Trip Notes for September 19: Noble Damsel, Cotillion, Pa. Derby, Charles Town Oaks, and more...

Saturday, September 19

Belmont - Noble Damsel (race 8)

COMMENT: Recepta has always had ability but she appears to have put it all together. Coming off an easy win in a restricted stakes at Saratoga last month, she ran splendidly again here to notch her first graded stakes win. She bided her time early as longshot Miss Frost set a solid pace, began to advance going into the far turn, stayed wide and clear, surged to the lead by midstretch and fended off a Lady Lara. Lady Lara sat back behind the eventual winner, moved with that foe while wider, kept after Recepta, but couldn’t quite get to her. Crowley’s Law, a talented English raider, was behind the top two from the start, still well back turning for home, and then launched a bid in the lane. Coffee Clique, the favorite and a Grade 1 winner, was coming off a fifth in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga last month. She stalked the pace while saving ground, got shuffled back on the far turn while coming off the fence to find clear sailing, got going again, but didn’t have the needed punch.

Parx - Gallant Bob (race 8)

COMMENT: Trouble Kid was a maiden just two months ago but he’s blossomed, and he used his speed here to notch a third straight win and his first graded stakes win. He was claimed for just $15,000 off a second here July 5. He came back to laugh at maidens by 16 1/2 lengths here July 25 and romp by 9 lengths over starter allowance foes at Delaware Aug. 26. He bounced out to a clear lead here, set sharp splits while being chased by 4-5 favorite Limousine Liberal, and rebuffed that rival all the way to the line. Limousine Liberal, coming off a second to Runhappy in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga Aug. 29, was away a bit slowly, had the speed to get in behind the eventual winner after a quarter mile, kept after that foe, but couldn’t get past. Bayerd sat back, came with a run into the lane, angled to the inside and finished well.

Parx - Cotillion (race 9)

COMMENT: I’m a Chatterbox may have pushed her way to the top of the 3-year-old filly dirt roster. After winning a Grade 2 and Grade 3 earlier this year and then posting three straight Grade 1 placings she finally got the top prize with a smart performance. She finished first the Grade 1 CCA Oaks at Saratoga July 26 only to get disqualified to second, and was then second to Embellish the Lace in the Grade 1 Alabama there Aug. 22. Here she stalked in fourth as longshot Calamity Kate set a modest pace, moved closer turning for home, angled out for room, went past that stubborn rival by midstretch and drew off to win comfortably. Calamity Kate has apparently figured things out. After an eighth in the Grade 1 Acorn she led all the way to post a 54-1 upset in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. Well, her speed almost got her another victory here. She rebuffed a couple challenge into the lane, tried to battle back when taken on by I’m a Chatterbox in and stayed on well to be a clear second. Peace and War lagged well back while saving ground and finished smartly for third. Embellish the Lace, wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 1 Alabama, dogged Calamity Kate from the start while inside but then had no punch when it mattered. Take Charge Brandi, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, ran very poorly for a second straight time.

Parx - Pennsylvania Derby (race 10)

COMMENT: Frosted had just one win – the Grade 1 Wood - in seven starts this year going into this, but after chasing the likes of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and top-class Texas Red he got his own moment in the spotlight here with a handy victory. He bided his time early as Mr. Z set a modest pace, edged closer going to the far turn, had to wait a bit for room, steered out for clear sailing and came drew clear. Iron Fist, always highly regarded as he brought $1.55 million at auction, pressed Mr. Z from the start, got the better of that foe into the lane, and while unable to stay with Frosted was much the best of the others. Tommy Macho lagged well back, made a nice run into the lane to be briefly threatening, then plugged along for third. Upstart, third in the Grade 1 Haskell and fourth in the Grade 1 Travers, stalked the pace while wide but never mustered a run. Madefromlucky, last seen winning the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby, was slow into stride and never made a move. Race complexion changed some when Gimme Da Lute, winner of four straight out West, scratched with an injury.

Churchill - Dogwood (race 9)

COMMENT: Super Majesty, a $400,000 daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, had shown much promise in Southern California, winning her sprint debut by 6 1/4 lengths and then beating winners by 15 1/4 lengths. She tried a route last month and was second but beaten a nose. She moved back to sprinting here, and despite shipping for the first time and stepping up in class she continued her ascent. Despite a slow start she used her speed to grab the lead before the field had gone a quarter-mile, stayed inside while setting a solid pace, surged clear into the lane and kept Chide at bay. Chide was slow into stride, remained well back until the stretch, then finished strongly. Sweet Swingin sat well back and finished smartly as well. Huasca stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane but couldn’t keep pace and weakened a bit in the final half-furlong.

Laurel - Commonwealth Cup (race 4)

COMMENT: Mr Speaker is a Grade 1 winner, and after a fourth in the Grade 2 Sky Classic at Woodbine last month, he came up with a big effort here. He stalked in third as Cut to Order set a modest pace. Mr Speaker remained in that slot while saving ground, shifted off the fence and toward the outside to find clear sailing into the lane, surged to grab the lead, opened up and won geared down. Legendary stalked in second, just in front of the eventual winner, and while unable to keep pace with the winner ended up well clear of the others. El Jefe Grande sat back while saving ground, came out for the stretch run and finished decently. Up With the Birds, favored after running fourth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, was slow into stride, as is his custom, sat last early and could make only modest headway in the lane.

Laurel - Commonwealth Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: One Go All Go, a longshot at 35-1, played keep-away from his more vaunted rivals. He went right out to a clear lead and set dawdling splits and kept three hard-trying rivals at bay through the final furlong. Fundamental, a winner of two of his last three, was slow into stride and sat last to the far turn. He swung out into the lane and bumped with Force the Pass late while finishing well for second. Force the Pass, the 2-5 favorite, got knocked around at the start to get away slowly but was still able to establish himself in fourth, moved closer on the turn, loomed a big threat into the lane and drifted out a bit late. Great Dancer sat just behind Force the Pass from the start, didn’t move as early as that foe, and got going late.

Charles Town - Charles Town Oaks (race 11)

COMMENT: Hot City Girl was asked to face Grade 1 foes and route in the Mother Goose at Belmont June 27 and that proved too much. She dropped in class, returned to sprinting and added blinkers here and that all got her back on track. She went right out to the lead, took pressure from longshot Toutsie Rules, rebuffed that foe into the lane, and drew off to win fairly easily. Temper Mint Patty stalked in fourth, came with a nice run in the lane, and got up in the final strides for second. Toutsie Rules made a run at Hot City Girl on the turn and into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace and then lost second in the final strides. Sarah Sis, the 3-2 favorite after running fourth in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga last month, stalked in third while saving ground but gave way readily turning for home.