Trip Notes for Oct. 4-5: Frizette, Champagne, Shadwell Turf, Indiana Derby and more...

Saturday, October 4

Belmont - Frizette (race 6)

COMMENT: Just when you thought there was some order in this division out East with top gals Cavorting and Condo Commando they both finished off the board here as By the Moon relished the slop and cruised home, punching her ticket for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. By the Moon was a no-match second to Condo Commando in the slop in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga Aug. 31 (beaten 13 1/4 lengths) but turned the tables on Saturday. She broke alertly to dog pacesetter Cavorting from the start, took over from that rival on the turn, quickly opened up and was never really in any serious danger thereafter. Wonder Gal was third to Cavorting in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga Aug. 10, beaten four lengths. She did have some trouble that day and here she relished the wet going, biding her time early and coming with a decent rally for second. Feathered, smashing maiden winner for Todd Pletcher at Saratoga Aug. 31, stalked the pace, pitched out wide into the lane, lost some position but got going again to finish third. Condo Commando, the heavy favorite off two big wins to start her career, stalked the pace, looked ready to pounce turning for home, but the run never came and in fact she lost ground and position in the lane. It’s hard to blame the slop since her Spinaway win came in the slop. Cavorting, coming off two big wins to start her career, went right out to the lead, had no answer when the winner moved past on the turn, and fell away to end up last.

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Belmont - Champagne (race 8)

COMMENT: Daredevil loved the mud in his debut here Sept. 13 and he got such footing again and flourished once again. He didn’t just win – he dominated. He stalked the early pace of Holy Boss while wide, moved up easily under his own power to contend going to the far turn, took command, and won clear. While Upstart cut into his margin some, Daredevil was already gearing down, and he ran the mile nearly three seconds faster than the fillies did in the Frizette an hour earlier. He’s obviously earned a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but won’t get mud there and will face a distance he’s yet to see. Upstart, winner of his first two starts including a New York--bred stakes at Saratoga Aug. 24, got away poorly after being bothered by I Spent It, ended up well back, and came with a smart run from the far turn to the line. He finished 12 3/4 lengths clear of third. The Truth Or Else, impressive maiden winner at this trip here Sept. 12, sat last early, came with a steady run but was basically passing tired horses. El Kabeir, so impressive romping by 10 3/4 lengths over maidens at Saratoga Aug. 30, prompted the pace but gave way. I Spent It, who seemed as though he might be the East’s top juvenile male after winning the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and running second to now-sidelined Competitive Edge in the Grade 1 Hopeful, pressed the pace along the inside but ran up the white flag turning for home in a very disappointing run.

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Belmont - Hill Prince (race 9)

COMMENT: The race complexion changed significantly when one of the favorites, Tourist, scratched. Ring Weekend showed dirt talent earlier this year, enough to earn a shot at the Grade 1 Preakness (ran fifth), but it looks like turf is really what he wants. Coming off a romping win in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Saranac on turf, he found the soft ground to his liking in this race. He stalked the pace in fourth, was asked to go after clear leader Smooth Daddy into the lane, got past that guy, and shifted out some while outfinishing a game Daddy’s Kid. He did have to withstand a claim of foul from the runner-up. Daddy’s Kid, a longshot who was stepping way up in class, lagged back and came with a strong run into the lane. The pace played against his closing style and no other closer made an impact. Smooth Daddy, second to Ring Weekend in the Saranac, ran well but again found that rival too tough. He set a dawdling pace, opened up into the lane as if on his way to victory but weakened in the final half-furlong. Mr Speaker, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on “good” turf here and fifth in the Grade 1 Travers on dirt, sat well back early and was unable to make a dent. Surely the pace scenario played against his style.

Indiana - Indiana Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: Tiz Windy looks very much back on track as she gamely prevailed here. After finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks, she got nearly three months off, and returned to be a smashing winner at Churchill Downs Sept. 13. Moved back into stakes ranks here she lagged well back as Soul Title and Penwith dueled through modest splits. She commenced her run on the far turn and carried it through the lane to win going away. Unbridled Forever, looking to get back on track after finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Alabama after three straight Grade 1 placings, sat midpack early, made a smart move to reach contention turning for home, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t finish with the winner while ending up far clear of the rest. Penwith, the regally bred daughter of top-class runners Bernardini and Composure and coming off a big win at Saratoga Aug. 14, dueled Soul Title into submission, was no match for the top two, but stayed on decently for third. Miss Besilu, who cost $2.6 million at auction, sat midpack throughout.

Indiana - Indiana Derby (race 10)

COMMENT: East Hall won the Ohio Derby on wet going but then finished sixth in the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs Sept. 6 when he grabbed a quarter during the race. He bounced back to top form in this race. He dogged pacesetter Vicar’s in Trouble from the start, appeared in trouble when that rival opened up into the lane, but doggedly kept to his task, changed leads and reeled in that rival, edging past in the final half-furlong while drifting out. He did have to withstand a claim of foul from the rider of third finisher Just Call Kenny. Vicar’s in Trouble was able to set modest splits and looked like the winner when he opened up into the lane . He ended up well clear of third. Just Call Kenny lagged back while wide, came with a threatening run into the lane, steadied briefly when the winner shifted out in front of him and couldn’t sustain his run. Atreides, the heavy favorite off three dazzling wins to start his career in Florida, was away slowly, in tight going into the first turn, finally settled behind the leaders while saving ground, but then had nothing to give when asked.

Keeneland - Woodford (race 5)

COMMENT: No Nay Never, a Group 1 winner who hadn’t raced since March 1, moved back to turf came back firing. He went right out to duel with Spring to the Sky, finally got the better of that foe into the lane, and gamely kept hard-charging longshot Mongol Bull at bay. Despite the colt’s turf prowess and the option of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, trainer Wesley Ward said the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint on dirt may be this guy’s target. He was second in the Grade 2 Swale on dirt at Gulfstream March 1, his last outing. Mongol Bull, who was taking a big step up after three straight grass wins at Arlington, lagged back at 56-1 and finished smartly. He was claimed for $20,000 last Nov. 30 and he’s 4 for 7 since, so it was a pretty timely buy. Sharp Sensation, game winner of the Grade 3 Turf Monster at Parx Sept. 1 over the ultra-tough Ben’s Cat, stalked the pace in third while staying wide, tried to make a run at the lead into the lane, and stayed on to hold the show. No Distinction sat well back and finished decently. Spring to the Sky, third in this last year and coming off three straight wins in New York, dueled with No Nay Never from the start, and was still in the hunt in midstretch before tiring. Marchman, a multiple turf sprint stakes winner making his first start since running third to Ben’s Cat in the Grade 3 Parx Dash July 12, sat midpack while wide, started a mild run into the lane but failed to sustain it.

Keeneland - TCA (race 6)

COMMENT: Leigh Court had done her best work on Polytrack and was making her second start after a 10-month layoff in this dirt race. But none of that matteredas she bided her time early from her rail slot, angled out on the far turn to commence her run, and took command into the lane to win impressively. Southern Honey was third to Stonetastic in the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga Aug. 30, and she turned the tables on that gal but couldn’t handle the winner. She stalked the pace in third, tried to go with the winner into the lane, and kept on gamely for the place. Stonetastic, monstrous 8 1/2-length winner of Saratoga’s Grade 2 Prioress Aug. 30 (108 Beyer), dueled early with R Free Roll, was then tackled by Leigh Court going into the far turn, couldn’t stay with that rival and weakened some late to lose second. Speedinthruthecity, third in a turf sprint stakes at Saratoga Aug. 25, returned to dirt. She lagged back and made some headway in the lane, though she was no real threat.

Keeneland - First Lady (race 7)

COMMENT: Dayatthespa came up just a nose short to Better Lucky in this race last year, but she gained her revenge with a splendid trip here. She dogged pacesetter Istanford from the start, moved past that tiring rival into the lane, and opened up a clear lead which gave her a nice buffer against the runners who came at her late. Better Lucky, winner of this last year and back to turf after running fourth on dirt in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga Aug. 23, lagged back, started to move closer on the far turn, swung wide into the lane and finished well though. Filimbi likewise lagged back, saved ground much of the way, had to wait for room coming into the lane, found a seam and looked briefly threatening but couldn’t sustain her run. Centre Court sat well back, pitched very wide into the lane, and finished well. Somali Lemonade sat just behind the eventual winner, loomed a big threat coming into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run.

Keeneland - Breeders’ Futurity (race 8)

COMMENT: Carpe Diem, who cost $1.6 million, easily won his debut at Saratoga Sept. 1 and established himself as one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a smashing performance here. He broke alertly but was outrun for the lead. He didn’t appear to settle at first but was taken off the inside going to the backstretch, moved up eagerly to dog pacesetter Conquest Tsunami, was content to press that foe through modest splits to the far turn, easily went past that foe, and didn’t have a worry thereafter. Mr. Z pressed the pace early, eased back a bit to sit fourth, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, was no match for that foe but finished far clear of the others. Bold Conquest was midpack from the start and immediately had traffic issues. He moved closer going into the backside but had the steady between horses, remained there to the far turn, was asked for run and came through. The trouble may have cost him a better shot at second, but he wasn’t going to scare the winner. Tough Customer, making just his second start, pressed the pace and stayed on. Conquest Tsunami went right to the lead, took pressure from Carpe Diem, and weakened in the lane. Hashtag Bourbon was away slowly, was very wide on the first turn, got shuffled to the back of the pack, had more traffic issues and never able to get involved. He’s surely better than this.

Keeneland - Shadwell Turf Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: Wise Dan overcame a tough trip for yet another win. His head was turned as soon as the gates opened so he got away behind the field. He steadily advanced to the first turn, was then boxed in behind horses, seemed eager and nearly ran up on horses’ heels, had to wait for room on the far turn, and found a seam. But he still had a lot to do to catch pacesetter Silver Max, who had set a slow pace, and outkick some other strong runners. He powered home once straightened away and won clear. But let’s not get carried away over his performance – good as it was, once his main rival Seek Again was eliminated by traffic in midstretch, Wise Dan was clear to beat up on many of the same guys he’s been beating of late. A third try at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile seems most likely. Grand Arch, fifth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, stalked in third, moved up wide to challenge into the lane and finished well for second. Sayaad pressured pacesetter Silver Max from the start, took over from that rival in midstretch, and just lost second in the final strides. Kaigun, who has chased Wise Dan a few times, lagged back and finished well. Seek Again lagged well back early, steadily advanced to the far turn, shifted to the inside to launch his run, was seemingly moving at about the same pace as Wise Dan while on the fence, but then had to steady hard to lose all chance. He might not have beaten Wise Dan but surely could have been second.

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Santa Anita - L. A. Woman (race 4)

COMMENT: Top Kisser had been facing statebred or restricted foes, but she stepped up in class here. From her rail slot she sat third a few lengths off the contested pace set by Uzziel and Tribal Gal, was asked for run turning for home, quickly moved up to challenge, took command and drew off to win clear, while drifting in. Tribal Gal, coming off two straight stakes wins on dirt, dogged Uzziel from the start through brisk splits, put that rival away turning for home, but was immediately confronted by Top Kisser and couldn’t keep pace with that rival while clear of the others. My Happy Face, twice Grade 1-placed around one turn, lagged back and made some headway, though she was never a threat to the top two. Stopshoppingdebbie, previously unbeaten in nine starts, all at Emerald Downs, sat back and never mustered a run. She reportedly bled through the Lasix.

Santa Anita - SA Sprint Championship (race 8)

COMMENT: On paper this was a two-horse race, with last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Secret Circle taking on last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents, but hotshot Hong Kong raider Rich Tapestry had different ideas as he edged Goldencents in a big try. Rich Tapestry, making his first start on fast dirt and first start since April 27 in Hong Kong, sat last while a number of runners dueled early for the lead, but he wasn’t far away. He swung out for room coming into the lane, following Goldencents, who had grabbed the lead. He went after Goldencents, moved inside him in the final half-furlong, and nipped that rival on the line. Goldencents was a tough second for a second straight year in this race. He stalked outside, just off the dueling leaders, came with a smart wide run on the turn, grabbed the lead into the lane as if he were on his way to victory, but suddenly seemed to idle. He got going again when hooked but came up just a lip shy. Secret Circle broke sharply from the rail, dueled for the lead with a few other rivals, and looked in trouble turning for home when Goldencents took the lead. While unable to stay with the top two, he stayed on decently in what may be a useful prep for defense of his Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint title.

Santa Anita - City of Hope (race 9)

COMMENT: Big Bane Theory was coming off a second in a main-track stakes at Del Mar Aug. 30, his first start in 10 months. He returned to grass here. He sat midpack from the start, moved closer turning for home, found a hole, shot through to grab the lead, and opened up. Of course, it didn’t hurt the West’s top turf milers – Tom’s Tribute, Obviously, Winning Prize, Silentio – were all absent. Mr. Commons hasn’t won in a long time and was making just his second start of the year. He lagged well back early, commenced a strong run on the far turn, and finished well, though he never appeared poised to take on the winner. Avanzare, a winner of 3 of his previous 4, stalked the pace, got shuffled back turning for home, but came with a smart run through the lane and just missed holding second. Rock Me Baby was very slow into stride to be last early, was still last going into the far turn, and finished well, though it was far too late.

Saturday, Oct. 5

Belmont - Futurity (race 4)

COMMENT: The Pletcher juvenile machine moves on, as after three Grade 1 wins the past week at three different tracks, yet another promising Pletcher youngster, Blofeld, showed he’s a colt with a future. The $225,000 son of Quality Road broke sharply while inside and contended for the lead, pulled back and stalked the pace of Cinco Charlie, came with his run on the far turn, moved through to grab the lead and was edging away at the line. Hebbronville, romping winner of his first two starts, both at Parx, showed he’s legitimate as he stalked the pace from the start, moved up to challenge turning for home but couldn’t quite finish with the winner. Cinco Charlie, the proven commodity coming into this having won a Grade 3 and coming off a romping stakes win at Delaware Sept. 13, ducked in sharply at the start but got straightened away, took over the pacesetting duties, battled gamely to deep stretch when challenged by the top two and finally succumbed late.

Belmont - Matron (race 10)

COMMENT: Paulassilverlining’s first two outings came in mud, but she showed she’s just as good on dry land. She bided her time as longshot Evrybdymestgetstonz set the pace, came with a strong wide run into the lane, and drew away under a hand ride. Skipalute, second in Paulassilverlining’s maiden win at Saratoga, stalked the pace, moved with the winner into the lane to challenge for the lead, was unable to keep up with that foe but finished well clear of the others. Evrybdymstgetstonz set the pace under pressure, tried to battle back when hooked by the top two into the lane, and stayed on for third. Paris Bikini, the 4-5 favorite off a big maiden win here Sept. 12 and hailing from the very hot Pletcher barn, stalked the pace between horses but flattened out when asked for run into the lane.

Keeneland - Bourbon (race 8)

COMMENT: Lawn Ranger, coming off a maiden win on the Kentucky Downs turf Sept. 13, got a dream trip and posted the upset here. He sat behind dueling front-runners Thirtysilverpieces and Less Than Perfect, angled out turning for home, surged to the lead and kept a couple hard-trying closers at bay. Danny boy, who beat Lawn Ranger by three lengths when they met in their debuts at Ellis Park Aug. 1 and was then fourth in the Grade 3 Iroquois on dirt, lagged back and came with a smart run between horses but just ran out of ground. Can’t Happen Here, the favorite off a smart debut win on turf at Saratoga Aug. 16, likewise lagged back from the start and finished well. Croninthebarbarian stalked the pace but had no response when asked for run into the lane.

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Keeneland - Spinster (race 9)

COMMENT: Close Hatches was the 1-5 favorite coming off four straight Grade 1 wins, but for whatever reason she picked this day to run poorly as Don’t Tell Sophia posted her first Grade 1 win. Don’t Tell Sophia, third to Close Hatches in the Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn March 15 and then a smart winner of a stakes at Churchill after six months off Sept. 6, sat last as Close Hatches set the pace under heavy pressure from Ria Antonia. Don’t Tell Sophia swung very wide into the lane and powered home to win going away, though she veered in when making her run. She had to withstand a claim of foul from the rider of the runner-up for that move, but it was disallowed. Ria Antonia, who for the most part had been quite disappointing this year after winning last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies via DQ, dogged Close Hatches from the start, put that rival away into the lane, and steadied when the winner came over in front of her. But that seemed more an overreaction by her rider than interference. Molly Morgan lagged back and came with a steady run, though she was no threat to the top two. Close Hatches went right to the lead, was pressured by Ria Antonia, and gave way turning for home.

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