Trip Notes for September 24-25: Pennsylvania Derby, Cotillion

Sept. 24

Belmont

Noble Damsel (race 8)

COMMENT: Mrs McDougal’s victory in this race was part of a huge day for trainer Chad Brown, who also won the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby and Grade 3 Commonwealth Derby. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro last finished seventh behind stablemate Dacita in the Grade 1 Diana. Here she used her speed to go right to the lead as the heavy favorite, was able to set modest splits, saw the field move closer going to the far turn, but then moved clear again and kept stablemate Zindaya at bay. Zindaya, coming off a third in a restricted stakes at Saratoga Aug. 6, stalked in fourth, moved closer on the far turn, tried to make a run at the winner and ended up well clear of the rest. Stormy Victoria sat fifth, just behind Zindaya, while rank, finally settled some going to the far turn, and plugged along to get third.

Parx

Gallant Bob (race 8)

COMMENT: Noholdingback Bear, third in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga Aug. 27, used his speed to take advantage of a class drop and may have earned a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 5. His speed put him just behind dueling leaders Navy Hymn and Awesome Speed, who set strong splits, though he was in a pocket. Noholdingback Bear was able to ease back and out for room going to the far turn, came with his run into the lane, grabbed the lead from the tiring pacesetters, and edged clear. Mind Your Biscuits, fifth in the King’s Bishop after winning the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga July 30, lagged back after a slow start, pitched wide on the turn while commencing his run, and continued on well for second. Threefiveindia, stepping up in class after two impressive sprint wins at Churchill and Saratoga, stumbled badly at the start, was able to recover to sit fourth just behind the eventual winner, and kept to his task well. Awesome Speed dueled with Navy Hymn, finally was getting the better of that rival into the lane, but was immediately taken on by the eventual winner and couldn’t go with him. Navy Hymn gave way in midstretch.

Parx

Cotillion (race 10)

COMMENT: Carina Mia took her best shot and Cathryn Sophia took her shot, but Songbird swatted them aside with her usual ease and stamped herself ready for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff vs. elder champs Beholder and Stellar Wind Nov. 4. Songbird, stretching her unbeaten record to 11 races, broke sharply but was content to stalk as Carina Mia shot out to the lead from her rail slot. Songbird sat on Carina Mia’s hip as that gal set a modest pace, moved up alongside Carina Mia on the far turn and remained alongside that foe as they opened up on the field into the lane. Songbird dispatched with Carina Mia while changing leads late, and won under a hand ride. Carina Mia seemed ready for Songbird’s attack on the turn, battled back when hooked by that foe, but then just couldn’t keep up. No shame in finishing second to Songbird, though. Cathryn Sophia stalked in third, loomed ominously on the far turn just behind Carina Mia and Songbird, but then couldn’t go with them. Land Over Sea lagged back and made some headway but was never a danger to the top two.

Parx

Pennsylvania Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: The 3-year-old male title picture got scrambled further here as a horse who had not won a graded stakes, Connect, continued his development to post the upset and stamp himself a horse to watch in 2017. He won the Curlin at Saratoga July 29, his third straight win, then was sixth in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 27 against many of these, and he reportedly came out of the race with a lung infection. Today, he sat midpack as Awesome Slew shot out to a clear lead. Connect cut the corner into the lane to start his run, moved off the inside, grabbed the lead by midstretch and rebuffed Gun Runner. Gun Runner finally beat arch-rivals Nyquist and Exaggerator, but still couldn’t get the win. He got a nice trip stalking in fourth, moved outside to stay clear turning for home, and came with a strong run into the lane. Wild About Deb, second to Awesome Slew in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones here Sept. 5, bided his time not far behind Connect, and came with a nice run in the lane to win a four-horse photo for third. My Man Sam broke slowest of all, sat well back, and finished with good energy to just miss getting third. Nyquist, last seen fading to fourth in the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth July 31, stalked in third, made a strong run into the lane but flattened out. Could be after a busy campaign he’s in need of a freshening. Exaggerator sat well back, as is his custom, came with a strong run on the far turn, but couldn’t sustain it. Cupid, winner of the Grade 2 Indiana Derby and Grade 2 West Virginia Derby in his last two starts, chased pacesetter Awesome Slew from the start, tried to make a run at him on the far turn but gave way. He apparently is just a cut below the division’s best. Summer Revolution, routing for the first time, was blocked early by Awesome Slew to get away poorly, sat eighth early, and never made a move. A return to one turn is probably best for him at this stage of the game. Hit It Once More, dominant winner over New York-breds in his last pair, was midpack early but gave way readily to end up last.

Laurel

Commonwealth Oaks (race 5)

COMMENT: My Impression slipped turning for home in the Grade 2 Lake Placid to lose all chance. She had no such footing issues here. She bided her time early, moved closer going to the far turn, had to wait for room, found it on the inside, and surged to the lead. Noble Beauty, awarded the win via disqualification in the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington Aug. 13, was a bit unruly in the gate. She was content to settle well back while saving ground just behind the eventual winner, and came with a run in the lane to just get second ahead of her stablemate Pricedtoperfection. Pricedtoperfection, third to the highly talented On Leave in a Saratoga stakes Aug. 25, sat midpack, not too far ahead of the top two, angled out into the lane, came with a good run but was no match for the winner and just failed to fend off Noble Beauty. Stella Rose, favored off a second to On Leave at Belmont July 17 and then a win at Saratoga Aug. 27, sat midpack, tried to make a run into the lane but steadied sharply when cut off by a drifting-out pacesetter It’s the Truth and was basically eliminated. She passed a few tiring rivals and get fourth. She wasn’t going to beat the winner but could have been in the discussion for second.

Laurel

Commonwealth Turf Cup (race 6)

COMMENT: Blacktype notched a third straight win and his first Grade 2 win. He sat well back early as Heiko ran out to a clear lead, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a run between horses in the lane, and set a course mark with the win. Top of Mind was just behind the eventual winner from the start, moved earlier than that foe, challenged leader Force the Pass in midstretch, got the better of that foe, but couldn’t outfinish the winner. Force the Pass, favored after facing the division’s best, broke a tad slowly but had the speed to establish a nice stalking position, came with a run into the lane to grab the lead, but couldn’t it. Farhaan, fourth to top miler Ring Weekend in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga Sept. 5, sat back, moved closer on the turn, eased out for room into the lane but then could make only modest headway.

Laurel

Commonwealth Derby (race 7)

COMMENT: Deeply Undervalued was second to Revved Up by a neck at Saratoga Aug. 27, but he picked the right time to gain his revenge and notch his first graded stakes win. From the ever-powerful Chad Brown barn, Deeply Undervalued lagged well back early as Franklin Towers set a solid pace. Deeply Undervalued pitched very wide into the lane and finished well for the score. Isotherm, third in the Grade 3 Saranac at Saratoga Sept. 3, sat midpack, came with a wide run into the lane, was challenged He’ll Pay for the lead, then couldn’t counter the winner’s charge. He’ll Pay, second against elders in mud here Aug. 21, sat second, took over from weakening pacesetter Franklin Towers into the lane, battled back when hooked by Isotherm, and lost second by a head. American Patriot, the favorite off a sharp third to Beach Patrol and crack Euro Long Island Sound in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Aug. 13, seemed in a great spot stalking the pace, made a threatening move into the lane, and kept on decently to lose second by just a head and a nose. Revved Up broke slowly and got shuffled back to last, was still last turning for home while on the rail while on his left lead, shifted out in midstretch, switched to his right lead and finished well, but had left himself with far too much to do.

Los Alamitos

Los Alamitos Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Accelerate won his third straight and captured his first graded stakes attempt, also while remaining unbeaten in three routes. The 9-10 favorite, he sat fourth early as Chris and Dave set a decent pace under pressure from Semper Fortis. Accelerate was wide into the lane, and was able to reel in Semper Fortis late while drifting in some. There was an inquiry into the stretch run, but the result was allowed to stand. Semper Fortis dogged Chris and Dave, took over turning for home, and couldn’t quite outduel Accelerate. Accelerate also edged Semper Fortis in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar. Blackjackcat, moving to dirt after finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on turf, raced just behind the early leaders, moved up alongside them into the lane, steadied when in tight between Accelerate and Semper Fortis, angled in and kept on well. His rider lodged a claim of foul against the winner for having to steady late in the lane but it was not allowed. Mishegas lagged back and made some headway in the lane.