Trip Notes for September 13-14: Noble Damsel, Sands Point, Woodbine Mile and more...

Saturday, Sept. 13

Belmont - Noble Damsel (race 7)

COMMENT: Annecdote helped expose the American turf strength further as the English import, who was Group 3-placed overseas, successfully invaded here and did so despite a horrid start. She got away very poorly, giving the field a head start. She bided her time at the back, then commenced a strong, wide run on the far turn that carried her past her rivals and clear for an impressive tally. Not sure this means she’s ready for the big girls, but obviously she can do some damage in the right spots. Byrama, freshened since a dull eighth in a stakes here June 8 but a proven commodity as she’s a Grade 1 winner and placed, went right to the lead, took some pressure from Love Train, rebuffed that rival, then rebuffed a challenge from Baffle Me but had no answer for the winner’s charge. Julie’s Love, ninth in this last year, lagged back just in front of the eventual winner, couldn’t accelerate with that rival, but finished well. Baffle Me stalked the pace, moved up to threaten on the far turn and into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace in the final furlong. Tokyo Time, favored after two big wins and who was Grade 3-placed in 2013, lagged back but never really mustered a run. Love Train, big winner of her last two and taking a step up in class here, pressed the pace but weakened in the lane. The course was listed as firm despite rains, but it played as if it was a bit soft.

Belmont - Sands Point (race 8)

COMMENT: Ball Dancing was quite unruly and fractious in the saddling area, but none of that mattered when the real racing began, as the filly led a 1-2 finish for trainer Chad Brown, who also sent out more-fancied runner-up Xcellence. Ball Dancing, another Euro import, had shown ample quality in France, including last finishing a close-up fifth (beaten just 1 3/4 lengths) in a Group 1. She was slow into stride, bided her time at the back while Sea Queen set a modest pace, pitched wide into the lane, and finished strongly to outduel her stablemate. Xcellence, who ran third defeating Ball Dancing in that aforementioned French Group 1 June 15 before coming to the U.S. (fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, third in the Grade 2 Lake Placid) again showed her quality as she lagged back, came with a strong wide run into the lane, grabbed the lead inside the eighth pole, seemed to idle a bit but responded well when engaged by her stablemate, but wasn’t quite good enough. The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland next month could be on the docket for both. Sea Queen, back to New York after running fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last month, went right out to the lead, set a modest pace under pressure, was no match for the top two, but stayed on decently for third. Walk Close sat midpack, made a mild run, but wasn’t really a factor. A Little Bit Sassy, just a head behind Daring Dancer in the Lake George, stalked the pace but basically ran evenly throughout. Daring Dancer, winner of four of her first five starts including the Grade 2 Lake George at Saratoga July 23, lagged back but never mustered a run.

Arlington - Pucker Up (race 8)

COMMENT: Sistas Stroll showed she’s a different girl on turf as she made it three wins in as many starts on grass, handled shipping (last win came at Del Mar) and the step up in class. She sat midpack early, improved her position coming into the lane, and came on with a steady run to grab the lead late and edge away. V V Goodnight lagged back and finished well inside, though by the time she came on the scene the issue had pretty much been resolved. Maria Maria stalked the pace, made a decent run into the lane, but was no real threat to the top two. Final Redemption, the favorite off a strong second in a stakes at Saratoga last month in just her second start, went right out to the lead, was still clear into the lane, remained a clear leader at the eighth pole, but weakened in the final furlong.

Kentucky Downs - Kentucky Turf Cup (race 9)

COMMENT: Suntracer, third in this last year, went a couple spots better as he bounced back after a very dull last outing. He was last ninth, beaten 20 lengths, in Arlington’s American St. Leger Aug. 16. He was slow into stride here to be least early, was still well back going to the far turn, commenced with a strong run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and looked long gone but then had to battle gamely to get to the line before hard-charging rival Pyrite Mountain. The latter likewise lagged well back, sitting with the winner early. He didn’t accelerate nearly as quickly but found his top stride late to finish strongly and just failed to get there. War Dancer, favored after running fourth in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 17, was midpack early, came with a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t accelerate with the top two in the final half-furlong. O’Prado Ole dogged pacesetter Saffron Hall early, but couldn’t finish with the top three when the real racing began.

Sunday, Sept. 14

Woodbine - Northern Dancer (race 6)

COMMENT: Sheikhzayedroad showed again the power of the Euros on turf, but the son of Dubawi had to withstand a claim of foul to prevail. Coming off two straight stakes wins, including taking a Group 2 when last seen in England July 26, he was away very slowly to be last early. He was content to sit there, bided his time, came with a strong run going to the far turn to establish a challenging position, settled again, moved to the inside and produced another smart run into the lane, drifted out late to cause Reporting Star to steady, but gamely prevailed. While he did seem to interfere with Reporting Star, it seemed the issue had already been determined and that leaving the result to stand seemed the right move. The Grade 1 Canadian International here Oct. 19 could be next, though trainer David Simcock also mentioned returning to England for the Champions Day card and then pointing for Dubai next winter. Dynamic Sky lagged well back early with the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate as quickly, but found his top gear late and finished well. Reporting Star dueled early with Forte Dei Marmi, took the lead from that foe after a half-mile, kicked clear into the lane, still had the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t withstand the charge of the top two in the final furlong. Yes, he did steady late when the winner shifted out, but the issue had pretty much already been determined. The Pizza Man, the favorite, stalked the pace in a good spot but never really mustered a run.

Woodbine - Canadian (race 9)

COMMENT: Deceptive Vision struck a blow for the locals as coming off a sharp second in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly (beaten just a nose) July 6 she bided her time midpack, saving ground as La Tia set a solid pace, moved closer on the far turn, and came with a sharp run into the lane to grab the lead in the final furlong before drawing clear. She may well target the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 1 – though those waters will be much, much deeper. Royal Fury, freshened since running second to La Tia in the Ontario Matron on the main track here July 26, lagged back, sitting just behind the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate as quickly, but did find her best stride and ran on well for second. La Tia, last a solid fourth in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Aug. 16, bounced right out to take the early lead, set a solid pace, gamely battled back when challenged into the lane, but just wasn’t good enough. Lexie Lou, the favorite after proving best of the local 3-year-olds, male or female, with three straight wins including the Queen’s Plate, stalked the pace but gave way readily in the lane in a disappointing effort.

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Woodbine - Woodbine Mile (race 11)

COMMENT: Trade Storm was third in last year’s renewal, and the lone Euro raider in the field went two spots better as with no American Horse of the Year Wise Dan present he posted the victory. Coming off a couple runner-up efforts in England this summer he settled nicely well off a strong pace set by Bobby’s Kitten, came with a smart run into the lane along the inside, and gamely outfinished Kaigun. He might next try the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 1, though the water will be a lot deeper there. Kaigun, off a game win in the Grade 2 Play the King here Aug. 10, sat midpack from the start, reportedly was stumbling throughout the backstretch, according to his rider, came with a strong run into the lane, but couldn’t quite finish with the winner. Bobby’s Kitten, a crack American 3-year-old coming off a nice second in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame at Saratoga Aug. 8, went right to the lead, set solid splits, still had a clear lead into the lane, but was no match for the top two. Still, he obviously is best at this type of trip. River Seven stalked in fourth, came with a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain his bid. Grand Arch, sharp winner of the Grade 2 King Edward here June 22 and a sharp second (beaten just a neck) to top-class Seek Again in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Fourstardave Aug. 9, sat midpack, came with a threatening wide run into the lane, but couldn’t maintain it. Jack Milton, favored off a game third to top-class Seek Again in the Fourstardave, was well back from the start and never made a move. Nice as this race was, it’s tough to extrapolate this out to having an impact on the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 1 when having to face Wise Dan, Seek Again, Obviously, Tom’s Tribute, and whatever big Euros come over.

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