Trip Notes for September 5-6: Woodward Stakes, Spinaway Stakes, Yellow Ribbon Handicap

Sept. 5

Saratoga

Saranac (race 8)

COMMENT: World Approval found Takeover Target too tough when fourth in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame here last month. He got his revenge on favored Takeover Target with a win here. He lagged well back early as Nonna’s Boy set a solid pace, found a lane on the inside, and finished smartly to just get up. Money Multiplier stalked in fourth while saving ground, made a run into the lane to grab the lead, but couldn’t outdo the winner. Go Around was well back early with the eventual winner, accelerated a bit better at first to loom a big threat by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his run. Takeover Target, the favorite off a rallying win in the Hall of Fame, bided his time early, swung wide for the stretch, but never mustered a run.

Saratoga

Spinaway (race 9)

COMMENT: Rachel’s Valentina, a daughter of Rachel Alexandra, is doing the family name proud as she made it two wins in as many starts and may have stamped herself the division leader with this win. When she won her debut here last month she was well back early. This time she showed more speed, stalking in third while saving ground as Tonasah set a solid pace under pressure from Constellation. Rachel’s Valentina moved up outside those foes into the lane, got the better of them and was able to hold Tap to It at bay. Tap to It, a late-running winner of her debut here last month, again broke slowly from her inside post to be last early, took plenty of dirt in the face, swung very wide into the lane and finished well clear of the rest. Constellation, a debut winner here Aug. 9, hounded Tonasah through fast splits, got the better of that gal into the lane, opened up by midstretch but then weakened from her early toils. Tonasah gave way once headed.

Saratoga

Woodward (race 10)

COMMENT: Liam’s Map ran too good to lose in the Grade 1 Whitney, setting a hot pace and forcing top-class Honor Code to finish full of run to beat him. He ran another big race here. Liam’s Map again used his speed, first outrunning Bay of Plenty while setting a solid pace. The field moved closer to him turning for home, but he kicked clear again to win easily. He is pointing to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, either the Dirt Mile Oct. 30 or the Classic Oct. 31. Coach Inge stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and stayed on well for second. Wicked Strong sat midpack, swung very wide into the lane and finished decently, though he was never a danger to the top two. He and Coach Inge figure to target the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Oct. 3. Bay of Plenty, coming off a big win here last month, chased Liam’s Map and faded in the lane.

Saratoga

Glens Falls Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: White Rose looked on her way when she won two straight stakes in Kentucky last fall. But she took four months off and hadn’t shown quite the same verve in six stakes tries since she returned – until today, that is. White Rose stalked in fourth while saving ground as Maximova went out to a clear lead, moved closer on the far turn, came off the inside into the lane, went past the tiring Maximova and stayed on to get the better of a stubborn Eastern Belle. White Rose set a course mark. Eastern Belle, a well-beaten second to Goldy Espony (finishing ahead of White Rose in third) in the Grade 3 Waya here last month, sat just behind White Rose from the start. She moved with that gal into the lane, battled on well but couldn’t keep pace. Regardez, coming off a romping optional-claiming win here last month, sat behind the top two from the start, and got going well late to get third. Goldy Espony, the 8-5 favorite off three straight wins, seemed to get a good trip stalking the pace, was still in the mix turning for home but then gave way readily.

Monmouth

Boiling Springs (race 10)

COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown may not have top-class Lady Eli available to dominate the 3-year-old filly turf ranks, but his barn showed its depth as he sent out Strict Compliance here to get the job done. Sent off the 3-2 favorite off a third in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga last month, she sat well back early as Isabella Sings set a solid pace. Strict Compliance started to advance going to the far turn and reeled in Isabella Sings in the final strides. Isabella Sings, last seen leading all the way to win the Little Silver here July 26, still had the lead in midstretch and battled back gamely when confronted by Strict Compliance. Pine Needles sat midpack and came with a run in the lane, though she was no danger to the top two. Bishop’s Pond broke slowly to be last early, remained there going to the far turn, and finished decently.

Del Mar

Del Mar Debutante (race 9)

COMMENT: Songbird cost $400,000 at auction last summer and came out firing to blast maidens in her debut here July 26. She further validated that price tag here with an easy victory as a surprisingly heavy favorite, stamping herself the best of the West Coast 2-year-old fillies. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro went up to duel with previously unbeaten Pretty N Cool through hot splits, put that gal away into the lane and drew off to win with ease. She’s likely to target Santa Anita’s Grade 1 Chandelier Sept. 26 and then it’s off to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Pretty N Cool, winner of her first two starts, including a romping win in the Grade 2 Sorrento here last month, couldn’t keep pace with Songbird in the lane but stayed on well to hold second. The Chandelier and a rematch may be in the cards. Land Over Sea, coming off an easy maiden win routing on turf here July 29, lagged back early and came with a run for third. Stays in Vegas, who romped in her first two starts, both in Northern California, broke slowly, rushed up to stalk the pace but weakened a bit in the drive. Surfside Tiara, romping winner over maidens here Aug. 9, chased the pace but couldn’t keep up and was done by the top of the lane.

Sept. 6

Saratoga

Prioress (race 10)

COMMENT: A month ago Cavorting outfinished Bar of Gold to win the Grade 1 Test here. Today, she again proved best and Bar of Gold again proved second best. Cavorting broke very sharply from her outside post but she settled nicely to stalk as Ekati’s Phaeton set a modest pace. Cavorting angled out coming into the lane and put in a strong run that carried her well clear of her foes. She’s now 3 for 3 here, but is just 1 for 3 elsewhere. Surely her target is the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Keeneland late next month. Bar of Gold lagged back, not far behind the eventual winner, rallied even wider into the lane, and finished well clear of the others. Fusaichi Red, freshened since a stakes win at Monmouth, sat well back and finished decently. Irish Jasper, winner of the Grade 3 Miss Preakness and Grade 3 Victory Ride before rallying for fourth in the Grade 1 Test here last time out, sat well back after a slow start and made some headway in the lane. Promise Me Silver, so impressive winning her first eight starts before fading to 10th in the Grade 1 Acorn and to fifth in the Grade 3 Victory Ride, stalked the pace but gave way to finish last.

Del Mar

Del Mar Derby (race 7)

COMMENT: The way Prospect Park dominated the Grade 3 La Jolla in his first turf try here Aug. 9 made him an overwhelming favorite for this. But Om, who was a well-beaten second to in the La Jolla, showed the importance of speed. He went right out to the lead and was able to set dawdling splits. Prospect Park moved close to him turning for home but Om opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Royal Albert Hall, third behind in the La Jolla, lagged well back early, was still last turning for home, and finished well clear of the others. Prospect Park, the 3-10 favorite, stalked the winner from the start, loomed a big threat turning for home but didn’t pack the same punch he produced in the La Jolla. The top three figure to meet again in the Twilight Derby. Soul Driver, winner of two straight stakes coming into this, was last early, still well back turning for home, and was unable to muster a run.

Del Mar

Yellow Ribbon Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: She’s Not Here came from Kentucky and was a smart winner over optional claimers in her first start here Aug. 6. Today, she made it 2 for 2 on this course. She’s Not Here sat back while Istanford set strong splits. She’s Not Here remained well back, swung wide for the stretch run and got up in the final strides. Prize Exhibit, a top 3-year-old facing elders for the first time, sat midpack from the start, made a run into the lane to grab the lead, but couldn’t fend off the winner. Lady Pimpernel sat well back early, just behind the eventual winner, was still well back coming into the lane, and finished strongly only to turn out of ground. Blingismything stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but couldn’t sustain her challenge and finished fourth. Queen of the Sand was well back early and never mustered a run. Istanford gave way readily once headed into the lane. Many of these figure to renew acquaintances in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Sept. 26.