Trip Notes for September 2-3: Woodward, John C. Mabee, Spinaway and more

Sept. 2

Saratoga
Saranac (race 9)
COMMENT: Voodoo Song had won his first four turf starts, but was stepping in class. It didn’t matter as he beat some highly regarded peers, including favored Bricks and Mortar, who suffered his first loss. Voodoo Song shot out to a big early lead, looked in deep trouble when Bricks and Mortar came up alongside turning for home, but opened up again into the lane and held off that foe and Yoshida. He’s obviously legitimate and could point for the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Laurel Sept. 30 or the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont Oct. 7, both vs. 3-year-olds. The 3-year-old male turf ranks are loaded with talent. Yoshida, second to Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame here Aug. 4, bided his time early midpack, crept closer moving down the backstretch, remained in stalking position on the turn, swung wide into the lan,e and finished well. Bricks and Mortar was away slowly, then got squeezed back going into the first turn to be farther back than usual. He made an early, aggressive move to get in just behind the lead going to the far turn, ranged up alongside Voodoo Song as if ready to take over, but then couldn’t stay with that rival. Bricks and Morta closed the gap again but wasn’t quite good enough. Yoshida and Bricks and Mortar both figure to have the Hill Prince on their radar as well. Rocketry raced with Yoshida, tried to rally with that foe turning for home but couldn’t keep pace. Mr Havercamp, winner of his first two starts, both at Woodbine, stalked the pace while saving ground, had to steady off heels going to the far turn, still was in a good stalking position while saving ground, but failed to muster a run. No fractions were available as there was reportedly a timer malfunction.

Saratoga
Spinaway (race 10)
COMMENT: Lady Ivanka, romping winner of her debut here Aug. 9, proved she’s the real deal and became a Grade 1 winner. She bided her time as Pure Silver and Separationofpowers dueled through hot splits, and came with a strong wide run that carried her past those two tiring pacesetters and got her to the line before Maya Malibu. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said he’d prefer to train her up to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Nov. 4. Maya Malibu, easy winner of her debut at Delaware last month, lagged back, as she did in her debut, moved to the rail to make her run, and finished well. Separationofpowers, 11 3/4-length winner of her debut here July 30, shot out of the gate from her rail slot, got into an immediate duel with Pure Silver, and was getting the better of her into the lane when she tired. The Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Oct. 8 could be on the table for her. Pure Silver, unbeaten in her first three starts including the Grade 2 Adirondack here Aug. 12, dueled with Separationofpowers and faded in the lane.

Saratoga
Woodward (race 11)
COMMENT: On paper Gun Runner thoroughly dominated this race and that’s the way it worked out on the track. Coming off easy wins in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill and Grade 1 Whitney here Aug. 5, he was immediately sandwiched by Neolithic and Rally Cry. Gun Runner sat second as Neolithic set a solid pace, moved closer without being asked going to the far turn, ranged up alongside that rival on the turn, had little trouble taking command in the lane, and drew off while under a ride. This race didn’t prove anything as there wasn’t a Grade 1 competitor in the field – though it did show Gun Runner maintains his superb form. He’ll reportedly work up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and another crack at the last horse to beat him, Arrogate. Rally Cry, a romping winner of the restricted Alysheba here Aug. 6., got a nice stalking trip sitting on Gun Runner’s hip, tried to go with that foe on the turn, and kept on well for second. Neolithic was third in the Grade 1 Dubai World Cup but well behind Gun Runner in second and returned from a break to win an optional claimer here Aug. 5. He grabbed the early lead, set brisk splits while a couple lengths clear of Gun Runner, tried to battle back when that foe came to him on the far turn, and then couldn’t finish with stablemate Rally Cry. He ran well enough that the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 3 may be an option.

Saratoga
Glens Falls (race 12)
COMMENT: Harmonize got away from the likes of Lady Eli, Antonoe, Quidura and Roca Rojo, and it paid off as she notched her first win since the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks over a year ago. She stalked while on the outside as Grateful set a modest pace, moved closer on the turn, went after Grateful in the lane, and narrowly prevailed. She could target the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Sept. 30. Grateful, stepping well up in class after two nice wins, ran splendidly in defeat. She went right out to the lead, kept her rivals at bay in the lane, but came up a neck short. War Flag, a rallying second in the Grade 3 Matchmaker at Monmouth last time out, was well back early, started her run while wide on the far turn, and finished well, though she was never really a danger to the top two. Estrechada, winner of the Grade 3 Waya on this course Aug. 5, sat second stalking Grateful, was still there turning for home, but couldn’t keep pace when it mattered. The next distance turf race in New York is the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Oct. 7 and another option for some of these could be the Grade 3 Dowager at 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland Oct. 22.

Del Mar
Del Mar Debutante (race 7)
COMMENT: Moonshine Memories dueled for the lead in winning her debut here Aug. 19. Using her speed again here she went right out to the lead, took immediate pressure from longshot Gabrielleelizabeth, and opened up a bit going to the far turn as favorite Just a Smidge crept closer to take up the chase. Moonshine Memories held that rival clear and got to the wire before a hard-charging Piedi Bianchi. She might train up to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 4. Piedi Bianchi, who rallied to beat maidens here Aug. 12 in her second start, bided her time early, moved closer going to the far turn, and was getting to the winner in the final stages, finishing well clear of the rest. Spectator, winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento here Aug. 5, bobbled at the start and bumped with Just a Smidge, seemed in a good spot stalking the pace, but lost ground and position on the far turn. She angled in for the stretch run and made some headway to be third. She reportedly came back with some cuts. Just a Smidge, favored off her debut win here July 19 and some strong recent works, bumped hard with Spectator out of the gate, yet still had the speed to get a nice stalking position. She loomed a threat on the far turn but came up empty in the lane. Some of these figure to knock heads again in the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita Sept. 30.

Del Mar
John C. Mabee (race 9)
COMMENT: Cambodia made it 2 for 2 since moving west and stamped herself a legitimate Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare protagonist as she obviously loves this course. Coming off a win over many of these in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon here Aug. 5, she sat midpack as Hillhouse High and Frenzified dueled through solid splits. Cambodia came with a strong wide run to snatch the lead by midstretch, and held on as Goodyearforroses charged at her in the final furlong. She could go next in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Sept. 30. Goodyearforroses, off since a second to division leader Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita May 27, was a bit unlucky. First, she broke from the outside in this big field. She bided her time toward the back, not far behind Cambodia, got to the inside by the far turn but then was trapped behind horses. She had to wait for room, surged through, and finished smartly. The Rodeo Drive figures next and should all go well there, a swing at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Madame Stripes, stepping up after winning a restricted stakes on this course July 21, sat well back, came with a wide run into the lane to look dangerous, stayed on well, but couldn’t finish with the top two. Decked Out, making her first start since winning the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita Dec. 31, sat midpack, stayed in stalking position while inside, appeared ready to make a run, but then had to steady when in tight in midstretch and that was that. Mrs McDougal stalked in third, challenged Cambodia in the lane, but flattened out in the final furlong.

Sept. 3

Saratoga
Prioress (race 10)
COMMENT: Vertical Oak romped in a stakes at Prairie Meadows in the slop, so it was no shock she loved such going again here. She dogged early pacesetter Student Body through solid splits on the sloppy-sealed track, had no trouble taking over from that rival turning for home, and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Trainer Steve Asmussen said he might try her in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland Oct. 7 as a testing ground for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Nonna Mia, impressive winner of an optional claimer here Aug. 7, her first start in 10 months, stalked in fourth while saving ground, came with a nice run into the lane, and kept on well to be second. Dawn the Destroyer, the favorite off an optional-claiming win here July 24, blew the start to be last early, made modest headway into the lane, and founr her best gear late to finish third. Downtown Mama, winner of her first three starts but stepping up in class, stalked the pace but weakened in the lane.

Del Mar
Del Mar Derby (race 8)
COMMENT: Sharp Samurai was made the favorite here after winning 3 of 4 turf starts, including taking the Grade 3 La Jolla here Aug. 6, and he backed up the bettors’ confidence. He bided his time early as Monster Man and Harbour Master volleyed on the lead, remained toward the back going to the far turn, swung wide into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and held on. The Grade 2 Twilight Derby on Santa Anita turf Oct. 22 figures his next target. Big Score, who faded to eighth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby July 8, added blinkers and performed well. He stalked the pace, swung out into the lane, took a little while to get going, but then closed for second. Bowies Hero, winner of the Oceanside here July 19, sat just behind Big Score, came with a nice run into the lane to briefly be ahead of Big Score, but couldn’t sustain his run. Colonist lagged back while saving ground, came with a run along the inside to loom a big threat by midstretch, but tired.