Trip Notes for September 12-13: Woodbine Mille, Pocahontas, Super Derby, and more...

Saturday, Sept. 12

Belmont - Sands Point (race 9)

COMMENT: Sentiero Italia showed that the turf domain isn’t exclusively for the Euros as the American-based daughter of Medaglia d’Oro took what on paper appeared a brutally tough race and beat back some strong Euros to notch her fourth win in her last five starts. After two wins in the spring, she found Lady Eli too much to handle when fourth to that gal in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks but came right back to comfortably win the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga last month. Here, she chased Cara Marie, who moved off to a clear early lead, had little trouble overtaking that tiring rival, and opened up from there to win easily. The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 10 figures next. Blond Me did the best of the Euros as the English-raced filly sat well back early, started to advance going to the far turn, and finished well, though the winner was already long gone. Miss Temple City, second to Sentiero Italia in the Lake Placid, ran well again but, as on that occasion, she found the favorite a bit too tough. She stalked, sitting not far behind Sentiero Italia, tried to accelerate with that rival into the lane, but couldn’t keep up with that gal and just lost the place in the final strides. Tapitry, yet to beat winners but coming off a couple of sharp seconds against allowance foes at Saratoga in August, stalked the pace, loomed a threat, but couldn’t sustain her run. The rest of the Euros ended up fifth, seventh, ninth, and 10th in a surprisingly disappointing invasion.

Churchill - Pocahontas (race 8)

COMMENT: Dothraki Queen was making her first start on dirt and her first start against winners, but neither hurdle mattered as the talented daughter of Pure Prize put the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on her radar with a game tally here. She sat well back in last, benefitted from a ground-saving ride, remained inside coming into the lane, surged to a clear lead by midstretch, and stayed on well to keep a couple of hard-trying fillies at bay. The Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland, the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup, on Oct. 2 could be next. Should all go well there, the Juvenile Fillies figures next. Bold Quality stalked the pace, was boxed in turning for home, bulled her way out from there into the lane, bumping Dream Dance hard, got clear, and ran on well to finish second. She was disqualified and placed third for her antics, though she may have actually had the worst trip in the race. Dream Dance bided her time, swung very wide into the lane to launch her bid, got bumped hard by Bold Quality, but got going again to get third. She was moved up to second via disqualification. Just Wicked, the favorite off two nice wins at Saratoga, including the Grade 2 Adirondack, sat back, loomed a threat turning for home, but was never really a factor in a disappointing effort. Pedigree-wise, the trip should have been no problem, so it remains to be seen if she had an issue or if it was just one of those days. Either way, her Breeders’ Cup aspirations took a hit.

Churchill - Iroquois (race 9)

COMMENT: After two wins to start his career, including a stakes win at Belmont in the Tremont on June 5, Cocked and Loaded tossed in a couple of duds as the favorite, running sixth in the Grade 3 Sanford and fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity. However, his connections didn’t give up on him, and moving him back to dirt and to a route for the first time, the son of Grade 1 dirt-route winner Colonel John bounced back. He stalked in fourth as Condominium set a smart early pace, eagerly pulled past that foe to grab the lead on the far turn, opened up a clear lead, and kept his rivals at bay in the lane. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 3 could be next, and should all go well there, a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile a few weeks hence, though he’ll need some dramatic improvement to be a player there. Rated R Superstar, a big winner over maidens at Ellis Park last time out, sat back, came with a nice run on the turn, couldn’t quite sustain it enough to scare the winner, but stayed on decently for second. Unbridled Outlaw, another maiden winner from Ellis Park (beat Rate R Superstar when they met there July 25), had a miserable time of it. He sat midpack, steadied sharply going into the backstretch, steadied again going into the far turn, but got himself righted and ran on well for third in a good effort. Conquest Windycity, the 2-1 favorite despite being a maiden, rallied well for second in his turf-route debut at Saratoga on Aug. 8. On Saturday, from his rail slot, he got bumped at the start to be well back early, swung wide while making a serious bid on the far turn, but couldn’t sustain his run. The son of Tiznow was facing winners and trying dirt for the first time, so this was a promising run. He cost $800,000 at auction, so there’s some upside here. Still, not sure this race will make a big impact on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile picture.

Louisiana Downs - Super Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: Mobile Bay couldn’t handle The Pickett Factor and Allied Air Raid when third to those guys in the Super Derby Prelude here Aug. 8, but he got his revenge in the big races itself, using a strong late kick to get the job done. He bided his time early as Northwest raider Prime Engine ran off to a clear early lead, bided his time as The Pickett Factor took over from a weakening Prime Engine on the far turn, swung out for the stretch run, and put in a strong run to grab the lead late and pull clear. Trainer Victor Arceneaux wasn’t sure about his next spot but said the long-term plans were for the horse to winter at Fair Grounds and point for that track’s big events for older horses. Chocopologie stalked the pace, moved closer on the far turn, made a run to challenge for the lead by midstretch, but was no match for the winner in the final furlong while staying on gamely to get second. Allied Air Raid, the favorite off seconds in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby and in the Super Derby Prelude here, stalked in third, loomed a big threat in the lane, but not only couldn’t sustain his bid but weakened a bit late to lose second. The Pickett Factor chased Prime Engine from the start, took over from that tiring rival on the turn, battled back when hooked into the lane, but then weakened.

Sunday, Sept. 13

Woodbine - Northern Dancer Turf (race 6)

COMMENT: When Interpol won the Grade 2 Sky Classic here last month, he wasn’t believed, as he was sent off at 21-1. Well, he’s got believers now, as the son of turf champion English Channel posted another upset here. He grabbed the early lead but quickly relinquished it to Danish Dynaformer, who set a slow pace. He moved up to challenge that foe, got the better of him, edged away into the lane, and gamely held off a hard-trying Habibi. He figures to stay home and try the Grade 1 Canadian International here Oct. 18. Habibi, the lone distaffer in the field and coming off a stakes win here Aug. 15, lagged well back off the very slow pace while saving ground, was still well back turning for home, but unleashed a strong run from between horses to give the winner a scare. She could also come back in the Canadian International, though there is also the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor for distaffers here the same day. Triple Threat, the winner of the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes in his U.S. debut June 7 but a dull 11th in the Grade 1 Arlington Million last month, bounced back as he sat in midpack early, loomed a threat coming into the lane, couldn’t maintain his bid, but stayed on decently for third. Danish Dynaformer, a top 3-year-old coming off a romping win in the Breeders’ Stakes on this course and at this trip Aug. 16, was just behind the winner early but quickly assumed pacesetting duties, set a dawdling pace, battled back when hooked turning for home, but weakened. He’s got talent, but surely these Grade 1 foes and elders are tougher than those restricted 3-year-olds he’s been facing.

Woodbine - Canadian (race 9)

COMMENT: Strut the Course couldn’t quite handle Uchenna in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron on the main track here July 25, but a freshening and a move to turf helped her gain her revenge. She sat well back early as Bear’s Pride set a modest pace, was still well back turning for home, but finished strongly to get up in the final strides. The Grade 1 E.P. Taylor here Oct. 18 may be next. Button Down stalked the pace while saving ground, was still only fifth at the eighth pole, but kept to her task gamely, only to get narrowly outfinished by the winner. Hoop of Colour was just behind Button Down from the start, moved earlier than that gal, grabbed the lead by midstretch as if ready to go on for the win, but was unable to sustain her run. Uchenna was just behind Hoop of Colour, moved with that gal while just behind and, like her, failed to sustain her bid.

Woodbine - Woodbine Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Another blow was struck by the Euro milers as Mondialiste, an English invader, proved best on the trying course. Coming off a Group 3 win in England, Mondialiste was at the back from the start, still well back turning for home when asked for run, surged through between horses, and got up in the final strides. This could earn him a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland next month. Lea, favored while making his first start on turf in more than two years, stalked in third as Obviously ran off to a clear lead, bided his time there, came with his run in the lane, was getting the better of Obviously inside the eighth pole, but just couldn’t quite finish with the winner. With his versatility in terms of distance and surface, he has all sorts of options for the Breeders’ Cup. Obviously, making his first start since last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile when fifth, ran off to a long early lead, as he sometimes does, was still a clear leader turning for home, and gamely ran on for third, though he was obviously a bit taxed from his early work. Still, for his first start in so long and on such a trying course, this was a nice return. Kaigun sat in midpack and came with a steady run, but just wasn’t quite good enough. Mr. Owen, who tried a couple of French Group 1s earlier this year, was slow into stride, lagged well back and never mustered a run.