran fifth in that race last year. Laccario, second in his first start in the U.S. in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch at Belmont Oct. 3, stalked just ahead of the eventual winner early, took back some into the backstretch while saving ground, crept closer going to the far turn while staying inside, angled out for room turning for home, and finished well. The turf distance division in the U.S. isn’t the strongest so he could prove to be big player in the division in 2020. Say the Word made it a clean sweep for the raiders. The 5-year-old gelding, coming off a Grade 1 win at Woodbine Oct. 18, sat well back to the far turn, pitched out into the lane, and finished with good energy. This result pretty much confirmed that the SoCal turf distance runners, save for United, have some work to do to compete with the best of the division nationwide. Say the Word is now based in SoCal, so he can help remedy that situation. Acclimate, making his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita a year ago, went right out to a clear early lead and set a modest pace. He battled back when hooked turning for home, continued on gamely to midstretch just inside the eventual winner before finally succumbing to that rival and a couple other closers in the final half-furlong. Red King, ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, lagged back just ahead of Say the Word while saving ground, came out into the lane just behind Say the Word, and finished well.

Nov. 28

Aqueduct
Discovery (race 3)

COMMENT: Forza Di Oro flashed promise last year as a juvenile, but after fading badly in the Grade 2 Remsen here last Dec. 7, he wasn’t seen again for 10 months. He came back nicely, though, to beat first-level allowance rivals routing at Belmont Oct. 9 and stepped up his game further here. He got to the rail where he sat just behind pacesetter Monday Morning Qb, crept closer to be nipping at Monday Morning Qb’s heels on the far turn while well in hand, but had to wait for room as Ralston to his immediate outside kept him hemmed in along the rail. Forza Di Oro moved off the rail, surged through an opening, and went past Monday Morning Qb to the outside, changing leads late. Off this, maybe a shot at the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 23 is in the cards. Monday Morning Qb, coming off a win in the Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Oct. 24, set a modest pace under pressure from Ralston, who was just outside and behind. He started to kick away from the field turning for home, but was soon confronted by Forza Di Oro to his outside, and kept to his task to hold second. Shared Sense, freshened since a win in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park Sept. 27, bided his time early at the back of the pack, though he wasn’t far off the lead. He crept closer while a few lanes off the rail, was urged to get more involved on the far turn, advanced while widest of a quintet, loomed a threat into the lane, but couldn’t keep up with the top pair. Attachment Rate, 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and then a romping winner over first-level allowance foes in slop at Churchill Oct. 29, stalked while a couple lanes off the rail. He moved closer while racing with Ralston and outside the eventual winner, remained between horses turning for home, seemed a bit intimidated in that traffic and pulled back some into the stretch, moved down to the rail, and got going, though he wasn’t really a threat in the lane.

Aqueduct
Long Island (race 10)

COMMENT: Inner course listed as good. Mutamakina had a brutally bad trip when third in the Zagora in her U.S. debut at Belmont Oct. 31. Today, she sat a few lengths off an incredibly slow pace set by Traipsing, seemed a bit rank early, but settled along the rail midpack first time under the wire. She crept closer down the backstretch as she came just off the rail, and advanced on the far turn between horses. Mutamakina was just in behind Eliade into the stretch, and it looked as though she might get trapped, but she darted down to the rail and surged through along the fence to get the win. Traipsing, a longshot making her first start in a graded stakes and first start going this far, set a slow pace with Beau Belle pressing to her outside. She dispatched with that rival on the turn, had plenty left to rebuff Eliade, who threatened to her outside into the lane, and looked as though she might go on to the upset. But Traipsing came off the rail a bit, giving Mutamakina a lane, and finished second, giving trainer Christophe Clement the exacta. Delta Kingdom, third to Eliade in a second-level allowance race going long at Keeneland Oct. 8, stalked the pace a few lanes off the rail to the far turn, moved wider still into the lane, and finished decently to edge Eliade for third. Eliade, coming off a second-level allowance win at Keeneland Oct. 8, stayed on the rail in Traipsing’s wake to the far turn, came off the rail into the lane, loomed a big threat in the stretch, but tired some in the final furlong to lose third. A number of closers in this race had little or no chance with the snail-like pace and the race shape.

Churchill
Golden Rod (race 9)

COMMENT: Travel Column was no match for Simply Ravishing in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland Oct. 2, finishing a well-beaten third after a troubled start. Well, the $850,000 daughter of Frosted had another bad start here then traffic issues on the far turn and in the stretch, but was able to post an impressive win and stamp herself among the division elite. She got squeezed back at the start to get away last, and remained there into the backstretch as outsider Farsighted set a modest pace. Travel Column started to advance heading to the far turn, and was between horses in traffic on the far turn and had to wait for room. First she tried to go to the inside into the stretch, only to have that lane shut off, then shifted hard to the outside, found clear sailing and surged late to go past Clairiere in the final strides. Clairiere is a regally bred filly by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out of multiple Grade 1 winner Cavorting who rallied from well back to win her route debut here Oct. 25. Today, she bided her time early while a few lanes off the rail, steadily advanced down the backstretch, moved up on the far turn while wide to be just behind the leaders, came with a wide run into the lane, grabbed the lead, and looked on her way victory only to have Travel Column surge past late. While she got beat it was a terrific effort in just her second career start. Coach, like the winner trained by the red-hot Brad Cox, was an easy winner of her first three starts, including the Rags to Riches here Oct. 25. Today, she stalked the pace, moved up to challenge for the lead into the lane, matching strides with favorite Simply Ravishing to her inside, and showed courage while between horses to outfinish Simply Ravishing for third. Simply Ravishing, the heavy favorite off a win in the Alcibiades and a then a fourth with trouble in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, broke a tad slowly and stalked the pace while wide on the first turn. She moved up eagerly under her own power down the backstretch to take second just behind pacesetter Farsighted, grabbed the lead into the lane between horses with Coach to her outside, moved toward the rail in the stretch, and was unable to sustain her run in the final furlong and had to settle for fourth. Maybe this was one start too many this year. She can certainly be a major player in the division in 2021.

Churchill
Kentucky Jockey Club (race 11)

COMMENT: Keepmeinmind came into this a maiden, but had finished second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 3 and then third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile there Nov. 6. As usual, he was devoid of speed, sitting last early as Smiley Sobotka set a modest pace. Keepmeinmind remained last turning for home, when he pitched out into the lane to be widest of all and rolled past his rivals and on to victory.The final time wasn’t much as fillies ran faster in the Golden Rod about an hour earlier (1:44.52/1:43.98). Smiley Sobotka, coming off a route maiden win at Keeneland Oct. 4, went right to the lead while holding the fence, and took pressure from Oncoming Train and King Fury heading down the backstretch. He continued to duel with those two to the top of the lane, dispatched with them into the lane, opened up some in midstretch as if ready to go on to victory, but couldn’t fend off the winner. Arabian Prince, fourth in the Street Sense here Oct. 25, sat well back, not far ahead of the eventual winner. He crept closer while in traffic into the far turn, came through between horses to make a run in the lane, and ran on decently for third. King Fury, winner of the Street Sense and seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, stalked in third while wide on the first turn, moved up to be the widest among three setting the pace, was still in the thick of it turning for home, but tired in the final furlong.

Del Mar
Jimmy Durante (race 5)

COMMENT: Fluffy Socks invaded off a stakes win at Pimlico and a nose loss in a stakes at Belmont Nov. 1. Today, she sat well back, came out for room at the quarter pole to bump Consternation, shifted out further into the lane, and finished with good energy to get to the line before a hard-charging Javanica. There was a stewards’ inquiry and objection by the rider of Consternation for the incident on the far turn, but the stewards let the result stand. Javanica, second in a stakes on synthetic at Woodbine last time out Oct. 17 and a winner on turf at Arlington in her prior start, sat midpack from the start. She moved toward the inside heading to the far turn, came off the rail on the turn to follow Fluffy Socks, shifted toward the inside in the stretch, and finished strongly. Quattroelle, a maiden winner at Santa Anita Oct. 3, showed she’s the real deal. She sat well back to the far turn, got bumped turning for home, moved wider out into the lane, and finished with good energy. Pizzazz, a maiden winner on this course at this trip Nov. 1, sat back, came with a wide run on the far turn, swept to the lead into the lane, but couldn’t sustain her run. Closing Remarks had a brutal trip as she stalked the pace between horses, got stuck in traffic turning for home, moved toward the rail and again got stymied by traffic, and never had a clear path in the stretch.

Del Mar
Seabiscuit (race 7)

COMMENT: Count Again dropped out of a fourth-place finish going 1 ½ miles in a Grade 1 at Woodbine and made his first start for trainer Phil D’Amato, and it all worked as the son of Awesome Again posted the upset. He was slow into stride to be well back, not far off the rail, as Anothertwistafate and One Bad Boy volleyed up front through modest splits. Count Again was still well back on the far turn, pitched wide into the lane, and blasted home to outfinish Flavius and Next Shares for the win. He and stablemate Say the Word (third in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup Friday) could both next show up in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Jan. 23 or stay home and await the Grade 2 San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita Jan. 30. Flavius, the favorite off a fifth in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland Oct. 3, sat back, a bit in front of the eventual winner. He started to advance while wide on the far turn, moved wider still into the lane, took the lead inside the furlong pole, but couldn’t finish with the winner. Next Shares, the defending champ but who hadn’t been sharp, bounced back to form. He sat back just in front of Flavius to the top of the lane, came through between horses, and finished well. Anothertwistafate, a Grade 3 winner on dirt, was favored. He went right to the lead, dueled with One Bad Boy to his outside, had Blitzkrieg shoot past on the far turn, and kept to his task well to hold fourth. Considering this was his first start on turf and just his second start since May 2019 he ran quite well. Blitzkrieg stalked in third, surged to a clear lead on the far turn, still held the lead to midstretch, but gave way. Imperador, a multiple Grade 1 winner in his native Argentina and coming off a second in an optional claimer in his U.S. debut at Churchill Downs Sept. 23, stalked in fifth, made a threatening move to reach second into the far turn, but couldn’t sustain his run. Camino Del Paraiso stalked the pace to the far turn but then had to check hard and steady behind One Bad Boy as that rival was being pulled up, losing his action and any chance. One Bad Boy pressed Anothertwistafate, moved up to challenge for the lead into the backstretch, and was eased out of the race into the far turn and pulled up. He did walk off under his own power.

Del Mar
Hollywood Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: Domestic Spending made it four wins in five starts and gave trainer Chad Brown his third win in this race. He sat well back early, ahead of only Gufo, into the clubhouse turn, and began to pick off rivals heading to the far turn. He continued to advance while wide, stayed wide into the lane, and blasted home to nail Smooth Like Strait and Get Smokin. He’ll be freshened, according to Brown, with the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 8 as his primary spring goal. Smooth Like Strait confirmed his status as the West’s top 3-year-old turfer with another fine effort. Winner of the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Oct. 18, the colt sat second today behind pacesetter Get Smokin. Smooth Like Strait crept closer to that rival turning for home, challenged him for the lead in midstretch, and appeared to be getting the better of him only to have Domestic Spending surge past to his outside in the final strides. Gufo, the favorite, was slow away from the gate from the outside post, and immediately went left to tuck in behind the field and get to the rail. He was last into the backstretch while basically in Domestic Spending’s wake, followed that rival down the backstretch and on the far turn, and finished powerfully in the lane for third. The second- and third-place finishers could both have an eye on the Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 23. Get Smokin, wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 2 Hill Prince at Belmont Oct. 18, set a solid pace taking some pressure from Smooth Like Strait, battled with Smooth Like Strait in the final furlong, and only relented in the final yards. He may be better suited to a slightly shorter trip. Decorated Invader, second in the Hill Prince, sat back early just ahead of Domestic Spending. He was jostled on the first turn, advanced down the backstretch, loomed a threat turning for home, but didn’t have the needed punch. He may be most effective at a mile, at least at this high a level. Storm the Court, last year’s 2-year-old male champ, was second to Smooth Like Strait in his only prior turf try, the Grade 3 La Jolla here Aug. 9, before running a respectable sixth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. Today, he sat back with Domestic Spending and Gufo while saving ground, was still last turning for home, and passed a few rivals in the lane. He didn’t run badly but this may not be his game, at least not in this deepest end of the pool.

Nov. 29

Aqueduct
Fall Highweight Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Share the Ride was edged by Majestic Dunhill in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler in mud at Belmont Oct. 31, but then dropped in against allowance foes at Parx Nov. 18 and got back on track with a romping win. He came back in 11 days and continued his good form here. He was outrun early by Tribecca, moved onto that rival’s right hip and pressed him through modest fractions. He looked poised to draw off from Tribecca on the far turn, but had to battle to finally subdue that rival and edge away late. Stan the Man, a well-beaten third in the very fast Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Oct. 3, was content to bide his time well off the lead. He started his run in earnest into the lane and finished well between horses just outside the winner to just get up for second. Absentee, trying stakes for the first time off an optional-claiming win in slop at Belmont Oct. 29, sat just a couple lengths behind the two pacesetter to the far turn, rallied with Stan the Man who was to his inside, and just missed getting second while widest of the first four finishers. Tribecca shot out to a clear early lead from his outside post, took pressure from Share the Ride down the backstretch, battled back turning for home, and finally relented in the final half-furlong to end up fourth. Majestic Dunhill, the second choice off a win in the Bold Ruler, missed the start to get away behind the field, remained toward the back to the far turn, tried to make headway along the inside turning for home, but was left with far too much to do.

Del Mar
Cecil B. DeMille (race 7)

COMMENT: Beer Can Man, a new acquisition by his connections off two turf sprint wins at Indiana Downs, posted the upset win here. The son of Can the Man stalked in third while saving ground as Commander Khai set a solid pace, came out into the stretch, collared Commander Khai in deep stretch and got to the line before hard-charging Caisson. Caisson, a $340,000 son of top turf sire War Front coming off a fourth with trouble in the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita Oct. 4, sat well back from the start. He started to advance on the far turn, pitched wider into the lane, and finished well for second. Commander Khai shot right out to the lead on the stretchout from a sprint, opened up turning for home, but couldn’t fend off the top two in the final half-furlong. Ebeko, winner of the Zuma Beach before running ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, was midpack while saving ground to the far turn. He came off the inside on the turn, moved back to the rail into the lane, and finished well. Royal Prince sat midpack, made a mild move between foes turning for home, had to steady when in tight in midstretch, and was unable to get going again.

Del Mar
Matriarch (race 9)

COMMENT: In the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at a mile on Belmont turf Sept. 26, Viadera finished furiously to nip stablemate Blowout on the wire. The same thing happened here, giving trainer Chad Brown his third win in this race in the last four years. Viadera sat fifth as Blowout set the early pace, with Juliet Foxtrot taking over pacesetting duties down the backstretch. Viadera started her run into the lane, and surged between horses in the final half-furlong to catch Blowout. Blowout seemed comfortable sitting second just behind Juliet Foxtrot, moved up nicely into the lane to challenge for the lead, and looked on her way to victory only to have Viadera surge past. Juliet Foxtrot ran third in this race for the second straight year. She opened up a clear lead down the backstretch while setting strong splits and holding the rail, battled back when challenged by Blowout into the lane, and only buckled late. Sharing, among the top 3-year-old turf fillies but facing elders for the first time here, stalked in third to the top of the lane outside of Juliet Foxtrot and stayed on gamely for fourth. Tamahere, a third Brown runner who was favored off an explosive win in her U.S. debut in a Grade 2 at Belmont Oct. 10, sat back early while a couple lanes off the rail. She angled wider out on the far turn and into the lane, loomed a threat in the stretch, but flattened out. This was also her first try vs. elders.