Trip Notes for September 14-15, 2019: Woodbine Mile, Iroquois, and more

Sept. 14

Churchill
Locust Grove (race 8)

COMMENT: Go Google Yourself continued her good form as the daughter of Into Mischief notched her fourth win in her last six starts. Coming off a big win in the shorter (one mile) Groupie Doll at Ellis Park Aug. 11, she stalked from the start as outsider Skeptic set a modest pace under pressure from Escape Clause, remained just behind those two to the far turn while staying well off the inside, moved past ‘Clause to go after leader Skeptic coming into the lane, took over from that tiring rival, opened up as if primed to go on to a big win but had to dig deep to fend off a hard-charging Moonlit Garden. The waters of the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland Oct. 6 at 1 1/8 miles may be too deep, though that’s still a possibility. Or, they could target the Grade 2 Falls City here Nov. 28. Moonlit Garden, smashing winner of the Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows July 6 before running third to Go Google Yourself in the Groupie Doll, almost turned the tables as she lagged well back early while saving ground, came off the inside on the far turn as she advanced, moved wider still into the lane and finished well but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Mylady Curlin, winner of her last six, the last three being stakes, stalked not far behind the eventual winner, was pushed wide on the far turn as she started a run, kept to her task decently in the lane to close ground but wasn’t really a danger to the top two in the final furlong. Escape Clause, third to Mylady Curlin in a stakes at Thistledown last time out Aug. 17, pressed early pacesetter Skeptic from the start, came off the inside turning for home as if poised to make a run but flattened out in the lane. It appear she’s fallen off some from the form that saw her nearly beat reigning division leader Midnight Bisou in the spring.

Churchill
Pocahontas (race 9)

COMMENT: Lazy Daisy struck a blow for the SoCal juvenile filly division as the daughter of Grade 1 winner Paynter was a well-beaten fourth to top-class Bast in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Aug. 31 but shipped here and proved best. She broke sharply and went right up to contest the pace with His Glory to her inside, volleyed for the lead with that rival to the top of the lane, looked in a bit of trouble when His Glory put her head in front in midstretch but kept on resolutely to regain the lead and edge away in the final half-furlong. With stablemate Comical likely carrying the barn’s flag for the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita Sept. 27 this girl might instead return to Kentucky for the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland Oct. 4. His Glory, a daughter of Horse of the Year Mineshaft and coming off a well-beaten third in the Ellis Park Debutante Aug. 18 (6 lengths), broke well to immediately get into a duel with the eventual winner while inside that rival, continued to duel through modest splits, put her head in front in midstretch as if getting the better of the duel but then couldn’t keep pace with that foe thereafter while finishing well clear of the others. The Alcibiades figures on her radar as well. Portrait, favored off a smashing 12 1/2-length maiden win at Ellis Park Aug. 25, ducked in at the start but was soon able to establish a nice stalking position, moved closer on the far turn, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run. She could also be Alcibiades bound. Blood Curdling, a $325,000 daughter of Fed Biz and a romping 11-length winner of her debut at Colonial Downs Aug. 15, chased the top two from the start, was still in position to make a run on the far turn but came up empty and was no factor in the lane. Lotta Ott, a game maiden winner at Saratoga Aug. 11 (a run flattered when third-finisher Secondary Market came back to romp at Belmont earlier this day), sat fifth, seemingly in a decent spot, but never made a move and in fact gave way in the lane.

Churchill
Iroquois (race 10)

COMMENT: This was the much-anticipated next start of Dennis’ Moment, a $400,000 son of Horse of the Year Tiznow. The colt broke his maiden by an amazing 19 1/4 lengths at Ellis Park July 25 in his second start (lost his rider in his debut here June 23), earning the biggest Beyer Speed Figure by a male juvenile so far this year (97). Well, it was worth the wait as he dominated this and looks like the early favorite for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Nov. 1. He got a nice position stalking in fourth as Juggernaut set a solid pace, crept closer on the far turn, ranged up wide into the lane, took command without really being asked, opened up and was just hand-ridden to the line to win much easier than the margin (1 3/4 lengths) suggested. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 5 could be the link to Santa Anita or he could train up to the Breeders’ Cup. Scabbard, big debut winner here June 28 and then a bit troubled when second to top-class Green Light Go in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Aug. 10, sat midpack from the start, advanced smartly up the rail going to the far turn but had to steady when running up on horses’ heels, lost position as he got shuffled back on the turn, shifted off the inside turning for home and into the lane and finished with good energy to get up for second, though his ability to close on the winner was accentuated by the fact the winner was being geared down. Still, it was a promising run and the Breeders’ Futurity could be in the cards for him as well. Lebda, an 11-length optional-claiming winner at Delaware Aug. 22, dogged early pacesetter Juggernaut from the start, moved up to challenge for the lead into the lane though the winner was challenging at the same time, tried to go with that foe into the lane, proved no match and then tired in the lane while able to hold third. Letmeno, second to Rowdy Yates in the Ellis Park Juvenile Aug. 18, was far back early, remained well back to the far turn, swung very wide on the turn and into the lane, finished decently to pass a few but was never really a factor. Rowdy Yates, second in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor here June 29 and aforementioned smart winner of the Ellis Park Juvenile, sat midpack from the start, moved closer on the far turn but was one-paced the rest of the way and unable to threaten. Flute Maker, an impressive 11 1/2-length winner over maidens in slop at Saratoga Aug. 21, got bounced around at the break to be toward the back from the start and never mustered a run.

Woodbine
Woodbine Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: Overnight rains resulted in the turf course starting the day listed as yielding, but the course was upgraded to good for this race. The filly Got Stormy was favored off a couple smashing wins at Saratoga including beating males in the Grade 1 Fourstardave, but it was El Tormenta who struck a blow for the home team, posting a huge 44-1 upset. Coming off a fourth in the Grade 2 Play the King at 7 furlongs here Aug. 24, he stalked while just inside and behind Got Stormy, remained on the fence to the top of the lane, came out some to go around a tiring rival, moved back to the fence and rallied strongly to engage the favorite to her inside and subdue her late. This could earn him a trip to Santa Anita for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 2. Got Stormy broke alertly, got a great position stalking while just off the strong pace set by the trio of Awesometank, Silent Poet, and Admiralty Pier, bided her time just off that trio a couple lanes off the fence while traveling very easily, moved to the lead past those rivals while wide into the lane without really being asked, took a clear lead once straightened away as if poised to go on to victory only to them come under a ride as El Tormenta surged up to her inside and then couldn’t quite finish with that foe. Considering the others on the strong pace all gave way but that she was still right there at the line despite pressing those strong fractions shows she ran big. This likely sends her to the Breeders’ Cup Mile as one of the ones. Lucullan, winner of his last two after 14 months on the bench including a stakes at Saratoga Aug. 3, bided his time not far behind Got Stormy, advanced to be in just behind that rival on the far turn, came with a smart run between horses into the lane, was on ‘Stormy’s right hip and making up ground inside the eighth pole only to then swerve out sharply impeding a rallying Raging Bull while finishing third. He was disqualified from third and placed fourth for veering out late in the stretch which surely compromised Raging Bull. Raging Bull, second to Got Stormy in the Fourstardave, was far back last from the start, remained well behind the pack to the far turn, started a strong run on the turn to reestablish contact with the field coming into the lane, surged through between horses once straightened away to loom a threat only to have to steady hard late when Lucullan veered out into his path, ending up fourth. Raging Bull was moved up to third with the disqualification of Lucullan. Raging Bull is so talented but the mile just seems a tad too sharp for him and he’s not a 1 1/2-mile horse, making you wonder if there’s just not a Breeders’ Cup race for him.

Woodbine
Northern Dancer (race 10)

COMMENT: Turf course was still listed as good. On paper raider Old Persian dominated this, having recorded group victories in Europe and Dubai, facing some of the world’s best. That wasn’t lost on the patrons who hammered him down to 3-5 favoritism and the 4-year-old did not disappoint, proving a handy winner. Her broke awkwardly and inward from his rail slot but quickly recovered, moving up to sit third behind Tiz a Slam as longshot Cooler Mike shot out to a huge early lead. Old Persian was content to remain third, about 15 lengths behind the pacesetter and three to four lengths behind Tiz a Slam but after biding his time there he steadily advanced to the far turn, moved up alongside Tiz a Slam on the turn to that rival’s outside as that rival took over form a spent Cooler Mike, had little trouble getting the better of Tiz a Slam into the lane, opened up, moved down to the rail and didn’t really have a nervous moment in the lane. He’s a world traveler so there are all sorts of options for him, though an obvious one could be to return here Oct. 12 for the Grade 1 Canadian International at this same 1 1/2-mile trip he obviously relishes on a course he handled with aplomb. First, he’ll reportedly return to his Europe base and his connections will see how he’s doing before making a decision on his next target. Nessy, third to Tiz a Slam in the Grade 3 Louisville at Churchill May 18 and then a closing seventh in a stakes at Ellis Park Aug. 4, was last early after a sluggish start, far, far behind the runaway pacesetter, started to advance with the field to close in on the tiring pacesetter going to the far turn, continued with a smart run in the lane between horses and stayed on gamely between Focus Group to his outside and Tiz a Slam to his inside to win the three-horse photo for second, though he was never a danger to the winner. Focus Group, eight in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga July 27, though beaten by just 2 1/2 lengths, sat back with Nessy, raced with that rival much of the way, came with a nice run turning for home to briefly loom a threat widest of the three chasing the winner, was no match for the winner while staying on gamely to just miss second by a nose. Tiz a Slam, the top local runner coming off three straight graded stakes wins, the last two on this course at this trip, sat second well behind the freewheeling pacesetter from the start, remained there down the backstretch still comfortably ahead of the eventual winner who was in third, moved up nicely outside the tiring pacesetter to take over on the far turn, was immediately taken on by Old Persian while moving down to the rail, could not keep pace with Old Persian in the lane, came off the rail some and stayed on gamely for fourth, losing second by just a nose and a head.

Sept. 15

Woodbine
Summer (race 7)

COMMENT: Rain earlier in the day resulted in the turf course being listed as yielding. Decorated Invader, a $200,000 son of top-class Euro turfer Declaration of War, showed ample talent at Saratoga this summer in his first two starts, topped off with a big maiden win Aug. 10. As the second choice he validated that run with an impressive score here, punching his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf a Santa Anita Nov. 1. From his inside slot he broke slowly but advanced up the inside, sat midpack as Cadet Connelly set a modest pace, was in a big tight going to the far turn, moved off the inside and started to advance on the far turn while wide, pitched wider still into the lane, powered past rivals to take the lead in midstretch, surged clear and won geared down. Cadet Connelly, a huge longshot (109-1) despite being stakes placed on turf at Colonial Aug. 31 and then beating maidens on this synthetic main track just a week ago Sept. 8, surely outran his odds as the son of top-class Euro turf stayer Grey Swallow pressed the early pace, soon took over pacesetting duties, moved to the inside as he set modest splits while a clear leader, battled back gamely when challenged into the lane as he raced a couple lanes off the rail, was no match for the winner but kept on gamely to just hold second with Vitalogy to his outside and Proven Strategies to his inside. Vitalogy, a Euro raider coming off a fourth in a Group 3 in England Aug. 21, broke awkwardly from the rail to be at the back of the pack, bided his time there while saving ground, ended up drafting behind the eventual winner, was a bit rank and pulling going down the backstretch while still behind the eventual winner, remained inside at the back of the pack, started to advance between horses on the far turn, was bottled up some into the lane, found a seam just behind and inside the eventual winner, bulled his way between horses, moved outside the eventual winner and closed well in a fine try to get third. Proven Strategies, second in a turf sprint stakes at Saratoga last time out Aug. 16, broke well, sat midpack between horses down the backstretch, was content to remain there to the far turn while a couple lanes off the rail, remained between horses into the lane, started his run behind the longshot pacesetter, looked poised to go outside that rival in midstretch, instead darted down to the rail and finished well. Mystic Lancelot, a $450,000 son of Into Mischief who was favored off a smashing debut win on Saratoga turf Aug. 15, hit the side of the gate at the break but still had the speed to prompt the early pace, was still in the thick of it turning for home but gave way in the lane. Keep On Truckin, romping winner of his first two starts on this synthetic main track and trying turf for the first time here, didn’t fare so well with the surface switch as he broke very sharply to go right to the lead, soon pulled back ending up midpack going to the far turn while saving ground, remained there just inside Proven Strategies, was urged to get going on the far turn but came up empty. It’s likely back to the main track after this.

Woodbine
Natalma (race 9)

COMMENT: Turf course still listed as yielding. It was a thrilling renewal as Abscond and Walk in Marrakesh dueled from start to finish, with heavy favorite Fair Maiden a game third. The photo went to Abscond, who proved the narrowest, and gamest, of winners. Abscond, coming off a second in a turf stakes at Saratoga Aug. 14 (though well beaten), broke running from her outside post, going right out to the lead. She was soon joined by Walk in Marrakesh who came up the rail, went head to head with that rival to her inside through solid splits, looked in trouble when that foe took a narrow lead into the lane and favorite Fair Maiden ranged up strongly to her outside but battled gamely between horses to rerally just nip Walk in Marrakesh to her inside. This could earn her a trip to Santa Anita for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 1. Walk in Marrakesh, a European raider who won three straight in England (two over males) before finishing third in a French Group 2, broke well, moved up very comfortably on the rail to race inside Abscond, dueled with that foe, seemed to be traveling the better of the two into the lane, took a narrow lead, came a few lanes off the fence for the stretch run, battled gamely but couldn’t quite outdo the winner in a super try. Fair Maiden, the heavy favorite off two huge wins, the first over males on Arlington’s synthetic track and last time in a stakes on this course Aug. 17, broke well, got a dream position stalking in third while wide and in the clear, pressed the pace to the far turn, moved up smartly turning for home, loomed a big threat as she seemed poised to go on by but then couldn’t outfinish the top two, drifting out in the lane from a left-handed whip. It’s possible this longer trip got the better of her, though being wide throughout didn’t help. She would still have to be considered a big danger should she go to Santa Anita. Diamond Sparkles, an invader from England coming off a game win there July 26, broke a bit slowly to be last early, moved up some going down the backstretch to be just behind the field, saved ground as she remained last on the far turn, started to move up between horses turning for home, came out into the lane and finished well just behind and inside Fair Maiden who drifted out in front of her in the lane, though she wasn’t ever impeded.