Trip Notes for September 27-28: Jockey Club Gold Cup, Vosburgh, Zenyatta, John Henry Turf and more...
Saturday, September 27
Belmont - Kelso (race 4)
COMMENT: Vyjack won the Grade 3 Gotham in 2013 stamping himself a potential big Kentucky Derby player. Alas, he ran 18th in Louisville and hadn’t really looked the same since. However, he perked up to be 3rd in the Grade 1 Forego and went even better here, posting the mild upset. He got a dream trip stalking in the clear behind the three frontrunners, swung out on the far turn, moved past a couple tiring runners and gamely edged a tough River Rocks. While this might punch his ticket for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita his owner said they might instead stay home it for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Nov. 29. River Rocks, coming off three straight big sprint wins, showed he’s the real deal as he went right to the lead while on the fence, was quickly challenged by Itsmyluckyday and Bradester, dueled with those two to the far turn, put them away turning for home, battled back gamely when hooked by the eventual winner but just couldn’t quite keep up late. Itsmyluckyday, the heavy favorite after winning four of his last five including the Grade 1 Woodward, went right up to challenge pacesetter River Rocks early, got caught in between in a three-way duel when Bradester came up on his right, pressed the issue but couldn’t keep up with the top two when the real racing began. It may not matter as far as a Breeders’ Cup run goes as he’s not nominated. They could still supplement him and despite this (provided he exits this race well) he’d be a threat in the Dirt Mile and possibly the Classic, should they opt to try that. Bradester broke slowly, rushed up to be part of a three-way duel while on the outside but gave way readily into the lane after using up too much fuel to get up to the lead.
Belmont - Beldame (race 5)
COMMENT: Belle Gallantey notched her second Grade 1 win of the year and made it two straight graded stakes wins on the card for trainer Rodriguez as she thoroughly dominated the proceedings. The former claimer who was haltered for $35,000 by Rodriguez last fall was coming off a dull 6th in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign (beaten 25 1/4 lengths) in the mud. She went back to the style that won her the Delaware Handicap – using her speed. As in that victory she bounced right out to the lead, set modest splits while in the clear, began to edge away doing down the backside and continued to extend her lead to win in a romp. Stopchargingmaria, the only 3-year-old in the field and the favorite, took up the chase immediately sitting just behind the eventual winner. However, she was unable to keep up with that foe and had to settle for being a well-beaten 2nd. Endless Chatter made this something of a parade as she sat 3rd early while inside, tried to make a run on the turn as she nudged past Stopchargingmaria but couldn’t sustain her run and fall back to 3rd.
Belmont - Flower Bowl (race 7)
COMMENT: It had been a while since Stephanie’s Kitten’s last win (June 2013) but the top-class mare got back to the winner’s circle with a strong performance, punching her ticket for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita this fall. In notching her first win at 1 1/4 miles she showed much more early speed, sitting 4th early as Viva Rafaela set the pace. She stayed wide and in the clear, bided her time, launched her bid turning for home, surged to grab the lead, opened up and held fairly easily. On to Santa Anita where she’ll be one of the favorites; possibly the favorite. Abaco continued her fine form as she sat just behind and inside the eventual winner early, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that foe, did have to wait for room, found it in midstretch and finished well, though she never really appeared a danger to the winner. She may be just a cut below the best but the way she’s going she may deserve to get on the plane and head West, too. Viva Rafaela went to the lead, as expected, took some pressure from Starstruck while setting a modest pace, dispatched with that foe and Alterite into the lane, tried to battle back when the winner came to her, was no match for that foe and then tired a bit in the final half-furlong to lose 2nd to Abaco. Alterite stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home but couldn’t sustain her bid. She’s just not the same gal who ran so well (3rd) in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
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Belmont - Vosburgh (race 8)
COMMENT: Last year Private Zone came back to run a good race off a layoff, then came here and won this race. Well, he employed the same strategy. After over nine months off he came back to run decently in a turf sprint stakes at Parx Sept. 1, a run which obviously set him up for a top try as he came here and successfully defended his title. From his outside post he dogged pacesetter Happy My Way early, took over from that foe going to the far turn, was taken on by Dads Cap and gamely rebuffed that stubborn rival all the way to the line. Off this, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita figures the logical next step. Dads Cap stalked in 3rd, moved up to challenge Private Zone into the lane, doggedly kept after him but just couldn’t get past in a fine try. Palace, the favorite off two straight Grade 1 wins at Saratoga, bided his time early while inside, swung out coming into the lane, came with a steady run but was never really a threat to reel in the top two. A trip to California is still in his plans. Happy My Way set the early pace under pressure from Private Zone, kept after that rival going to the far turn but then wilted.
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Belmont - Joe Hirsch Turf Invitational (race 9)
COMMENT: In the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga Aug. 17, Main Sequence won, but was less than a length ahead of Twilight Eclipse in 3rd with Imagining a close-up 2nd. Well, the result was about the same as Main Sequence established himself the top turf distance horse in the land, notching his third straight Grade 1 win since coming from Europe. He broke awkwardly but established position toward the back, moved closer on the far turn when asked, came with a smart run to get abreast of Twilight Eclipse and Imagining, grabbed the lead in deep stretch, came in to bump hard with Twilight Eclipse and gamely prevailed. There was some bumping late with Twilight Eclipse and there was an inquiry and rider’s objection but the result was allowed to stand. Main Sequence goes to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf as one of the favorites, though of course his chances will depend on the type of power that shows up from Europe for that event. Twilight Eclipse, a game 3rd to Main Sequence in the Sword Dancer, stalked the pace set by Imagining, moved up to challenge with the winner into the lane, came out a bit to bump hard with Main Sequence and just missed. Imagining, 2nd in the Sword Dancer, set a modest pace, gamely battled back when hooked by the top two, drifted out a bit in deep stretch and kept on gamely for 3rd. Big Blue Kitten, well backed after two smart comeback races and who was a strong 2nd in this last year, lagged back, came with a nice run but just wasn’t god enough. He can still go to Santa Anita as a legitimate threat. Real Solution, last year’s Grade 1 Arlington Million winner and sharp earlier this year, chased Imagining from the start, was still there turning for home but faded afterward, failing to threaten for a second straight race. He appears off his game. Trainer Brown said that may be his career swan song.
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Belmont - Jockey Club Gold Cup (race 10)
COMMENT: So was it the removal of blinkers, the return to Belmont or the hot pace (and the misfortune of rival Wicked Strong) that did the trick for Tonalist? Probably a little of each as the colt is now a perfect 3-for-3 at Belmont (won the Grade 2 Peter Pan, Grade 1 Belmont). With blinkers he seemed too eager in his two Saratoga starts but here they were removed and he was more manageable, able to be taken well back early while Big Cazanova, pushed by Moreno, set a hot pace. Tonalist bided his time, steadily advanced going to the far turn, avoided a fallen jockey and loose horse, sustained his run and came through between horses to win going away. It’s likely on to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita – but is he the same horse away from Belmont? Zivo sat back, steadily advanced while saving ground, had to steady hard when he came up on the fallen rider but was able to regather himself, came with a nice run on the outside into the lane but couldn’t finish with the winner. A trip to Santa Anita is in the cards for him, too. Long River broke sharply, was under a snug hold while inside just off the pace, went around a tiring Big Cazanova into the lane and kept to his task well. Moreno rushed up to try and make the lead from the start, but was outrun early by Big Cazanova. He instead pressured that rival, shifted in going to the far turn, had Wicked Strong clip his heels, got back into stride, loomed a threat turning for home as Big Cazanova gave way but couldn’t keep up late. He was DQ’d and placed last as it was viewed by the stewards that he took Wicked Strong’s lane, causing that foe to stumble and lose his rider. Not only might he be best when able to dictate the pace but 10 furlongs, while he handles it, might not be his best game. V. E. Day, the Travers winner, lagged back but could make only modest headway. Wicked Strong was just behind Moreno, appeared to clip that rival’s heels going to the far turn, stumbling and losing his rider. Trainer Jerkens had already voiced reservations about sending V.E. Day and Wicked Strong to Santa Anita and said later Wicked Strong may be done for the year and that V. E. Day could return to turf in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct Nov. 15 or stay on dirt against peers on the Grade 3 Discovery there Nov. 1.
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Churchill - Jefferson Cup (race 10)
COMMENT: Race complexion may have been changed significantly by the scratch of dangerous Woodbine invader Speightsland. Regardless, Heart to Heart dominated the proceedings as the son of grass champ English Channel continued his ascent. Coming off a big stakes win on the Saratoga turf Aug. 20 he went right to the lead, was able to dictate tempo setting a solid pace, started to open up going to the far turn and really didn’t have an anxious moment at any point, winning geared down. He may not be a Breeders’ Cup Turf horse (yet) but off this could eye a race like Santa Anita’s Grade 2 Twilight Derby on turf. Captain Dixie sat back early in 5th, came with a nice run but was no match for the big winner. Sportscaster chased the winner from the start, doggedly kept to his task but was no match and weakened a bit late. Stormy Pacific, trying turf for the first time, stalked and never really made a run. Almost Famous, trying turf for the first time after running 4th in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx, stalked in the 3rd early but was done after a half. Off this it’s almost surely back to dirt.
Santa Anita - Zenyatta (race 5)
COMMENT: Beholder came back firing to successfully defend her title in this race and point for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a race she also won last year. She stalked the pace in 3rd while keeping outside and in the clear, moved up to be 2nd on the far turn, took over into the lane, established a clear lead by midstretch and then kept a hard-trying Tiz Midnight at bay through the final half-furlong. She didn’t dominate but she didn’t have to. This was meant to be a step back after injury and a very useful prep, as if rider Smith left plenty of gas in the tank for the Distaff. Tiz Midnight, stepping way up after three straight wins, went right out to set the pace, took some pressure from Yahilwa, tried to battle back when hooked by Beholder turning for home, couldn’t accelerate with that rival but stubbornly kept to her task to rerally cut back into Beholder’s lead in the final half-furlong, even though it never looked as though she was going to get back on terms with Beholder. Iotapa, viewed the main threat off two straight Grade 1 wins, bided her time after a slow start but could make only modest headway in a somewhat disappointing effort.
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Santa Anita - FrontRunner (race 6)
COMMENT: American Pharoah showed he’s the real deal. After a monster win in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, a sprint on synthetic, he had to answer questions as to whether he could route and handle dirt. Check, and check. He broke very sharply, went right to the lead, set modest splits while taking some pressure from Skyway, was challenged by Calculator turning for home but was asked for run and easily kicked away from that foe to win clear. He goes to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as the likely favorite. He gives Baffert his seventh win in this race. Calculator, 2nd to the winner in the Del Mar Futurity, broke outwardly from his outside post but recovered well to get a nice stalking position. He moved up eagerly to challenge the winner turning for home, couldn’t keep up in the lane but kept on well to be a clear 2nd. He’s legit. Texas Red lagged back and came with a steady run for 3rd, though he was no threat to the top two. Lord Nelson, another Baffert, broke alertly inside, tucked in on the rail just behind his winning stablemate, was still a threat when just behind that foe coming into the lane but didn’t have the necessary acceleration when it mattered. Still, this guy holds promise as the furlongs add up.
Santa Anita - Rodeo Drive (race 7)
COMMENT: The temperamental puzzle that is Emollient continues to, well, puzzle. Last year she was good enough to be a strong fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf but things haven’t gone so well this year and she came into this off two 9th-place finishes. She got blinkers back on, was reunited with rider Napravnik and that did the trick as she felt like doing business today. She broke a bit slow but got into stalking position midpack while in the middle of a bunched-up field. As the tepid 3-1 favorite she seemed a tad rank while bottled up but remained there to the far turn, found a seam coming into the lane, surged through to grab the lead only to then idle and have Parranda come back at her. She got going again and actually was edging away late. Another crack at the Filly & Mare Turf, on a course she likes, is next. Her chances, of course, depend on what Euros show but on her best day she can run with any American turf gal. Parranda pressed pacesetting longshot Bunairgead, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, saw Emollient shoot on by in but kept to her task gamely to re-rally, nearly snatching defeat away from Emollient, only to come up just short in a fine try. She continues her fine form and surely there’s a Grade 1 race with her name on it somewhere. Irish Mission, the 7-2 second choice as she invaded from back East, lagged well back, moved closer going to the far turn, had to steady when in tight on the turn, got going again and rallied well to finish in a dead heat for 3rd with Rusty Slipper. Rusty Slipper, another East Coast shipper, stalked the pace from the start and doggedly kept to her task to earn a share of 3rd. East Coast raiders ran 1st, 3rd and 3rd here, maybe an indictment of the Southern California turf distaff division. Miss Serendipity, one of the favorites off her win in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar, was a bit eager early, showing more speed to stalk the pace, but came up empty when the real racing began in the lane. Moulin de Mougin, one of the favorites off her smart win in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del Mar Aug. 10, was last early, commenced a strong wide run on the far turn when she seemed to lose her footing and fell. She reportedly got skinned up a bit but was otherwise OK. She might still point for the Filly & Mare Turf.
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Santa Anita - Awesome Again (race 8)
COMMENT: Shared Belief made it a perfect 7-for-7 and established himself the favorite for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic – but just barely. He broke alertly and sat three wide going to the first turn as Fed Biz hugged the rail and set the pace. The horse in between, Sky Kingdom, drifted out on the first turn, carrying Shared Belief many lanes out. Shared Belief stayed well wide, was asked for run going to the far turn while still wide, seemed in trouble as he still had a few horses to pass but kept to his task doggedly to just get up and edge Fed Biz. This wasn’t one of his dominant outings but he passed a lot of tests here and showed he could win a fight. Fed Biz broke alertly from the rail, volleyed up front for the lead while saving ground, grabbed the lead into the lane, gamely fought back when hooked by the eventual winner but just couldn’t quite keep pace with that foe in the final half-furlong. Footbridge lagged back, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Majestic Harbor sat well back and could make only modest headway in the lane. Imperative was last early, came with an early run inside going down the backstretch, moved up abreast of the leaders turning for home as if he was going to be dangerous but had little to offer when asked for his best. Sky Kingdom’s rider, Victor Espinoza, was subsequently suspended 7 days for his ride.
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Santa Anita - Chandelier (race 10)
COMMENT: Angela Renee flattered the form of the Eastern 2-year-old fillies. She stalked the pace while staying on the rail as Sunday Sonnet and Manahatta dueled, moved closer on the far turn when Sunday Sonnet had established a clear lead, had no trouble going past that tiring foe in the lane, opened up and had enough of a buffer to keep hard-trying Conquest Eclipse at bay. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies figures next. She’s got pedigree to train on as a full sister to multiple Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve. Conquest Eclipse, a good 3rd in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, showed she’s the real deal as she broke slowly, was midpack early, got shuffled back going down the backside, remained inside and came with a smart run on the far turn to reach contention, had to wait briefly again for room into the lane but found a seam and ran on well to be a clear 2nd. The Breeders’ Cup figures in her plans as well. Danette, a maiden daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, lagged well back and finished decently. Majestic Presence, smart maiden route winner at Del Mar Aug. 13, was well back early, moved closer to be midpack going to the backstretch but never really mustered a run. Maybellene, a well-backed Baffert filly who broke her maiden routing at Del Mar Aug. 31, stumbled at the start, was well back, lost ground and was eased.
Sunday, September 28
Belmont - Miss Grillo (race 7)
COMMENT: Lady Eli, coming off a smart debut win routing on turf at Saratoga last month, punched her ticket for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with smart performance. Part of a Chad Brown three-headed monster in here (Partisan Politics, Tammy the Torpedo were the others) she stalked the pace in 3rd while in the clear, stayed wide and in the clear into the lane and blasted home to win going away. She gave Brown his third straight win in this race and likely stamped herself the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup race. Margaret Reay, a maiden who was a fine 2nd in her only turf try, a route here Sept. 7, chased pacesetter Greywalls through slow splits, moved past that foe into the lane, had no answer for the winner’s charge but stayed on well for 2nd. Tammy the Torpedo, powerful winner of her turf route debut at Saratoga last month, stalked in 4th just behind her stablemate Lady Eli while saving ground and kept to her task well. Partisan Politics, who’d shown big potential when a strong winner of a turf stakes at Saratoga Aug. 27, might actually have been best. She blew the start, was well back early, tried to move up going to the far turn but ran into traffic a couple times, had to steady and take back again, had to wait for room again on the far turn yet despite a slow pace closed strongly once she found room along the inside into the lane.
Belmont - Pilgrim (race 9)
COMMENT: Imperia, a sharp rallying 2nd in her debut in a turf route at Saratoga Aug. 23, bided his time early inside not far behind pacesetter Vision Perfect, who set a solid tempo, seemed in trouble as he got shuffled back going to the far turn, but found a lane to get off the rail and swung out going to the far turn, commenced with a smart run which he carried through the lane to sweep past his rivals. He goes to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf now as one of the favorites. Vision perfect set the paced under pressure, kicked clear into the lane, stayed on well but couldn’t fend off the winner. Offering Plan stalked the pace, made a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Startup Nation, the heavy favorite off a dazzling win in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga Aug. 28, was away slowly, sat well back and finished well up the rail, though he never once looked like the winner. He’s shown enough talent, though, that he’ll merit a ton of respect in the Juvenile Turf should he ship West, which Brown says is the plan.
Remington - Oklahoma Derby (race 8)
COMMENT: Tonito M. had been chasing some of the best in the West including Shared Belief and tough elder Soi Phet. He got away from those guys and notched his first U.S. win in smart fashion. The son of Rock Hard Ten broke slowly, bided his time early as longshot Louies Flower set the pace, came with a smart run into the lane to wear down leader Bay of Biscay and draw away late. Bay of Biscay stalked the pace, surged to the lead into the lane, looked poised to post a big upset (he was 50-1) but was no match for the winner in the final furlong while finishing well clear of the rest. Wildcat Red, the heavy favorite, stalked early pacesetter Louies Flower from the start, couldn’t accelerate as quickly as Bay of Biscay into the lane and finished evenly for 3rd. Charge Now, who had shown promise in New York and regarded well enough to get a shot at the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Aug. 23 (ran 7th), was slow into stride, lagged back and made only modest headway.
Santa Anita - John Henry Turf Championship (race 7)
COMMENT: There had to be concerns along the way whether Bright Thought could ever get back to the form that saw him so sharp in the winter of 2013. Well, he beat a smart field here and likely earned a shot at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. After dueling and running 3rd (behind today’s foes Big John B and Bench Light) in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Aug. 23, he perked up in his training and it showed here as he dogged pacesetter Big Kick and the two cleared off early through brisk splits. He took the lead from that foe turning for home, opened up some into the lane, which gave him enough of an edge to keep hard-trying closer Finnegans Wake at bay in the final furlong. Finnegans Wake, 5th in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, lagged well back and finished with good energy. Big John B, the favorite off three straight big wins including a romp in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, broke slowly to be last early, was still last on the far turn before closing strongly, but simply left himself with too much to do. He might still target the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Unbridled Command lagged back and never mustered a run. He’s just not the same horse who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in 2012 and nearly won the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap in the winter of 2013.