Trip Notes for September 7-8, 2019: Jockey Club Derby, Kentucky Turf Cup, and more

Sept. 7

Belmont
Jockey Club Derby (race 10)

COMMENT: The Europeans had their way here as French raider won the Jockey Club Oaks and the Europeans swept the top three positions in this race, led by English invader Spanish Mission. The daughter of Noble Mission, coming off a big Group 3 win in England July 11 and a sharp Group 3 third (beaten just a neck) here Aug. 1, sat last early as A Thread of Blue went out to a clear early lead while setting a modest pace, remained well back to the far turn while a few lanes off the fence, started to advance on the turn, swinger wider into the lane to continue his run and finished gamely to edge the runner-up. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2 is not in the plans as ownership manager Barry Irwin said instead the 3-year-old would target an early-2020 campaign in Dubai. Pedro Cara, a maiden who ran seventh in his only start, that coming last Oct. 25 in France, was well back from the start as well, though a few lengths ahead of the eventual winner, moved up smartly on the far turn, moved up to challenge A Thread of Blue into the lane, was getting the better of that rival when taking a narrow lead inside the eighth pole only to have the winner come alongside and just get edged on the line. San Huberto, winner of his first two starts in France, was midpack from the start, got shuffled back a bit on the far turn, came with a decent run into the lane and finished decently toward the outside while racing a bit greenly, though he was never a danger to the top two. A Thread of Blue, winner of the Saratoga Derby Aug. 4, broke a bit awkwardly, was still able to go right out to a clear early lead, set a modest pace under no real pressure, battled back gamely along the inside when confronted into the lane, still held a narrow lead at the eighth pole but relented thereafter. Digital Age, second in the Saratoga Derby after running fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby here July 6, was the main disappointment. He bided his time early, came with a nice, threatening run on the far turn to loom a threat but then came up empty. That he never made a run after some strong outings might be a sign he’s due for a break.

Kentucky Downs
Turf Sprint (race 7)

COMMENT: Totally Boss continued his ascent and punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 2 with a smart win here, his fourth in his last five starts (the lone loss coming when second beaten just a nose). The son of multiple Grade 1 sprint winner Street Boss showed good speed to dog pacesetter Smart Remark from the start, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, finally got the better of that stubborn rival by midstretch and then edged clear. This stamps him a player for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint though that race is looking more and more confusing with the likes of two-time defending champ Stormy Liberal maybe showing his age, top-class World of Trouble questionable to make that race (foot ailment) and the top European turf sprinters sitting on the fence. First things first, however, as trainer Rusty Arnold said he could go in Keeneland’s Grade 3 Woodford Oct. 5, though the Breeders’ Cup is the main objective. Smart Remark, back to turf after a so-so fifth on dirt at Ellis Park Aug. 2, popped right out to the lead, set a solid pace under pressure from the eventual winner, battled back when hooked by that rival to his outside into the lane, couldn’t keep pace with that foe in the final furlong but kept to his task well to hold second at 69-1. Leinster, half-brother to today’s foe and reigning turf champ and two-time defending Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champ Stormy Liberal, sat midpack from the start, moved wide on the turn and into the lane, loomed a threat, couldn’t get to the top two in the final furlong but kept on well for third. Imprimis, making his first start since finishing sixth in a Group 1 at Ascot in England June 18 after two stakes wins on turf at Keeneland and Gulfstream, pressed the early pace from the start while inside, continued to remain just off the pace while saving ground, had to steady a bit and wait for room into the lane while still on the fence, found a seam along the rail into the lane and finished with good energy to just miss getting up for third. Stormy Liberal, the 7-year-old who is the reigning turf champ and two-time defending champ of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint but winless in four stat this year (though he ran well in all four), stalked the pace, was still there turning for home while wide and was unable to make a dent in the lane. The wide trip didn’t help but there’s the very real possibility that now, at age 7 with all those furlongs behind him, he’s lost a step or two. At least if they point for another shot at the Breeders’ Cup it will be a furlong shorter this year and that might help.

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Ladies Turf (race 8)

COMMENT: Ms Bad Behavior was coming off a disastrous run in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita April 6 where she bore out badly and was pulled up. Freshened since she moved to new surroundings here and got back on track, posting the upset. She outran what appeared to be ample other speed from the start to take up the early running, set a brisk pace under some pressure from favorite Mitchell Road, rebuffed that rival into the lane, opened up and held sway. Trainer Richard Baltas said she might target the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland Oct. 6, though that could mean running into such Chad Brown beasts as Rushing Fall and Uni who are both targeting that race. If they opt to skip that there’s always the Grade 2 Goldikova at her home track Santa Anita Nov. 3, part of Breeders’ Cup weekend. Mitchell Road, freshened, shortening up and dropping after finishing fifth in the very tough Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga July 13, showed her customary good speed to dog the eventual winner from the start while under a hold, continued under restraint to the far turn while stuck in traffic, came off the inside for room into the lane, tried to make a run at the winner but couldn’t get to her. Considering the tactics and traffic this was a good run. Maybe something like the Grade 1 First Lady at a mile at Keeneland Oct. 6 is on her radar. Simply Breathless, winner of a stakes at Golden Gate April 27, winner of a Grade 3 at Santa Anita June 22 and third in a Grade 3 at Arlington July 13 in her first three U.S. starts, stalked the pace while saving ground, was boxed up some on the far turn and into the lane, had to wait for room, finally found a seam in the stretch and finished decently, though she wasn’t really a threat to the top two. Storm the Hill, a sharp second in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar Aug. 3 (beating Vasilika, who came back to win the Grade 2 John C. Mabee there), stalked the pace in third, came with a smart wide run on the turn to loom a threat but flattened out.

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Ladies Sprint (race 9)

COMMENT: Morticia has been one of the better turf sprinting distaffers in the land the past couple seasons but coming off two losses at Saratoga you wondered if the daughter of Twirling Candy had lost a step or two. Well, she answered that with a firm “No” as the 5-year-old mare bounced back to form with a smart win. She broke well, went right out to set the pace, took early pressure from Stillwater Cove to her outside while setting a solid pace, rebuffed that rival turning for home, quickly opened up and kept to her task well to keep a couple hard-trying closers at bay in the final furlong. Trainer Rusty Arnold said the Franklin County at Keeneland Oct. 11 is next. She won that race in 2017. A Little Bit Me, coming off a smart rallying fourth in a turf sprint stakes at Del Mar July 20, was midpack from the start, came through smartly between horses into the lane, loomed a threat by midstretch but couldn’t get to the winner. Oleksandra, winner of three of her last four including the Smart N Fancy last time out on Saratoga turf Aug. 17 where she beat Morticia who ran fourth, was away slowly to be last early, remained well back to the far turn, angled out into the lane, surged through between horses and finished strongly but had been left with too much to do after the tardy start. Painting Corners, winner of a turf sprint stakes at Del Mar July 20 and then third in a tough optional claiming turf sprint there Aug. 25, showed speed to press the pace in third, was still there turning for home and into the lane but tired in the final furlong. Raven’s Lady, a Group 2/3 winner in Europe in the summer of 2018 but then no factor in her first three starts in the U.S., bounced back nicely to win a nice optional claimer at Gulfstream Aug. 16, earning a return to stakes ranks here. She was a bit slow into stride to be midpack but never mustered a run, in fact, giving way in the final furlong. Tiny Tina, making her first start in three and a half months after winning three straight routes at Santa Anita in the spring and cutting back to a sprint here, was away slowly to be last from the start, remained there and was eased under the wire, though she walked off under her own power.

Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Turf Cup (race 10)

COMMENT: Zulu Alpha has been knocking heads with the division’s best (seventh in the Grade 1 Man o’ War, second in the Grade 1 United Nations and fifth in the Grade 2 Bowling Green). He got a bit of class relief here and while this was no easy spot he took advantage, posting a big win. He signaled his readiness with a big bullet work Sept. 1. The 6-year-old gelded son of Street Cry sat midpack from the start as Factor This set a slow pace, remained there to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane, blasted past his rivals to take a clear lead by midstretch, drawing off further to win easily. Trainer Mike Maker said either the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine Oct. 12 or the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2 would likely be next. Arklow, the defending champ and who likewise has been facing the best turf stayers around, lagged back from the start, not that far behind Zulu Alpha, pitched wide into the lane to try to rally with that foe, proved no match but kept to his task to get second. He could also eye the Breeders’ Cup, or could target the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland Oct. 17, a race in which he ran second (to Zulu Alpha) last year. Campaign, back to turf and dropping off a fifth in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on dirt at Del Mar Aug. 17, was far back early, started to advance on the far turn, came with a strong run between horses and finished well, though he was never a danger to the winner. Factor This, stepping up after three straight wins including the Kentucky Cup Turf Preview at Ellis Park Aug. 4, went right to the lead, set a slow pace under some pressure Botswana and Hello Don Julio, dispatched with those rivals on the turn for home, opened up to look very dangerous turning for home but then couldn’t finish with the top trio. Blended Citizen, fourth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap Aug. 17, stalked the pace, moved closer going down the backstretch to pressure leader Factor This, was still in the hunt turning for home but flattened out in the lane.

Louisiana Downs
Super Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: Rotation was fourth behind three of today’s rivals in the Prelude here Aug. 3 but not only was that his first start in a couple months, the son of Tapit stumbled badly at the start. With that race under his belt and no such troubled start this time the colt took advantage, posting his first stakes win. From his rail slot he was midpack from the start while saving ground as Pirate’s Punch set a solid early pace, moved closer going to the far turn, moved toward the outside on the turn and into the lane, gamely ran down then-leader Pirate’s Punch, getting to the line before a hard-trying Vanglider. The latter lagged back from the start, moved up nicely going to the far turn though still had a ways to go to get closer to the eventual winner, came out into the lane and finished resolutely to close the gap on Rotation, though he was unable to get to him. Pirate’s Punch went right to the lead, set a solid pace under pressure first from Fredonian and then from heavy 9-10 favorite Knicks Go, rebuffed those rivals turning for home, kept to his task gamely but couldn’t quite outfinish the top two. Knicks Go, favored off a game second in the Ellis Park Derby Aug. 11 and a Grade 1 winner last year as a juvenile, dogged pacesetter Pirate’s Punch from the start, tried to turn up the heat on that on the far turn, did get closer but then came up empty in the lane once rebuffed.