Long and Short Sunday
Real Writing on Racing 💯
🎪 When the field was drawn for the 2022 edition of the Jim Dandy (Gr II) it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that Early Voting would show early speed and lead the field around the first turn and down the backside. What was not expected was Epicenter being the trailer at those same markers considering the presence of Zandon and Tawny Port, neither possessing any early foot. However that was the scenario that played out on the track as Epicenter didn’t snap out of the gate and actually was steadied early, as Irad Ortiz on Tawny Port angled to the rail going into the first turn, forcing Joel Rosario to tap on the breaks. Alas the tactical disadvantage didn’t deter the big son of Not this Time, who trailed the small but select group till Rosario floated him wide straightening up into the stretch. Epicenter took over from there as he quickly made up ground on the others before edging clear the final 100 yards, as Rosario never even turned his riding crop over. Zandon, who settled much closer to the lead than usual, held well for second over Ohio Derby (Gr II) winner Tawny Port who checked in a ‘no-factor’ third with Preakness (Gr I) winner Early Voting fading to last despite setting stress-free early fractions. Make no mistake, it was a very good effort for the winner who now heads to the mid-summer classic, the Travers, a month from now. It also wouldn’t be a shock if the rest of the field showed up on Travers day either, though for Tawny Port and Early Voting waiting for the Pennsylvania Derby might be the plan. Epicenter, who earned a 102 Beyer, is the natural leader of the three year old division as things currently stand, though remaining in that top spot has been fleeting this season.
🎪 The co-featured AG Vanderbilt (Gr I) started out as a sprinting mismatch and ended up as a mockery. On paper, 2021 Sprint champ Jackie’s Warrior towered over the field of 5 contenders, coming into this spot with back to back blowout wins in the Churchill Downs Handicap (Gr I) and the True North stakes (Gr II) after a tussle in his season debut back in April at Oaklawn. After breaking sharply from the starting gate, Rosario eased the Champ back behind hopeless rabbit Doc Amster, then angled outside of that brief early leader. Now in stalking position, Jackie’s Warrior, the high weight carrying 127 pounds, advanced to the lead on the turn under zero urging, cruising to a 4 1/2 length lead passing the stretch call before being taken in hand by Rosario late and literally galloping across the wire. It was an extraordinarily easy win for Grade I company, even if that company was suspect at the highest level. The final time of 1:09.74 was good over a track that played a bit quicker than it had been, earning him a 105 Beyer speed figure, though he surely could have gone a few ticks faster had it been asked of him. It was the most dominant stakes win that I have seen since Slew O’ Gold in the 1984 Whitney.
🎪 Capture the Flag, a big colt by Quality Road trained by Shug McGaughey, took control of the 2 yo maiden special weight opener as they turned for home and held well under light urging to score by 3. Parx shipper Tatum rallied to be second.
🎪 Our Dream Rye’d broke slow and was bumped soundly leaving the starting gate, spotting the field a half-dozen lengths going into the first turn of the second, a maiden special weight going 8.5 furlongs on the grass for two year olds. The son of More than Ready, trained by Ian Wilkes, trailed throughout most of the race before unleashing a furious stretch rally, carrying him and jockey Julian Leparoux past the entire field to win going away.
🎪 The ‘next Manila’ turned out to be a dud in the 10th when the touted $2 million dollar year yearling, Capensis, who was so impressive breaking his maiden down state last month, failed to menace when checking in 6th in his allowance debut. Going in Circles daily blog tout in that race was even worse as Colosseo chased early and stopped, finishing last, as the Catman’s slow meet continues.
🎪 The racing day closed out with Mad Munnys, under crafty veteran Jose Lezcano, putting them to sleep on the front end, wiring the $25000 claiming event and paying $52 to win for trainer Gustavo Rodriguez. NYRA morning linemaker David Aragona tabbed the winner on social media, just the latest example of his excellent handicapping prowess.
🎪 Rosario won four on the day which catapulted him upward on the jockey standings list though I’m not sure that anyone outside of local media types and jockey financial advisers, really care?
🏖 Royal Ship (BRZ) overcame being wide both turns to upset Country Grammer in the San Diego (Gr II) at Del Mar. The always dangerous six year old was ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Richard Mandella. Mandaloun’s international tour of mediocrity continued as the 2021 Kentucky Derby and Haskell ‘winner’ failed to menace once again. Something tells me that Flightline, who watched the race from his luxurious beachfront stall, wasn’t all that impressed. Two races prior to the San Diego saw the ageless Joe Bravo guide American Theorem along that same outside path, to score his own upset in the Gr I Bing Crosby. Trained by George Papaprodromou, the win was the ridgling son of American Pharoah’s second consecutive graded stakes score after he captured the Triple Bend (Gr II) in his last.
Day 14 (26 racing days to go)
Bowling Green Grade II $250,000 1 3/8 inner turf
L'Imperator - checked in 7th with troubled trip last out in the Manhattan (Gr I) after wiring the field in the Fort Marcy (Gr II) over a bog the start prior. Perhaps employs similar tactics in this race which lacks any confirmed early speed types.
Arklow - eight year old has been unsighted since last October when he was unplaced in the Turf Classic (Gr I) at Belmont. Has some tactical speed and figures to lay close to what looks to be a soft early pace even by NY turf race standards. Big chance if he is ready off the long layoff.
Highland Chief - pulled off the upset in another paceless affair in the Man O’ War back in May. Didn’t get a perfect trip in Manhattan and wound up fourth after a little early jostling and being thee wide throughout. TG figs still a bit light versus some of the others. He wouldn’t be a huge surprise but he also isn’t the most likely winner either.
Cross Border - Saratoga specialist (8-6-1-1 lifetime) hasn’t hit the board in three tries this season though he ran deceptively well in both grass starts. Won this same race last year and is 3 for 3 lifetime at the 11 furlong distance. A big contender though you might take a little hit on the price as his Spa record will surely be mentioned by every living person when discussing the race.
Cibolian - sheds blinkers after even Belmont Gold Cup effort at 2 miles. Still eligible for NW 2x condition, picks up Saez with Prat moving to outside horse. Seems like least likely winner.
Rockemperor - hasn’t shown much in two 2022 starts. Fits with the rest of these as on his best he is good enough but hard to figure his trip and his current form is spotty. Very difficult race to have a strong opinion on.
Amsterdam Grade II $200,000 6.5 furlongs dirt 3yo
Pinehurst - trained by Bob Baff…..uh I mean John Terranova, he was last seen getting trounced in the UAE Derby after taking down the Saudi Derby in his previous run. Has 5 bullet works since that non-effort in Dubai plus a fast local work last Sunday, so he appears to be ready. Ran a pair of early season 5’s on TG which aren’t quite good enough to win but with just a bit of natural progression via maturity, he should be able to get in the mix here.
Gunite - Gun Runner colt crushed the Hopeful (Gr I) here last summer for Asmussen and Winchell. Little late returning to the races this season, he ran well in both Kentucky starts, winning the Maxfield in a game effort in his latest. Might not have been on best part of the track in that last win, should stalk the pace, which might be set by the two former Baffert runners, and is a big player in this spot.
Hoist the Gold - Stewart runner made menacing move in Maxfield but hung and wound up checking in third. Has erratic form and would need to move forward to lifetime top to get really involved. Honestly it’s hard to be confident that he is ready to do that.
Pappacap - has made slow but steady progress after an unsuccessful venture on the Derby trail. Casse seems to have made the right call in turning him back to one-turn races as he has had a couple runner-up placings in the Pat Day Mile(Gr II) and Woody Stephens (Gr I) though never a threat in those. However there is no Jack Christopher in here and while we are skeptical about using him on top, a switch to the red hot Joel Rosario is an intriguing jockey change.
Accretive - Practical Joke gelding powered to impressive debut win last month in MSW at Belmont. Thrown directly into graded company in start number two, he did run a really fast TG in that win (TG 1.5) but gives up a lot of seasoning to the more experienced runners. Must have been a real handful to have been gelded prior to his debut considering how fast he is.
Runninsonofagun - needed binoculars to see Charge It at the finishline when second to him in the Dwyer last out. Has never really run a figure that makes him competitive here though he he is consistent.
Corniche - undefeated two year old champ makes his long awaited three year old debut for new trainer Pletcher. He has requisite talent and speed to win this race off the bench but recent comments by the Pletch seem to be tempering enthusiasm for him remaining undefeated after this afternoon. He may be on or just off the lead based on his 2 year old running style and because there isn’t a tremendous amount of speed signed on, it might give him tactical edge. Tough call to take a short price on.
My Prankster - second runner from Team Todd, he always runs well but hasn’t been able to get the job done in recent starts. Debuted last year at the Spa going the same 6.5 furlongs, destroying a group of maidens and earning a super high 2.5 TG but he has never been able to break through that number. He will likely sit with the second flight and make a late run, the question is will he be able to make the best run? If he is 10-1 or thereabouts, might be worth a taking a flyer on.
Surfer Dude - cross-entered in the Housebuster Stakes at Colonial Downs tomorrow so may not run here. Has some early speed and may press the pace from the outside if he does. Probably not good enough to be wide and beat this group so not sure what other trip he can workout from post 9.