Trip Notes for October 2-4, 2020: Preakness, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and more

Oct. 2

Keeneland
Phoenix (race 8)

COMMENT: Diamond Oops’s versatility was on full display as the 5-year-old gelded son of Lookin At Lucky, coming off a win in the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Sept. 4, took this Grade 2 on dirt, punching his ticket for either the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint or Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here Nov. 7. He showed enough speed to sit a couple lengths off the pace while saving ground on the fence, crept closer into the far turn, came off the inside turning for home, moved further out into the lane, was set down to go after leader Empire of Gold, and finished strong to reel in that rival and blow past. Empire of Gold, a big longshot coming off an allowance win at Remington Park Sept. 18, ran the race of his life. He dueled with No Parole to his outside through strong splits, got the better of him into the lane, opened up some by midstretch as if poised to go on to victory, but had no answer for when the winner surged past to his outside. Echo Town fared best of the 3-year-olds as the son of champion sprinter Speightstown sat midpack from the start, not far behind the eventual winner, advanced between horses on the far turn and into the lane, moved toward the inside in deep stretch, and finished willingly to get up for third just inside of Whitmore. Whitmore, winner of this in 2017 and taking his fourth shot at this race, sat midpack from the start, made a nice move between horses into the lane, pitched wider still in the stretch, but wasn’t a threat in the final half-furlong. He ran well but doesn’t looks quite as sharp as he was earlier this year. Still, he could take another swing at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. No Parole, who set the pace before fading to ninth in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga Aug. 1, shot out to contest the early pace, as usual, dueled on the rail with Empire of Gold hounding him to his right, continued to battle for the lead into the lane while staying on the rail, but gave way once headed. This makes for a second straight not-so-hot outing, so that could derail his Breeders’ Cup aspirations.

Keeneland
Alcibiades (race 9)

COMMENT: Simply Ravishing was the only one in here with a route win, that coming in her turf debut at Saratoga Aug. 2. After that, she romped in a New York-bred sprint stakes on dirt there Sept. 3. She showed the move to new surroundings and the step up in class were no issues as she stamped herself one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 6 with an easy win. From her outside post she went right to the lead, got to the rail on the clubhouse turn, was able to set modest splits taking only minimal pressure from Crazy Beautiful, and held a narrow lead from that foe to the far turn but was set down turning for home, opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Crazy Beautiful, a troubled second in the Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill Sept. 3, got a nice position stalking in second just behind and outside the eventual winner, was asked to go after the eventual winner turning for home, and kept to her task a few lanes off the rail to hold second. Travel Column, an $850,000 daughter of Frosted who easily won at Churchill Sept. 4, broke poorly to get away last. She used her speed to get back into the race, sitting just behind Thoughtfully, who was stalking in third. Travel Column moved closer to get in behind Simply Ravishing down the backstretch as Thoughtfully moved off the rail, challenged inside Crazy Beautiful for second, but couldn’t outdo her. Thoughtfully is a $950,000 daughter of Tapit and the only graded stakes winner coming into the race, having won the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga Aug. 12. She got a good position saving ground sitting in Simply Ravishing’s wake, came off the rail to move outside as if preparing to make a run going into the far turn, but came up flat and ended up a non-threatening fourth.

Oct. 3

Belmont
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (race 7)

COMMENT: Channel Maker got away with murder on the front end in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 29 and he led them on a merry chase again here. He went right to the lead, moved to the inside going into the clubhouse turn as Cross Border pressed him some to his outside, and maintained the lead down the backstretch while setting dawdling splits. He was still clear turning for home, looked as though he might get challenged into the lane as a couple rivals came at him, but he rebuffed those challenges and stayed on for the win. Certainly the next stop is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland Nov. 7, though it’s hard to envision him getting such a cushy trip there and he’ll certainly be facing tougher. Laccario, a German Group 1 winner making his first start in the U.S. and just his second start in a year, remained toward the back to the far turn, started to advance between horses turning for home, pitched very wide into the lane, and finished resolutely to get up for second. Sadler’s Joy, a well-beaten fourth in the Sword Dancer, sat at the back of the pack outside Highland Sky, advanced while wide into the far turn, made a threatening wide run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain his bid. He ran decently, though you wonder if the Breeders’ Cup waters are just too deep nowadays for the 7-year-old. Master Piece, Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed in Chile and making his first start for Chad Brown, stalked while saving ground inside stablemate Rockemperor, and moved closer along the rail into the far turn to be just behind the eventual winner. Master Piece came off the inside into the lane as if ready to go around Channel Maker, loomed a big threat once straightened away, but flattened out. This was his first race since March, so he’s eligible to improve. Rockemperor, trying a new, longer trip after knocking on the door all year, stalked the pace sitting just outside stablemate Master Piece, started to advance while wideon the far turn, but came up empty in the lane. Apparently this distance is beyond him.

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Belmont
Belmont Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: Domestic Spending, the 5-2 morning line favorite, scratched, leaving favoritism to Gufo, who had run second to Domestic Spending in the Saratoga Derby Aug. 15. Gufo settled nicely in midpack while saving ground as longshot Mo Ready set a modest pace. Gufo advanced along the inside to be just behind leaders Mo Ready and No Word into the lane, came off the rail, moved through a seam in the field, shifted out momentarily into another rival’s path, got straightened, and rallied past the two leaders to win going away. He did have to survive an inquiry into the incident in the stretch.This earns him a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup turf at Keeneland Nov. 7, though he’s never faced elders and never gone 1 1/2 miles, so that would be a tall order. The Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar Nov. 28 is another option. No Word, third just behind Gufo in the Saratoga Derby, sat just behind his pacesetting stablemate Mo Ready while saving ground, came off the inside down the backstretch, moved up easily to get alongside Mo Ready into the far turn, and was getting the better of his stablemate into the lane only to have Gufo surge past to his outside. Mo Ready, stepping up in class after a win over New York-bred allowance foes at Saratoga Aug. 15, set a modest pace on the rail, battled back when challenged by his stablemate No Word to his outside into the lane, and fought on to end up third. Pixielate, second to Gufo in the Grade 3 Kent at Delaware July 4 and then winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby out West Sept. 6, broke smartly to be just behind the pacesetter into the first turn, but got bumped and jostled in traffic and shuffled back on the first turn. He finally fell into a rhythm into the backstretch, made some headway on the far turn and into the lane while wide, but was never a factor.

Keeneland
Thoroughbred Club of America (race 7)

COMMENT: Inthemidstofbiz, claimed for $20,000 a year ago, sat second, just outside and behind early pacesetter Lady’s Island. She hounded that rival to the far turn with Palace Avenger applying pressure to the inside, surged to the lead turning for home, and kept favorite Sneaking Out at bay in the final furlong. She now heads to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Sneaking Out, a California raider who came into this off Grade 2 and Grade 3 wins, sat a few lengths off the pace, moved off the rail as she advanced turning for home, and kept to her task well to get up for second, though she was never really a threat to the winner. Palace Avenger, stepping up after winning three of her last four, pressed pacesetter Lady’s Island from the inside, moved up to challenge that rival on the far turn as Inthemidstofbiz challenged farther out, then seemed to be in a bit tight while staying on the rail. Palace Avenger came off the rail a few lanes in the stretch to battle Sneaking Out for the place, but couldn’t quite finish with that foe. Dos Vinos, stepping into the stakes ranks after two allowance wins, sat a few lengths off the lead racing just outside of Sneaking Out, tried to rally with that foe on the turn, moved wider out into the lane, and couldn’t keep pace.

Keeneland
First Lady (race 8)

COMMENT: After two not-so-hot outings by Uni this past summer after a layoff, it was fair to wonder she was the same girl who was so dazzling last year. Well, a super performance here puts some of those concerns to rest as she successfully defended her First Lady title and will likely take a shot at defending her Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile crown here Nov. 7. She showed a bit more early speed than usual to sit third as longshot Crystal Lake set a solid pace with favored Newspaperofrecord sitting second. Uni crept closer down the backstretch while saving ground, came off the inside into the far turn, swooped up wide outside Newspaperofrecord to challenge for the lead into the lane, and got the better of Newspaperofrecord late while drifting out. Beau Recall, a rallying winner of the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Sept. 5, sat last as she saved ground, came off the inside as she advanced on the far turn, pitched widest of all into the lane, and finished resolutely to edge Newspaperofrecord for second. Newspaperofrecord, second to Beau Recall in the Distaff Turf Mile, was surprisingly outrun for the early lead by Crystal Lake, but seemed comfortable sitting second, a couple lengths off that rival while a few lanes off the rail. Newspaperofrecord moved up on the far turn and had no trouble going past Crystal Lake, was hooked by Uni to her outside into the lane, and looked as though she might fend off Uni until inside the sixteenth pole. Dalika, winner of a stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7, stumbled and went to her nose at the start to end up last early. She got up to be fourth by the backstretch, steadily improved her position going to the far turn outside and not far behind Uni, got to Uni’s hip between horses, but was unable to challenge the top three and was wrapped up on late when all was lost. Daddy Is a Legend, 6-1 on the morning line, scratched.

Keeneland
Breeders’ Futurity (race 9)

COMMENT: Essential Quality, a son of Tapit who impressively won at Churchill Sept. 5, showed he could be dangerous in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here Nov. 6 with a win here in his first start vs. winners and first route. He dueled early with Upstriker to his inside through modest splits, got the better of that foe turning for home, quickly opened up into the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter, though he showed some greenness. Keepmeinmind, a maiden vs. winners who ran second in his debut at Churchill Sept. 2, bided his time early, started to advance between horses on the far turn, and finished well between horses to get up for second. Super Stock, third in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Sept. 5, sat behind the pace while saving ground and fought with his rider down the backstretch, He finally seemed to settle, came with a run on far turn, pitched wide into the lane, but couldn’t outfinish Keepmeinmind to his inside. Founder, a $600,000 son of Upstart who rallied to win his debut at Saratoga Aug. 29, got bounced around into the first turn and ended up toward the back of the pack into the backstretch. He made some headway on the far turn and into the lane but was unable to threaten. Calibrate, a $340,000 son of Distorted Humor who was favored off a maiden win at Saratoga Aug. 15, got jostled between horses into the first turn to lose position, was able to get position behind the chasers, but never mustered a run.

Keeneland
Shadwell Turf Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Ivar was monstrous in Argentina last year, romping in his first three starts, two of those Grade 1’s. He was fifth in his U.S. debut at Churchill May 21, led all the way to win there June 18, and finished third in a stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7. He took a big step up in class but the removal of blinkers resulted in a change of style and a smashing win, and an earned him trip to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile here Nov. 7. From the outside post he was slow into stride to be well back early, pitched out turning for home, and blasted home to win going away. Impressive stuff. Raging Bull was last early after a slow start, a couple lengths behind the eventual winner. He pitched widest of all into the lane and put in a strong run, but couldn’t get to the winner. Without Parole, sixth in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Aug. 22, showed the speed to stalk in fourth as Casa Creed set a modest pace, came off the inside into the lane, moved up between horses to loom a threat, but couldn’t finish with the top two. Analyze It, favored off a Grade 3 win at Monmouth Sept. 5, his first start in 22 months, sat midpack, a few lanes off the rail, but came up empty in the lane. Halladay, the 5-2 favorite on the morning line, scratched (ankle inflammation).

Pimlico
Preakness (race 11)

COMMENT: Swiss Skydiver finished second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Sept. 4, and her connections opted to give her a shot vs. the boys here. It paid off big time as she prevailed in an epic clash with Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, becoming the sixth filly to win this race. She settled inside, just behind pacesetters Thousand Words and Authentic, through slow early splits. Swiss Skydiver surged between horses to take up the running down the backstretch, stayed on the rail as Authentic dogged her to her outside, then fought tooth and nail inside that foe the rest of the way to get the win. She ran the second fastest Preakness ever, her time bested only by Secretariat in 1973. So do they go for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff or the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic now? Authentic lost little in defeat. He sat second early, just outside of his pacesetting stablemate Thousand Words, moved up outside Swiss Skydiver when that filly took the lead down the backstretch, was right next to her on the far turn, and battled hard to the line to just miss. The two finished far clear of the others. Jesus’ Team, third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Sept. 5, sat midpack early, raced wide into the far turn and the lane, finished well, but was no threat to the top two. Art Collector, who whipped Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland July 11 but missed the Kentucky Derby due to a foot problem, got a dream trip stalking the pace while saving ground. He remained inside just off the pace down the backstretch, didn’t respond quite as quickly when Swiss Skydiver and Authentic started to go on the far turn, was urged to get going after them turning for home, briefly loomed a threat but was unable to stay with them. Certainly the foot issue and the time off cost him some here. Pneumatic, winner of the Pegasus at Monmouth Aug. 15, stalked while wide, was urged to get going on the far turn while still wide, only to give way in the lane.

Oct. 4

Keeneland
Indian Summer (race 6)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when 8-5 morning line favorite Golden Pal scratched, as did Wink, 4-1 on the morning line. Bodenheimer won his turf debut by 11 1/2 lengths at Canterbury Downs July 29, then showed his versatility when winning a dirt stakes at Prairie Meadows Aug. 22. He went to Kentucky Downs for another turf sprint stakes Sept. 12, but ran into a bog of a course, some tough foes, and could run only fifth after pressing the pace. He got firm turf here and no opposing speed, and took advantage. He shot out to a clear lead along the rail, set strong splits, blew the race open into the lane, and won despite getting a little weary late. This earns him a shot at the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint here Nov. 6. Cowan, third in that turf sprint stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12, was content to sit back racing just inside 2-1 favorite Roderick, advanced on the far turn while saving ground, had to wait for room into the lane, came through nicely between horses, and finished well to close the gap on the winner. Agog sat last, started to advance while wide on the far turn, pitched widest of all into the lane, and finished decently for third. Good With People, a Southern California invader trying turf for the first time, showed speed to chase Bodenheimer to that rival’s outside, kept after him to the far turn, but tired. Roderick, trying turf for the first time, taking blinkers off and favored despite hitting the brakes hard when ending up last of seven in the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar Aug. 8, chased the pace between horses, raced just outside Cowan down the backstretch, was urged to try to get more involved turning for home, but came up empty.

Keeneland
Bourbon (race 8)

COMMENT: Mutasaabeq, a $425,000 son of Into Mischief, was the 2-1 favorite trying turf and routing for the first time off a well-beaten third in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga Sept. 7. When he blew the start today, you had to figure his hopes were dashed. Well, that wasn’t the case. He was still last as the field bunched some going to the far turn, came off the inside to start a run, and moved about 10 wide into the lane. The colt powered home late to win easily, stamping himself one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf here Nov. 6. Abarta, another son of Into Mischief and who won his turf route debut at Ellis Park Aug. 28, was toward the back but crept closer down the backstretch. He got shuffled back to lose position on the far turn, ending up at the back of the pack, shifted out wide for room, and finished well to get up for the place. Nathan Detroit, a winner at Ellis Park July 25, lagged back early and was just in front of the eventual one-two finishers turning for home. He swung wide, tried to rally with Mutasaabeq, kept on well, but got outfinished late by Abarta for second. Into the Sunrise, yet another son of Into Mischief, was coming off a second to top juvenile turfer Gretzky the Great in a stakes at Woodbine Aug. 23. Racing with blinkers off, he challenged for the lead into the first turn with a couple others, then hugged the rail and took over pacesetting duties. He set a strong pace staying on the rail while taking some pressure from Blame the Booze to his outside, dispatched with that rival into the lane, opened up some by midstretch, but lost second in the final strides. Barrister Tom stalked the pace while wide, loomed a threat turning for home, but came up empty once straightened away.

Keeneland
Spinster (race 9)

COMMENT: Valiance, a $650,000 daughter of Tapit, came here in peak form off two straight wins, including a stakes win at Monmouth last time out Aug. 29, and got her first graded stakes win. She got a dream trip stalking pacesetter Shedaresthedevil, with Ollie’s Candy to her inside. Valiance started to advance while wide on the far turn, moved up to challenge Shedaresthedevil into the lane, got the better of her and kept Ollie’s Candy at bay in the final furlong. This earns her a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff here Nov. 7. For Ollie’s Candy, it was another case of close but not quite as this made four straight narrow losses in Grade 1’s. She sat in Shedaresthedevil’s wake while saving ground, remained boxed in to the far turn with Valiance to her immediate right, was able to come off the inside when pace-presser Lady’s Kate fell awa,y and Valiance moved up to challenge for the lead, moved off the rail to Valiance’s outside, made her run at Valiance in the final furlong. Shedaresthedevil, a 3-year-old facing elders for the first time and favored off a win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Sept. 4, broke sharply and was hustled to the lead. She set a strong pace while holding the fence and taking pressure from Lady Kate to her outside, dispatched with Lady Kate but was soon confronted by Valiance to her outside. She couldn’t keep pace with that rival in the lane, fought on for a while, but relented in the final half-furlong to end up third. Lady Kate, second to champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Sept. 4, showed her customary speed to press Shedaresthedevil to her inside, was still in the hunt with Shedaresthedevil to her inside and Valiance to her outside on the far turn, but gave way in the lane.

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