Trip Notes for Sepember 8: Kentucky Turf Cup and more

Sept. 8

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf (race 7)

COMMENT: Course was listed as ‘Good’ after overnight rains. Insta Erma has been knocking heads with some of the division’s best at this mile trip but she got some class relief here and that did the trick as the 5-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile notched her first graded stakes win. She broke slowly to be last early, remained well back as 5-2 favorite I’m Betty G set a solid pace under pressure from Valadorna, started to advance on the far turn while well off the rail and continued her long rally outside to edge Valadorna in the final strides. On this day rally-wide runners seemed to have the best of it. Valadorna, a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and trying turf for the first time after a sixth in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill on June 16, showed the speed to dog favored pacesetter I’m Betty Go from the start, kept after that gal to the top of the lane, got the better of her by midstretch but couldn’t fend off the winner while fighting on gamely. Pas de Soucis, third in the De La Rose at Saratoga last time out Aug. 4, got bumped out of the gate, was last going to the far turn, started a run into the lane, had to check when in tight in the lane but kept on decently for third. The trouble in the lane surely kept her from getting closer. Storm the Hill, fifth in Del Mar’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon last time out Aug. 4, lagged well back early after having to steady, made a mild move turning for home but flattened out in the lane. I’m Betty G, favored off three straight wins, the last two being stakes, shot right out to the lead from her rail draw, took pressure from Valadorna while setting a solid pace and holding the fence, battled back gamely into the lane but gave way once headed.

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Cup Ladies Sprint (race 8)

COMMENT: Course listed as ‘Good.’ Ruby Notion appears to have found her best form as coming off a big turf sprint stakes win at Saratoga on July 23 she proved best in a four-horse blanket photo. The daughter of Great Notion showed the speed to sit third as Bixby Lou and Brielle’s Appeal volleyed up front for the lead, remained in stalking mode into the lane, came with her run to challenge then-leader Brielle’s Appeal by the eighth-pole and stayed on gamely to edge hard-charging favorite Lull, the stubborn Brielle’s Appeal and rallying Cont Te Partiro. Lull, favored off a nice third in the Grade 2 Royal North at Woodbine on July 29, bided her time early, steadily advanced to the far turn, came wide into the lane to launch her serious bid, finished well but just couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Brielle’s Appeal dueled from the start with Bixby Lou, held a narrow lead into the lane, dispatched with ‘Lou only to be immediately challenged by Ruby Notion but stayed on gamely inside to come up just two necks short. Con Te Partiro, who had been racing longer and was coming off a fourth in a tough optional-claimer at Saratoga on Aug. 2, perked up with the move to this shorter trip as the daughter of Scat Daddy got bounced around at the start to get away poorly, bided her time toward the back but swung out into the lane and finished well.

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Cup Turf Sprint (race 9)

COMMENT: Course listed as ‘Good.’ Proforma was only good enough to be third in the Wolf Hill at Monmouth last time out July 29 but that was just his second start after nine months off and he apparently got what he needed from that to post the mild upset here. He lagged back early as Little Chesney shot out to set the early pace, remained toward the back while saving ground as Done Deal took over pacesetting duties, came off the inside in the lane and finished resolutely to edge 5-2 favorite White Flag on the line. White Flag, favored off a big optional-claiming win at Belmont when last seen July 11, sat midpack from the start, bided his time to the top of the lane, came out for room to make his run in the stretch, finished well but couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Vici stalked the pace, sat a few lanes off the rail while staying in stalking mode, came with a solid, steady run in the lane but just wasn’t quite good enough. Undrafted, an 8-year-old who has had such a stellar career and who was making his first start since finishing 18th in a stakes in England on June 23, got a nice trip stalking the pace, loomed a threat turning for home but couldn’t sustain his run. He’s had a terrific career but after all this time and all those furlongs this caliber may simply be a bit too much for him.

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Turf Cup (race 10)

COMMENT: Course remains listed ‘Good.’ Arklow has been knocking heads with some of the top turf stayers around. He came into this off a game win in the prep for this race at Ellis Park on Aug. 5 and apparently got what he needed out of that race as he beat some tough stayers. The 4-year-old son of Arch lagged well back early as Multiplier, Big Bend, and Soglio volleyed up front through modest splits, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a smart run into the lane, engaged then-leader Soglio by midstretch, got the better of him and had enough to keep hard-trying Bigger Picture at bay to the line. He’ll reportedly now target the deepest end of the pool – the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill in November. Bigger Picture and Soglio gave trainer Mike Maker a two-three finish (he also had runners finish fourth and fifth) as the former, coming off an eighth in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Aug. 25, sat midpack from the start, came with a smart run into the lane while on the fence to nearly beat the winner while the latter, coming off a third in a strong optional-claimer at Saratoga on July 30 and who’s done well since being claimed for $50,000 last Dec. 21, volleyed up front on the pace with Multiplier and Big Bend, got the better of them into the lane but couldn’t fend off the top two. Oscar Nominated, the favorite and defending champ who last ran sixth in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth on June 30, sat midpack from the start, remained toward the back turning for home, swung widest of all into the lane, made some headway but wasn’t really able to threaten. Manitoulin, a sharp fourth in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont on June 9 but a dull seventh in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga on July 28, stalked in fourth, was still there and seemingly in a good spot turning for home but gave way.