Quick hitting no-filtered reactions on Super Saturday. Santa Anita, Belmont.
Kelso Stakes:
Bridgejumper on IMLD. IMLD had perfect trip last 2 races, but visually he was all out in the Whitney and Woodward. Contested a solid pace set by River Rocks. Not much IMLD could do. River Rocks would have wired with no pressure. IMLD made 2 wide move. Vyjack made a 3-wide move at the exact time IMLD was making a move into turn. The Skinny: IMLD is not a Grade 1 Breeders Cup type horse at any distance. River Rocks has improved. Vyjack probably got the dream trip. Plesa has been non-committal for a month on IMLD probably will wait for Cigar Mile. The Bridgejumper survived, but highly doubt IMLD goes West after than effort.
Beldame Stakes:
Belle of Gallantey went wire to wire. Stopchargingmaria is just too slow to defeat older horses. She was all dressed up off 3 straight slow wins against inferior competition. Belle was the beneficiary of being the speed and the race was over after a half mile. Ladies Classic is down to 4 horses and thats it. Beholder, Close Hatches, Sweet Reason and Untapable.
Flower Bowl:
The Filly division has been taking turns beating each other this year. The Flower Bowl betting was even on the board. Stephanies Kitten was bet down to the 6/5 favorite and was more forwardly placed. She made a move 4 furlongs out and got the jump on most of the field going into the turn. Overall slow fractions again race didn’t show could run against a true pace they will face in Breeders Cup.
Vosburgh:
Palace was over bet the 20K claiming story has been good, but has received the benefit of perfect rips. Defending champ Private Zone engaged the leaders on the turn, lost the lead to Dads Capps and just like 2013 Private Zone re-rallied in deep stretch. Palace had the inside trip and wasn’t pushed to hard late but he may be wearing down after long year. Coup De Grace had nothing for the drive and 6 furlongs is too short. Dadd’s Capp ran well but couldn’t close the deal. Palace was exposed against true speed horses and larger field. Private Zone ran well and could have a shot to peak at Santa Anita.
Joe Hirsch
Main Sequence rode in with a 2 race win streak and received the late money, but the Kitten entry was favored at post time. The opening quarter was 26 and 3, with the half 50 and 4/5. Three Quarters was slow with Imagining having everything his own way. Main Sequence engaged on the turn and Twilight Eclipse got the perfect trip covered up inside. Twilight Eclipse got bumped late by Main Sequence. Main Sequence took the lead with 50 yards to go for his 3rd straight win. Main Sequence still has the look of a dressed up horse. But Real Solution is done, Big Blue Kitten is done. I would imagine, Twilight Eclipse and Main Sequence go next to Santa Anita. Europeans will be heavily favored if they send anyone with a pulse and tail. Last year Magician was a 7 furlong horse who won.
Zenyatta
Beholder stood out in this race on the track, in the form and in the flow of the race. The 2 time Breeders’ Cup Winner. Beholder won with something in reserve and looks to throw down a monster effort in the Ladies Classic. Classic is a 4 horse race. Beholder, Close Hatches, Untappable and Sweet Reason.
Jockey Gold Cup:
Tonalist was surprisingly favored in the JCGC which is hard to imagine since he finished a clear-cut 3rd in the Travers and 2nd in the Jim Dandy. Moreno drifted to 6/1 on the board. Big Cazanova took the lead with a 23 and 3 opening quarter and 47 and 2 for the half and burned out Moreno. Tonalist mowed them down late. Running a 22 and 3 opening quarter in the Travers was too much, allowed to sett off the pace me finally got a bulky field and fast fractions to face. Tonalist clearly the best horse. Zivo ran a bang up 2nd and clearly loves 10 furlongs. Can imagine top 2 going to classic. Moreno has used up his supply of speed and is just not a true Grade 1 horse in a 12 horse field. Classic field just got a lot less speed with Moreno either tired and Itsmyluckyday probably not going.
Frontrunner
American Pharoah was bet hard off his Delmar Futurity day victory. American Pharoah finished at 3/5 on the betting board, took the lead out of the gate, set moderate fractions, took some heat going into the turn and then galloped away down the stretch. American Pharoah will obviously be the Breeders Cup Juvenile on Breeders Cup Day. Long stride, seems to relax in the middle portion of the race. Calculator looks like a sprinter but ran well and losing to American Pharoah for the second time is a boost, but he is still a maiden and running a 3rd stakes race before breaking maiden will hurt him long term. But he is a Florida bred and they will probably strike while the iron is hot.
Rodeo Drive:
Wide open on the tote board. Moderate pace and several horses got bunched 3 furlongs into the race. At one point 6 horses were within about 5 lengths 4 furlongs into the race. Pace picked up in the 3rd quarter. Several horses were near the back of the pack approaching the turn. Emollient made a move down the stretch and wore down Parranda in deep stretch. Moulin de Mougin took a slip on the turn. Miss Serendipity runs better covered up with a quick pace. Emollient may be peaking at the right time and imagine Parranda goes to Santa Anita as well.
Awesome Again
Heavily favored Shared Belief opened up with 130K to show on him and 1/9 on the board. Shared Belief was floated 3 wide down the backstretch. Fed Biz set contested fractions after the opening quarter. Mystery Train made a push at the half mile pole and backed up quickly. Imperative moved early and moved well going into the turn which pushed Shared Belief 5 wide at one point. Shared Belief was measured 5 wide into the stretch and wore down a stubborn Fed Biz late by a measured half a head. Shared Belief ran wide. But this race was far from dominant and will be interesting to see the spin on this race. But Shared Belief is all heart and has a turn of foot. But question his moxy in a 12 horse race. Been his biggest fan since Golden Gate maiden win, but I didn’t like this win and I don’t care about the wide trip.
Chandelier
Lots of speed in the race on paper. An aggressive ride by Sunday Sonnet, spread out the field. Angela Renee established good position on the inside in the 2nd flight. On the turn Angela Renee was traveling well and made a move for the lead and established position. Overall a solid race for the top 3 and would expect all top 3 finishers to move on.