Trip Notes for October 15-16: QE II Challenge Cup, Canadian International, E.P. Taylor
Belmont
Futurity (race 3)
COMMENT: Theory, sidelined with a foot bruise since winning his debut at Saratoga July 30, won impressively. He sat second behind Moves Like Ali through solid splits, moved closer to the leader going into the far turn, and had little trouble reeling him in in the lane. Star Empire sat third, just outside Theory. He made a run into the lane while wide, and wore down Moves Like Ali for second. Moves Like Ali broke very sharply from the rail, was challenged by Theory on the turn, and tired in the final furlong. Reckling, second to Theory July 30 and then a winner Aug. 27, was away a bit slowly and was asked for run on the far turn, but it never came.
Keeneland
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (race 9)
COMMENT: Time and Motion beat Catch a Glimpse for a second time. Time and Motion bided her time early as Catch a Glimpse set the pace while pressured by Irish raider Hawksmoor. Time and Motion remained in fifth to the top of the lane, came with a run between horses, and just got up in the final strides. Harmonize, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last time out Aug. 20, was last going down the backstretch, remained well back to the far turn, swung extremely wide into the lane, and finished full of run. Hawksmoor, a German Group 2 winner and coming off a fifth in an Irish Group 1, dogged pacesetting favorite Catch a Glimpse, got the better of her by midstretch, and stayed on along the inside to lose by just a head and a nose while finishing far clear of the others. On Leave, a winner of four straight coming into this, including the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont last time out Sept. 17, sat just behind Time and Motion. She was still well back into the lane and finally got going to get up for fourth. Catch a Glimpse suffered just her second loss on turf. She broke well from the rail, set a solid pace while under constant pressure, and gave way in the lane.
Oct. 16
Belmont
Matron (race 4)
COMMENT: Arella Rockstar impressively won her debut for a $50,000 tag at Saratoga Aug. 31 and was snatched up by trainer Rudy Rodriguez. Well, his judgment was validated as the daughter of Astrology came back to win this Grade 3 event. She volleyed up front outside Amapola through modest splits and maintained a narrow lead on the far turn. Arella Rockstar rebuffed a challenge from heavy favorite Cherry Lodge, and was edging clear at the wire. Cherry Lodge, coming a third in the Grade 1 Spinaway, stalked the pace while wider than the two early pacesetters, loomed ominously into the lane, and finished well clear of the others. Spirituality was just behind Cherry Lodge, tried to make a run with her into the lane, and plugged along for third.
Woodbine
E. P. Taylor (race 8)
COMMENT: Al’s Gal darn near won the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Aug. 13 when second to top-class Sea Calisi. She then easily won a stakes at Kentucky Downs, and she continued her ascent here, beating some nice European raiders. The daughter of grass champ English Channel sat second, just behind Parvaneh, who set dawdling early splits. Al’s Gal moved up to challenge for the lead on far turn, got the better of Parvaneh to take the lead, and held off Suffused. Suffused, winner of the Grade 3 Glens Falls at Saratoga Sept. 3, sat midpack, moved closer turning for home, had to wait for room into the lane, and finished strongly. She might have won in another jump or two. Banzari, coming off two straight wins in France, did best of the European raiders. She was midpack, just behind Suffused, came out into the lane, and finished well. Rainha Da Bateria, winner of the Grade 2 Canadian here Sept. 17, lagged back and didn’t get going until too late. Swiss Range, fourth to Minding in the Group 1 Nassau in England July 30, was just in front of Rainha Da Bateria, got shuffled back on the far turn, and was able to get going again in the lane. Best In The World, favored off a Group 3 win and Group 2 second in Ireland this summer, seemed in a great spot stalking the pace while saving ground. She was in a pocket for a while but then came up empty.
Woodbine
Canadian International (race 9)
COMMENT: Euro raiders won this for the seventh straight time, with the 12-1 shot Erupt turning the trick. Coming off a fifth in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in England and a third in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville in France, Erupt sat fourth early as World Approval set a snail-like pace. Erupt moved closer on the turn, came with his run into the lane to grab the lead, and kept fellow Euro raider Dartmouth at bay. Dartmouth, who finished ahead of Erupt in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, sat second behind World Approval. Dartmouth moved up to challenge for the lead into the lane with Erupt, but couldn’t finish with him. Wake Forest sat midpack, came with a run, but just wasn’t good enough. The Pizza Man, winner of the Grade 1 Northern Dancer here Sept. 17, stalked the pace, got shuffled back into the lane, was able to get clear, but wasn’t enough. Idaho, the heavy favorite, having run third in the Group 1 English Derby and second in the Group 1 Irish Derby, was rambunctious and sweating before the race. He got away slowly and was well back behind World Approval’s slow pace, and never mustered much of a run.