Trip Notes for September 16-17: Woodbine Mile, Northern Dancer, De Francis Dash, and more

Sept. 16

Belmont
Sands Point (race 9)

COMMENT: Uni’s first two races in the U.S. after campaigning in France resulted in a third in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks and a second in the Grade 2 Lake Placid. But she picked up her game further here. The daughter of More Than Ready broke better than in her last two outings, and sat midpack as La Coronel set a modest pace. Uni pitched wide into the lane and closed relentlessly to catch La Coronel inside the final half-furlong and edge past late. The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland next month is her likely next target. La Coronel did nothing wrong in defeat. She was last fourth in the Lake Placid not far behind Uni. She showed more speed here going right out to the lead, set a modest pace while well within herself, took some pressure from Empress of the Nile and Fault, kicked clear into the lane looking as though she might go on to victory, but then couldn’t fend off Uni’s rally. The Queen Elizabeth II figures on her radar as well. Fault stalked in third, kept to her task well throughout, but couldn’t get to La Coronel in the lane. Inflexibility raced midpack alongside stablemate Uni, got shuffled back some on the far turn, was very wide into the lane, but got going well once straightened away to be a good fourth.

Laurel
De Francis Dash (race 9)

COMMENT: Several scratches took the field down to just four. Chublicious, who was cutting back to sprinting and moving from New Jersey-bred foes to open company, got back to the type of form that saw him win three stakes in 2016. As the highest priced horse in the race (10-1) he stalked in third as Blu Moon Ace went right out to the lead. Chublicious remained in third as Blu Moon Ace opened up on the far turn, was asked to go after that foe into the lane, and overtook Blu Moon Ace in the final strides. Blu Moon Ace set strong splits, was still a clear leader by midstretch and appeared poised to go on to victory, but couldn’t withstand the winner’s charge. Whitmore, the 1-2 favorite off a third in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont June 9, was last early while saving ground, and came with a modest run in the lane to get third. He looked as though he might be among the country’s top sprinters earlier this year, but may not be quite as sharp now.

Woodbine
Canadian (race 8)

COMMENT: Quidura came within a head of beating superstar turf mare Lady Eli in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Diana July 22, and that effort earned her 2-5 favoritism here. From her rail slot she stalked in fourth as Involuntary went out to set a modest pace. Quidura remained inside, came off the rail into the lane, found a seam between horses, and moved through to challenge leader Starship Jubilee inside the eighth pole. She got the better of her and had little trouble keeping Elysea’s World at bay. Trainer Graham Motion said she deserves another shot at Lady Eli and the division’s best in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 4. Elysea’s World, a rallying fourth in a stakes at Saratoga Aug. 5, bided her time early toward the back of the pack, came out into the lane, and finished with good energy. Starship Jubilee, back in against distaffers after running fifth against males in the Grade 2 Sky Classic here Aug. 20, sat second behind Involuntary, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, had the lead at the eighth pole, but couldn’t finish with the top two. Grizzel stalked in fifth, made a nice run into the lane, but then shied at the sixteenth pole, losing her action and losing third. It’s possible she shied from the swishing tail of rival Elysea’s World.

Woodbine
Northern Dancer (race 10)

COMMENT: On paper European raider Hawkbill dominated this race, and he was sent off at 3-5. However, local stalwart Johnny Bear had different ideas. The 6-year-old son of turf champ English Channel stalked in third as Hawkbill set a slow pace, went after that foe into the lane, and got the better of him in the final strides. Off this the Grade 1 Canadian International here next month is a logical next spot. Hawkbill went right to the lead, battled back when challenged by Johnny Bear in the stretch, looked as though he might prevail, but couldn’t fend off Johnny Bear’s late push. Messi bided his time after getting bounced around at the start, came with a nice run in the lane, had to steady when he found his path impeded, moved to the inside, and finished gamely. Without that trouble he likely would have been right in the photo with top two. Noble Thought, a rallying second in the Grade 2 Sky Classic here Aug. 20, got bumped at the start and sat in last to the far turn, then could pass only a couple rivals.

Woodbine
Woodbine Mile (race 12)

COMMENT: World Approval may have cemented his status as the favorite for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Coming off a strong win in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Aug. 12, he sat second dogging longshot pacesetter Dragon Bay through strong splits, took over from that tiring rival turning for home, shot clear to quickly open up a sizable lead, and was never in any danger thereafter. Lancaster Bomber, generally considered the lesser of the two Aidan O’Brien European invaders with Deauville, bided his time early, was blocked coming into the lane as he tried to start a run, got going again, and finished well. Long On Value sat well back, behind Lancaster Bomber, found his path blocked in the lane, had to wait for room, and came through strongly when it finally materialized. Mondialiste, winner of this race two years ago, got away slowly and was last to the turn. He finished with good energy but got edged by Long On Value for third. Deauville was the disappointment. Coming back to North American after a third in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, he stalked the pace just behind World Approval, was asked to go when that rival hit the gas, but couldn’t keep pace. Deauville then got herded inward in midstretch, checked, and gave way, though he wasn’t going to finish in the top three even without that trouble. The race was delayed a few minutes as a flock of geese sitting on the turf course had to be shooed off.

Churchill
Locust Grove (race 8)

COMMENT: Romantic Vision was coming off a couple dull stakes outings, but the 5-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid got back on track, notching her first graded stakes win. She stalked in fourth as Brooklynsway set a modest pace. Romantic Vision was in tight along the inside and had to steady going into the far turn, came with a strong run along the inside go past leader Blue Prize, and edged clear. The Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland next month might be next. Blue Prize, favored off a sharp second, beaten a nose, in a stakes at Saratoga Aug. 20, sat second behind Brooklynsway. She moved up nicely to wrest the lead from that foe turning for home, and battled back when the winner came at her on her inside. Tiger Moth, winner of the Grade 3 Groupie Doll at Ellis Park Aug. 13, bided her time early, swung out into the lane, and finished decently to get third. Mo d’Amour stalked in third, loomed a big threat turning for home, was still in the hunt at the eighth pole, and lost third in the final strides.

Churchill
Iroquois (race 10)

COMMENT: The Tabulator easily won his first two starts, which came on Arlington’s synthetic track and on the Prairie Meadows dirt. The $460,000 son of Dialed in was facing new surroundings, tougher foes, and a longer trip, but overcame those hurdles with a strong victory. He sat second as Smart Remark set a modest pace, crept closer to that rival going to the far turn, snatched the lead on the turn, and fended off favored Hollywood Star. Hollywood Star, coming off a second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Aug. 13 after breaking his maiden on this track June 28, sat midpack early, came with a wide run on the far turn to reach contention, couldn’t accelerate with the winner into the lane, but got going well late to close the gap. Ten City, winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor here June 30 and then a troubled third in the Ellis Park Juvenile Aug. 20, broke slowly and was well back going into the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, came with a nice run to look briefly threatening by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his bid. Flameaway stalked the pace, got shuffled back on the first turn, and never really mustered a run.

Churchill
Pocahontas (race 11)

COMMENT: Patrona Margarita, eighth behind a few of these in the slop in the Debutante here June 30, moved to a route for the first time and flourished. She sat back early as Primo Extremo set a slow pace, started a wide run on the far turn, and swept past her rivals to win easily at 23-1. The Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland next month may be next. Kelly’s Humor, winner of her first two starts including the Ellis Park Debutante Aug. 20, broke slowly from her wide post, remained well back to the top of the lane, and came home smartly to just get up for second. Sunny Skies, third in the Ellis Park Debutante, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat with a wide run turning for home, and lost second in the final strides. Snowfire, the 3-1 favorite off a fourth the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga July 21, sat midpack while rank and fighting her rider’s hold, and had no rally when asked. Take Charge Paula, winner of her first two starts including a stakes at Delaware Aug. 9, stalked in third, seemed to be traveling well, but then fell apart.

Sept. 17

Woodbine
Summer (race 6)

COMMENT: Untamed Domain rallied well for third in the Grade 3 With Anticipation on turf at Saratoga Aug. 30. With blinkers added, he stepped up his game further here, and punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The son of Animal Kingdom was away slowly from his rail slot and sat in fifth while saving ground. He started to move closer going down the backstretch, came off the inside on the turn and farther out into the lane, lugged in while starting his run, got straightened away, and despite continuing to drift in reeled in Hemp Hemp Hurray to win. Hemp Hemp Hurray, the 8-5 favorite off two romping wins to start his career this summer, including a stakes at Monmouth, sat second pressing pacesetter El Dulce. He moved up with Count Alexander to challenge El Dulce turning for home, got the better of those two by the eighth pole but couldn’t fend off the winner. The Breeders’ Cup figures on his radar as well. Admiralty Pier stalked in third after ducking inward at the break, was in a bit tight when trying to make a run, finally found room, but it was too late. Count Alexander stalked the pace, moved up to challenge for the lead coming into the lane, kept on decently but wasn’t able to finish with the top three.

Woodbine
Natalma (race 9)

COMMENT: Capla Temptress, an English invader, proved best and earned her ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She got bumped at the start to be toward the back early, started to advance on the turn while wide and in the clear, moved inward a bit coming into the lane, then had to wait for room. She bulled through to grab the lead and was edging away at the wire. Dixie Moon, winner on the Tapeta here of her only start, set a solid pace under some pressure from Delamar, dispatched with that foe coming into the lane, and only succumbed to the winner in the final half-furlong. Wonder Gadot, the favorite off a debut win on this turf course, got bumped by the eventual winner at the start, but quickly recovered and sat a great trip stalking the pace. She loomed a big threat into the lane but was unable to get past the runner-up while well clear of the others. March X Press, winner of her first two starts, both on turf at Saratoga last month, sat midpack, looked poised to make a run into the lane, but finished one-paced.