Trip Notes for September 3-4: Woodward, Prioress, John C. Mabee, and more

Sept. 3

Saratoga

Saranac (race 5)

COMMENT: Inspector Lynley couldn’t handle a couple of these at Belmont this spring and then ran third in Delaware’s Grade 3 Kent July 16, but time off did the trick and he prevailed. From his rail slot he stalked while staying inside as Ray’s the Bar set a modest pace. Inspector Lynley was hemmed in until turning for home, actually lost ground coming into the lane, then found room, switched out, and produced a strong run to get up in the final strides. Camelot Kitten, the favorite, won the Grade 2 Hall of Fame on this course Aug. 5. Today, he sat last while saving ground to the far turn, moved out for clear sailing, came with a strong run to grab the lead by midstretch, and looked like the winner until Inspector Lynley surged past late. Isotherm, fifth in the Hall of Fame, his first start in seven months, sat second off Ray’s the Bar, moved up with Camelot Kitten to challenge into the lane, but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the final half-furlong. Call Provision, romping winner over New York-bred allowance foes here Aug. 11, stalked alongside the eventual winner but then came up empty and finished last.

Saratoga

Spinaway (race 9)

COMMENT: Unbeaten Sweet Loretta and once-beaten Pretty City Dancer, both daughters of top sire Tapit, dead-heated for the win. Sweet Loretta, easy winner of the Grade 3 Schuylerville here July 22, broke awkwardly from her rail slot but was able to get a stalking trip. She moved off the rail as Cherry Lodge and Runway Doll dueled through sharp splits, pitched wide to stay clear of traffic on the far turn, surged to a clear lead into the lane, but drifted out and bumped with Pretty City Dancer. Pretty City Dancer, winner of the Debutante at Churchill July 2 and off since, broke awkwardly, was content to lag back, and started to make a wide run on the turn and into the lane. She drifted in a bit as Sweet Loretta drifted out and bumped soundly with that rival very late. She had her hind end turned sideways but still hit the line in tandem with Sweet Loretta, despite not changing leads. There was an inquiry but the result was let stand. Cherry Lodge, the favorite off a debut win here Aug. 7, bobbled at the start but had the speed to be on the lead after a quarter-mile, dueled with Runway Doll to the top of the lane, was getting the better of that tiring rival when Sweet Loretta surged past, and then couldn’t not finish with Pretty City Dancer, ending up third. Runway Doll, romping 13 1/2-length winner in the slop in her debut here July 31, dueled with Cherry Lodge through strong splits but weakened once headed into the lane. This may be proof she’s better on wet going, though this was also a big step up from facing maidens.

Saratoga

Woodward (race 10)

COMMENT: California Chrome made his statement a couple weeks ago with regard to who ranks atop the handicap division and this was supposed to be Frosted’s retort. However, things didn’t work out for him and instead it was upstart Shaman Ghost who grabbed the spotlight. After easily winning Belmont’s Grade 2 Brooklyn June 11, Shaman Ghost was a dull fifth in the Grade 2 Suburban. With the addition of Lasix today, he stalked while saving ground as Bradester set a slow pace, remained inside to the top of the lane, came with his run as leaders Breaking Lucky and Bradester drifted well off the rail, and outfinished Mubtaahij in a four-horse photo. Mubtaahij, third in the Suburban, broke a bit slowly from his outside post but that actually worked out well as he immediately moved to the inside behind the field. He steadily advanced while saving ground, came with a run between horses toward the inside after those lanes had been vacated by Breaking Lucky and Bradester, and finished gamely to just miss. Frosted, the overwhelming favorite off monster wins in the Met Mile and the Grade 1 Whitney here Aug. 6, broke a bit flat-footed, ending up behind a number of rivals. He swung out going down the backstretch for clear sailing, started to advance, and remained very wide on the far turn and coming into the lane. He grabbed the lead, but hung a bit in the final yards and took third. Surely being so wide took its toll. Breaking Lucky, coming off a win in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup at Woodbine Aug. 1, pressed Bradester through slow splits, moved up inside that rival into the lane, battled for the lead as Bradester gave way, and stayed on well to be part of the four-horse photo. Bradester shot right out to the lead, as expected, was able to set a slow pace under only modest pressure from Breaking Lucky, drifted well off the rail into the lane, and gave way badly.

Saratoga

Glens Falls (race 11)

COMMENT: Suffused couldn’t quite outfinish Guapaza when second by a head in the Grade 3 Waya at 1 1/2 miles on this course Aug. 6, but she got her revenge here, notching her first graded stakes win. A romping winner of the Belmont Coronation June 9 before her good Waya run, she bided her time early as Photo Call was on a clear lead while setting slow splits. Suffused saved ground to the far turn, swung out into the lane, and finished gamely to edge Euro raider Arles. Arles, a sharp invader from Germany where she last ran second against males Aug. 6, stalked Photo Call while saving ground, moved closer to that foe into the lane, got the better of Photo Call but couldn’t counter the winner’s charge. Miss Chatelaine, coming off a rallying second in a Grade 3 on Woodbine’s synthetic main track, stalked the pace while inside, came through along the hedge when Photo Call came off the rail, couldn’t finish with the top two. Photo Call, who set the pace in the Waya before fading to sixth, set slow splits and succumbed in the final furlong while drifting off the rail. Guapaza, the favorite after winning the River Memories and the Waya, seemed in a great spot stalking in third but came up empty when it mattered. She’s been busy the past few months and maybe that accounts for her lack of finish.

Del Mar

Del Mar Debutante (race 9)

COMMENT: Longshot Union Strike, who’d run second to American Cleopatra in her only start, posted the upset. A daughter of Grade 1 winner Union Rags, Union Strike broke very alertly but was able to be drawn back so she could stalk outside as Morganite and American Cleopatra dueled through solid splits. She moved closer while wide on the far turn when coming under a ride, continued to advance into the lane on the outside, swept past her rivals, and won going away, despite her rider losing his whip in midstretch. American Cleopatra, blinkers off, pressured early pacesetter Morganite, got the better of that gal on the far turn, grabbed the lead by the eighth pole, and just held second from Champagne Room. Champagne Room, winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento here Aug. 6, stalked the pace just behind American Pharoah while outside in the clear, loomed a big threat into the lane, couldn’t quite go with the top two, but kept on and nearly got second. Noted and Quoted, a maiden winner here Aug. 7, lagged back early, made a mild run on the far turn, but flattened out. Miss Southern Miss broke inward from her rail draw, raced in close attendance to Noted and Quoted while moving up along the inside, swung wide into the lane, and was unable to muster a meaningful run. Morganite, impressive winner of her July 16 debut here, shot right out to a clear lead while saving ground, took constant pressure from American Pharoah, was asked for run on the far turn, but didn’t respond and gave way in the lane.

Sept. 4

Saratoga

Prioress (race 11)

COMMENT: Lucy N Ethel hinted at significant talent last fall and winter when winning her first two starts at Parx and then easily winning the Grade 3 Old Hat at Gulfstream Jan. 2, but then had surgery to remove an ankle chip. Off some good works, the daughter of During came back firing. She went right to the lead while saving ground, took pressure from Dearest, and rebuffed that foe all the way around in what was basically a two-horse duel. Dearest, coming off a win at Gulfstream in the Azalea July 2, kept after Lucy N Ethel all the way and finished well clear of the others. Takrees was last early while saving ground, still well back coming into the lane, but finished strongly to get third. Off the Tracks, favored after running third in the Grade 1 Test here Aug. 6, sat midpack, swung wide into the lane, and could make only modest headway. Kareena seemed in a good spot stalking but was one-paced throughout. Coppa, previously unbeaten in three starts, including the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont July 9 last time out, sat midpack while moving to the rail but then gave way.

Del Mar

John C. Mabee (race 6)

COMMENT: Avenge, a $650,000 daughter of War Front, put it all together here for the upset. Coming off a win over the course July 24, she sat second behind Gloryzapper, who set a snail-like pace, moved up to challenge that foe on the turn, opened up a clear lead into the lane, and kept her foes at bay. Finest City, fourth in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon here July 16, stalked the slow pace, went after Avenge into the lane, cut into her lead, but couldn’t get to her. Elektrum, winner of this race last year and coming off a third in the Aug. 7 Osunitas here to Sobradora Inc and Prize Exhibit, lagged well back, started to advance on the far turn, swung wide into the lane, and finished full of run but just ran out of ground. Considering the slow pace, this was a strong effort. Sobradora Inc, winner of her first four starts in Argentina and of the Osunitas in her U.S. debut, lagged back while saving ground, stayed between horses, and could make only modest headway in the lane.

Del Mar

Del Mar Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: Free Rose won the Grade 3 La Jolla here Aug. 6 at 28-1, and repeated here at 11.90-1. After wiring his rivals in the La Jolla, he used his speed to sit second behind Mr. Roary through solid splits. He reeled in that tiring rival on the far turn and surged a clear lead into the lane. Ralis, once a Kentucky Derby aspirant, appears to have found a home on turf. He’s winless now in four grass tries but has run well in each. Here he lagged well back early, advanced going to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, and finished strongly for second. Dressed in Hermes sat far back until turning for home, and like Ralis finished strongly between horses. Monster Bea was last turning for home and finished with gusto in the final furlong to be fourth, beaten just a half-length, a nose and a nose. Blackjackcat, the 3-1 favorite after winning his first two turf starts, including easily beating Free Rose here July 23, sat midpack while saving ground, made a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Moonlight Drive, second in the Oceanside to Monster Bea and third in the La Jolla to Free Rose, stalked in fourth, made a run into the lane to be second by midstretch, but flattened out. Gold Rush Dancer, winner of his last three, lagged back and never mustered a run. A few of these figure to come back in the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Nov. 4.