Trip Notes for November 7: Long Island Handicap, Chilukki

Saturday, November 7

Aqueduct - Long Island (race 8)

COMMENT: The New York graded stakes turf season for distaffers ended, fittingly, with a win by trainer Chad Brown, who’s been the dominant force on grass in the region this year. Goldy Espony rattled off three straight wins this spring/summer before running ninth as the 8-5 favorite in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Glens Falls Sept. 5. Freshened since, she went back to her using her best asset – speed – to dominate the proceedings. She set a dawdling pace while well within herself, kicked clear into the lane, and kept the field at bay to the line. Danza Cavallo, another Brown trainee, stalked in third as the favorite, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, couldn’t keep pace and edged hard-charging Gotachancetodance for second. Gotachancetodance sat well back early, swung wide into the lane and finished smartly. Considering the pace profile she did very well to get third. Mutatis Mutandis sat midpack while saving ground and finished decently, but with the pace picture she was chasing a couple fresh horses. Rosalind, third in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor at Woodbine last time out, was well back early and never mustered a run.

Churchill - Chilukki (race 10)

COMMENT: Spelling Again used her speed to win two straight this summer, including the Open Mind here Sept. 12. She then had a troubled start but ran on well to be a better-than-looked fourth in the Grade 2 TCA at Keeneland Oct. 3. Today, she sat second early behind pacesetter Keen Pauline, took over from that rival turning for home, opened up into the lane, and extended her advantage to the wire. Ahh Chocolate lagged back early, swung wide into the lane and finished smartly. Gold Medal Dancer stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, but couldn’t sustain her bid. Birdatthewire, the favorite who had been unraced since running fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks here May 1, was away slowly, sat midpack but never mustered a run. Her lack of punch hints she may have been in need of this race.