Trip Notes for September 19-20, 2020: Woodbine Mile, Belmont Oaks, and more

Sept. 19

Belmont
Belmont Oaks (race 5)

COMMENT: On paper, European raider Magic Attitude appeared to hold all the aces, being a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in France, and that’s the way it worked out on the track. The 3-year-old daughter of Galileo was originally supposed to make her U.S. debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 22, but got sick so plans changed. Things worked out very well. She broke well, and was content to be pulled back to sit last in the small field as Antoinette set a slow pace. Magic Attitude remained at the back of the quintet to the far turn, though not that far off the leader, moved out on the far turn while still under a hand ride, pitched widest of all into the lane, produced her run on command, surged to the lead by midstretch, and drew clear for the easy win. The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland Oct. 10 could be next, though trainer Arnaud Delacour said coming back in three weeks might be too quick. Antoinette was able to set a dawdling pace and lead all the way to win the Saratoga Oaks Aug. 16, and she tried the same tactics here. She took modest pressure from Key Biscayne to her outside and Setting the Moon to her inside, edged clear of those rivals some on the far turn and into the lane while staying toward the inside, had no answer when the winner blew past a few lanes to her outside, but kept on well to hold second. The Queen Elizabeth II could be on her radar as well. Neige Blanche, a Group 3 winner in France in June, shipped to Southern California and ran on for fourth in the Del Mar Oaks. She shipped across the country for this. Neige Blanche bided her time in fourth, was between horses some while traveling in Antoinette’s wake, made some headway on the far turn, tried to rally inside the eventual winner turning for home, but was no match for that foe and couldn’t get to the runner-up in the lane.

Woodbine
Woodbine Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: Starship Jubilee has to go down along with Lava Man as one of the greatest claims in the last few decades. After winning the Woodbine Mile, the 7-year-old mare, claimed for just $16,000 in February 2017, is now 19 for 38 and has earned over $2 million. The daughter of Indy Wind bided her time a few lengths off the pace inside 2-1 favorite War of Will, moved closer going to the far turn while moving wider out, came with a run into the lane outside War of Will as that guy challenged for the lead, edged clear, and got to the line before a hard-charging March to the Arch. This earns her a trip to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 7, though that spot will surely be tougher. March to the Arch, smashing winner of the Grade 2 King Edward at this trip here Aug. 15, sat well back early after a slow start from the rail, came with a run turning for home, had to steady in traffic into the lane, and finished smartly. War of Will, favored off a game win in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland July 10, stalked just ahead of the eventual winner as Admiralty Pier set a strong pace, came with a wide run into the lane to challenge for the lead, put his head in front between calls into the lane as if primed to go on to victory, but couldn’t counter the winner’s charge and finished third. Shirl’s Speight, considered a potential Grade 1 Kentucky Derby runner after two smashing wins to start his career here in July, stalked in third while saving ground but gave way in the lane. Promising as he is this was probably biting off too much too soon as he was diving into Grade 1 waters vs. some top-class elders. Value Proposition pressed pacesetter Admiralty Pier from the star, dogged that rival to the top of the lane, but gave way when the real racing began.

Sept. 20

Monmouth
Salvator Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Pirate’s Punch continued his fine form and may have earned a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with a smart win here. He finished first in the Grade 3 Iselin here Aug. 22 only to be disqualified and placed second. Today, the son of Shanghai Bobby got position in third early as longshot Wind of Change ran out to a clear early lead. Pirate’s Punch closed the gap easily under his own power heading to the far turn, overwhelmed the leader by the quarter pole, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Top Line Growth romped in an optional claimer at Laurel last Sept. 27, was then gone nearly 11 months before romping again in another optional claimer there Aug. 14. He showed he wasn’t out of the place with this class hike as he lagged well back early, came with a run on the far turn to get within hailing distance of the eventual winner, and gamely chased that foe the rest of the way. Bal Harbour, third in this last year and third in the Iselin, sat back just ahead of Top Line Growth while saving ground, didn’t move as early or as strongly as that foe, and came with a nice run along the rail in the stretch to nearly catch him for second. Valid Point, trying dirt for the first time after a couple subpar turf mile outings this summer, stalked in fourth early while a few lanes off the rail but was done by the far turn. It looks like it’s back to the drawing board for this Grade 1 turf winner.

Woodbine
Summer (race 7)

COMMENT: Gretzky the Great made it three wins in a row and punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, though he had to survive an inquiry. Coming off a stakes win sprinting on this course Aug. 23, the son of champion juvenile and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist chased pacesetter Ready to Repeat. He continued to hound that foe to the top of the lane, came with his challenge in the stretch outside Ready to Repeat, but drifted inward in midstretch, causing Ready to Repeat to check along the rail. The stewards ruled the incident didn’t have bearing on the finish positions, and let the result stand. Ready to Repeat is the only horse to have defeated Gretzky the Great, having beaten him on this course July 12. He had last ran third to Gretzky the Great in the Soaring Free here Aug. 23. Ready to Repeat set a solid pace along the inside as Gretzky the Great tracked him to his outside, continued to lead into the lane, and couldn’t go with Gretzky the Great in the lane. Ready to Repeat steadied and altered course when Gretzky the Great drifted over in front of him, but recovered and stayed on for second. Dolder Grand, an $800,000 son of Candy Ride who ran third on turf in his debut Aug. 23 here, was away slowly from the outside slot to be last early, crept closer going to the far turn while staying wide, remained toward the back turning for home, and was able to outdo American Monarch for the show while no threat to the top two. American Monarch, a son of Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, rallied to win his debut turf route at Saratoga Aug. 8. Today, he stalked the early pace between horses, remained there to the far turn, tried to rally inside of Dolder Grand in the lane, and raced with that rival through the stretch.

Woodbine
Natalma (race 9)

COMMENT: Lady Speightspeare was quite impressive winning her debut on this course Aug. 22, and she validated that effort with a move forward and a smart win here, earning her shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland Nov. 6. The daughter of champion sprinter Speightstown showed speed to dog early pacesetter Big Big Plans, pressured that rival into submission turning for home, swept to the lead into the lane, and kept hard-charging Alda at bay to her outside. Alda, winner of her last two including a stakes sprinting on this course Aug. 23, ducked out at the start to get away poorly and sat in last. She made some headway going to the far turn, commenced a nice run on the turn to reach stalking position, and rallied through the lane outside the winner to close the gap. Considering her start and the way she finished, she likely deserves a crack at Keeneland as well. Seasons was away slowly and was just in front of Alda early. She was soon passed by that rival to sit last down the backstretch and to the far turn, came out into the lane, and finished decently to just get up for third. Dreaming of Drew, a second (beaten a nose) to Alda in the Catch a Glimpse here Aug. 23 as the 9-10 favorite, got a nice stalking trip. She sat third to the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane while on the wrong lead, stayed on, but was unable to threaten the top two.