Trip Notes for September 10-11: Super Derby, Kentucky Turf Cup, Arlington-Washington Futurity

Sept. 10

Arlington

Arlington-Washington Futurity (race 8)

COMMENT: Wellabled, son of Grade 1 Preakness winner Shackleford, romped in his debut here July 9 and was then a strong second in a turf stakes at Saratoga Aug. 19. He returned to this synthetic main track and won. As in his first two starts, he went right out to the lead. Wellabled took early pressure from Star Empire while setting a decent pace, kicked away from that foe into the lane, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Romeo O Romeo, winner of his debut here Aug. 21, stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, then fought off Star Empire for second. Star Empire, winner of his first two starts, got bumped and jostled at the start, yet still had the speed to press the winner. He was no match for that foe, looked in deep water when Romeo O Romeo went past in midstretch, but battled back and nearly took second. Seven Forty Seven steadied at the start to be toward the back early, steadily advanced, made a mild run into the lane, but flattened out.

Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Turf Cup (race 9)

COMMENT: Da Big Hoss has made quite a career out of beating basically the second-tier turf distance horses around. He won this race last year, came into this off three straight wins, and proved too good these. The 1-2 favorite, he bided his time early as Life’s Journey set the pace before Rum Tum Tugger quickly took over. Da Big Hoss remained well back saving ground as Rum Tum Tugger set a slow pace, started to advance going to the far turn, dueled with leader Bullards Alley into the lane, got the better of that foe, and edged clear late. He’s earned over $1.4 million since he was claimed for $50,000 at Churchill in June 2015, surely making him one of the best claims ever. Bullards Alley bounced back nicely off a couple disappointing stakes outings. He stalked the pace, grabbed the lead on the inside coming into the lane, battled back when hooked by Da Big Hoss, and finished well clear of the rest. Rum Tum Tugger dueled early with Life’s Journey, assumed command before going a half-mile, still had the lead on the far turn but couldn’t finish with the top two. Power Foot, a West Coast raider, bided his time back with the Da Big Hoss, made his move in tandem with him going into the far turn, but flattened out.

Louisiana Downs

Super Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: Rain started to fall about an hour before post time but tapered off and the sealed track was still listed as fast. Texas Chrome won the Prelude, the tradition local prep for this, here Aug. 6, and he validated that good form. The son of Grasshopper stalked as Dalmore set a slow pace, moved closer to pressure Dalmore on the turn, battled with Dalmore into the lane, and was just edging away a bit late. Dalmore, winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita July 2 and fifth behind top elders California Chrome, Beholder and Dortmund in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic, set a dawdling pace and only succumbed late to the winner. Whateverybodywants, second to Cupid in both the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and Grade 2 West Virginia Derby in his last two starts, raced alongside the eventual winner, got going well in the lane, and didn’t miss by much. Mo Tom, favored off a win in the Thistledown’s Grade 3 Ohio Derby June 25, lagged well back from the start and never mustered a run. The layoff coupled with a modest pace may have been too much to overcome.