Trip Notes for October 9-10: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Champagne, Shadwell Turf Mile
Oct. 8
Belmont
Frizette (race 4)
COMMENT: Yellow Agate, a daughter of young sire Gemologist, rallied strongly to win her debut here Sept. 11 at a hefty 32-1. This time, as the 6-5 favorite, she again used her late kick to likely punch her ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita next month. She sat fifth early as Libby’s Tail set the pace under pressure from Nonna Mela, improved her position going into the far turn, and put in a sustained rally to just edge past Libby’s Tail in the final strides. Libby’s Tail, fourth to Nonna Mela in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga Aug. 19, set a solid pace under pressure from Nonna Mela, dispatched with that foe on the turn, still held the lead as Yellow Agate came at her in the lane, and finished far clear of the others. Colorful Charades broke sharply inward but got quickly straightened, stalked the pace, tried to make a run at Libby’s Tail on the turn and into the lane but was no match for that foe and ended up third. Nonna Mela, romping winner of the Adirondack, bobbled at the start, but was still able to press Libby’s Tail. She was urged to move closer on the turn but weakened.
Belmont
Kelso Handicap (race 5)
COMMENT: Anchor Down, winner of the Grade 3 Westchester here at this same one-mile distance May 7, set fast splits under pressure from Tamarkuz and edged clear in the lane. Tamarkuz, coming off a rallying second in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga Aug. 27, kept after the winner and finished well clear of the others. Ocean Knight stalked while saving ground, tried to make a run on the far turn, and stayed on evenly to hold the show.
Flower Bowl (race 6)
COMMENT: Lady Eli, second in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga Aug. 27 after over a year off to recover from laminitis, won for the seventh time in eight starts. She stalked in third as Sentiero Italia set a very slow pace, moved closer turning for home, was asked for run in the lane, and finished well to overtake Sentiero Italia and edge away late. Sentiero Italia, third behind Strike Charmer and Lady Eli in the Ballston Spa, had plenty left in the tank for when Lady Eli came at her but couldn’t quite finish with that rival. Sea Calisi, a stablemate of Lady Eli coming off a win in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Aug. 13, lagged back as expected, came wide into the lane, and finished well. But with the slow pace she was trying to catch fresh horses. Strike Charmer, winner of the Ballston Spa, was last from the start, saved ground to the top of the lane, swung out for room to make her run, but had no chance with the slow pace.
Belmont
Champagne (race 8)
COMMENT: Practical Joke had won the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, but was made the fourth choice by bettors in this race. From his rail slot, he ducked in and had to steady at the start. He remained inside while sitting fourth, cut the corner into the lane, and altered course sharply moving off the inside. Practical Joke challenged leader Syndergaard while on his outside, got pushed out several lanes by Syndergaard and stayed on to get a narrow win. Syndergaard, who was unbeaten and untested in two starts, went right to the lead, took pressure from Big Gray Rocket while setting fast splits, dispatched with that foe into the lane, battled back when taken on by Practical Joke, drifted out, and just got nipped. Favorable Outcome, winner of his debut at Saratoga and like the winner trained by Chad Brown, stalked in third, made a mild run turning for home but couldn’t sustain it. Big Gray Rocket, a Bob Baffert invader off a romping maiden win at Del Mar Sept. 5, pressured Syndergaard through those fast splits, was still there turning for home, but then weakened.
Belmont
Hill Prince (race 9)
COMMENT: Chad Brown ran one-three in the Flower Bowl, one-three in the Champagne, and he ran one-two-three here, as Camelot Kitten beat stablemates Beach Patrol and Annals of Time. Camelot Kitten, second to Inspector Lynley in the Grade 3 Saranac, bided his time early as Southern California raider Monster Bea set a modest pace. Camelot Kitten remained toward the back to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, and finished resolutely to edge Beach Patrol by a head. Beach Patrol, winner of the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington, got a dream trip from his outer post. He sat second behind Monster Bea, moved closer to that foe turning for home, got the better of him by midstretch, but was immediately taken on by his two stablemates and couldn’t rebuff Camelot Kitten. Annals of Time, making just his third start, stalked the pace, came with his run into the lane to loom a big threat, but couldn’t finish with his two stablemates. Monster Bea, competitive out West against the best 3-year-old turfers there, set a modest pace, battled back when challenged by the Brown trio and stayed on to be fourth. Inspector Lynley lagged back with the eventual winner but couldn’t muster the same sort of kick. American Patriot stalked the pace, was still in the thick of it turning for home, but then fell apart.
Belmont
Jockey Club Gold Cup (race 10)
COMMENT: The winner here was California Chrome – and he wasn’t even in the race. Trainer Bob Baffert opted to ship Hoppertunity here for this to avoid facing California Chrome in last week’s Grade 1 Awesome Again, and it proved a great move. Hoppertunity bided his time as Protonico set a modest pace. He came with his run outside Effinex, who was challenging for the lead, and inside Mubtaahij, who seemed to be spinning his wheels, and finished resolutely to get the win. Effinex got a dream trip but it wasn’t enough. He sat second off Protonico, moved up nicely to challenge that foe, was getting the better of him when confronted by Hoppertunity, and couldn’t quite finish with that rival. Protonico, making just his second start after nine months off, took the lead from the rail, battled back when confronted first by Effinex and then Hoppertunity in the lane, and couldn’t keep pace with those two in the final half-furlong. Protonico was vanned off, but found to be sound the next morning. Mubtaahij stalked while outside, loomed a threat on the turn, but was pretty much dead in the water when Hoppertunity went past him coming into the lane.
Keeneland
Woodford (race 5)
COMMENT: Mongolian Saturday posted a 15-1 upset in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf sprint at Keeneland. He went to Hong Kong for two starts and was no factor, then to England for two starts and was no factor. He was freshened, returned to the U.S., and now he’s back on track to defend his Breeders’ Cup crown. He sat third early as Shogood and Bucherro dueled through hot splits, surged past those tiring rivals into the lane, and opened up enough of a buffer to get to the line before a hard-charging Hogy. Hogy, second in a turf sprint stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 3, lagged well back, swung out into the lane, still had just two horses beaten at the eighth pole, and finished strongly. Front Pocket Money, facing elders after running third in a Belmont turf stakes Sept. 11, sat midpack, came with a nice run between horses, and finished on even terms with Galton. Galton, winner of two straight including a turf sprint at Kentucky Downs Sept. 3, sat just behind Front Money Pocket and made up just enough ground to dead heat with that rival for third. Undrafted broke slowly, sat last to the top of the lane, swung out for room, but could make only modest headway to split the field. Could be that at age 6 he’s slowing down just a bit.
Keeneland
Thoroughbred Club of America (race 6)
COMMENT: Irish Jasper was away slowly from her rail slot, established position midpack while remaining inside, angled off the rail on the turn, made her bid into the lane while back on the inside, and finished well to reel in pacesetting favorite Stonetastic and edge clear late. Stonetastic, coming off a romping stakes win at Monmouth July 30, shot out to the lead, set a fast pace, and couldn’t finish with the winner. Bendable chased Stonetastic, made a run at her into the lane, but couldn’t sustain her bid. Fioretti, winner of this race last year and coming off a stakes win in the mud at Churchill Sept. 17, stalked the pace but fell apart in the lane to end up last.
Keeneland
First Lady (race 7)
COMMENT: Champion turf mare Tepin won this in a laugher last year and was going for a ninth straight win, but Photo Call used her speed to post the upset. Photo Call, a Grade 1 winner going 1 1/4 miles, set fast fractions and opened up a huge lead into the lane, which gave her enough of a buffer to get to the line before Tepin really got involved. Tepin, coming off a win in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, allowed Photo Call to run off, was asked to go after that gal coming into the lane, and cut into the gap while running with her head tilted to the right much of the way. Celestine, who won the Grade 1 Just a Game on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11, ran with Tepin and tried to rally with that foe. She surely needed this race after a layoff. Nemoralia, coming off a seventh in an English Group 3 last month, sat well back and came with a decent run but was never a factor. Onus steadied early to be well back from the start, and was very wide into the lane and unable to make a dent.
Keeneland
Breeders’ Futurity (race 8)
COMMENT: Classic Empire was favored in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Hopeful Sept. 5 but dumped his rider at the start. Today, he added blinkers and was reunited with rider Julien Leparoux, and he ran out an impressive winner. From his outside post he showed enough speed to get a stalking trip a couple lanes off the inside as longshot Wild Shot set the pace. Classic Empire moved up to challenge on the far turn, took command, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. He’s won all three races that he completed. He’s certainly one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Lookin At Lee, a well-beaten second to Not This Time in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill Sept. 17, was away slowly, sat last going to the far turn, swung wide to launch a run, and got up for second. Wild Shot, coming off a maiden sprint win at Churchill Sept. 18 and routing for the first time, went right to the lead, stayed on the fence, took heavy pressure from a couple rivals, moved with Classic Empire on the far turn, and stayed on to hold third. No Dozing, winner of his first two starts, sprints at Delaware and Laurel, got knocked around at the start but was able to establish position just behind the leading group. He moved up just behind the eventual winner and loomed a threat into the lane, but then appeared to hang.
Keeneland
Shadwell Turf Mile (race 9)
COMMENT: Miss Temple City beat males in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile here in the spring before going to England to run fourth in a Group 2, and then had two troubled outings at Saratoga. Today, she sat second just behind Pleuven, who set a slow pace. Miss Temple City grabbed the lead from that foe by midstretch and got to the line before the surging Ironicus. Ironicus, second to Flintshire in the Grade 1 Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 11 in his last start, was well back straightening into the lane, switched to his right lead, and powered home in the final furlong to just miss. Tourist, third to Miss Temple City in the Maker’s 46 Mile and coming off a win in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Aug. 20, sat midpack, made an early move to be third turning for home, and kept on well. Mondialiste, second to Tepin last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and winner of the Grade 1 Arlington Million Aug. 13 last time out, bided his time early, came home smartly, but wasn’t good enough. Kasaqui, a close second to Mondialiste at Arlington, sat midpack, pitched wide into the lane, and finished decently. What a View, one of the West’s top milers, stalked in fourth, was wide and in the clear turning for home, but then had nothing to offer in the lane.
Santa Anita
Santa Anita Sprint Championship (race 4)
COMMENT: Lord Nelson, who may be the country’s top sprinter, had an easy time of it here, setting him up for a big summit with A. P. Indian and Masochistic next month. Winner of the Grade 1 Triple Bend here June 25 and Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar July 31, Lord Nelson sat third as All Run set sizzling splits. Lord Nelson moved closer to that foe coming into the lane, still had some work to do by midstretch, but was then asked for run, and easily surged past. All Run looked as though he might go on for the upset as he still held a clear lead at the eighth pole, but was then swallowed up by the winner. Jazzy Times, a romping winner at Del Mar July 31 and like Lord Nelson trained by Bob Baffert, chased All Run but paid the price to end up a well-beaten third.
Santa Anita
City of Hope Mile (race 8)
COMMENT: Vyjack had done some decent work on turf but was generally considered better on dirt. Well, that opinion may have changed here as he put up a dazzling performance and set a course mark. Coming off a second to Masochistic in the Grade 2 Pat O’ Brien at seven furlongs on dirt at Del Mar Aug. 27, he bided his time early as Frank Conversation and then heavy favorite Obviously set a strong pace. He moved closer turning for home, moved out for clear sailing in the lane, and powered home. Om stalked the pace, moved up eagerly into the lane to go after Obviously and was getting the better of him late only to have Vyjack surge past. Obviously dueled early with Frank Conversation. He put that rival away quickly, opened up a clear lead going down the backstretch and to midstretch, but then couldn’t fend off the top two. Hootenanny stalked in fifth and was never a threat to the top three.
Oct. 9
Keeneland
Bourbon (race 8)
COMMENT: Keep Quiet romped over maidens at Saratoga Aug. 6 and was then second in the Grade 2 With Anticipation there Aug. 31. He continued his ascent here with an impressive win. He stalked in third as longshot Cold Snack Thirty set the early pace, moved closer as All Right took command on the far turn, moved up inside to go past that tiring foe into the lane, and kept 9-10 favorite Ticonderoga at bay. Ticonderoga, coming off a romping maiden win on Belmont turf last month, broke slowly to be well back early, steadily advanced, pitched wide into the lane, and came with a nice run. Bird’s Eye View sat midpack, came with a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it.
Keeneland
Spinster (race 9)
COMMENT: I’m a Chatterbox was heavily favored here after romping in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap July 16 and then finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Aug. 27, and she had no trouble proving her backers correct. She sat second, dogging pacesetter Paid Up Subscriber to the far turn, took over turning for home under her own power, and drew off. Paid Up Subscriber, fifth in the Personal Ensign just behind I’m a Chatterbox, went right to the lead in this small field, set modest splits under pressure from the favorite, tried to battle back when hooked, but was no match and finished well clear of the others. Genre broke poorly but established herself in third, chased the top two to the far turn, and was no match for them in the lane. Miss Pink Diva took an awkward step going into the first turn and was pulled up, and had to be euthanized.
Santa Anita
L. A. Woman (race 8)
COMMENT: Gloryzapper tried turf in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del Mar Sept. 4 and ran eighth. She moved back to dirt and to sprinting, and made it three wins in four sprint attempts. She was joined by Perfect Pic and Juno on the lead, and held a narrow edge while being pushed through solid splits. Gloryzapper and Perfect Pic went toe-to-toe, and Gloryzapper finally got the better of that foe and repelled Wild At Heart on the line. Wild At Heart stalked the pace, came with a run along the rail, and edged Perfect Pic for second. Perfect Pic, a romping debut winner at Del Mar Aug. 26 and then second as the 2-5 favorite to Wild At Heart at Los Alamitos Sept. 17, dueled with the winner, took the lead a couple times early in the stretch, and succumbed late. This was just her third start so she has the right to improve. Luminance, winner in a fast race at Del Mar July 27, stalked with Wild At Heart, but couldn’t get to the top three.