This race was originally scheduled to be run on turf at a mile and five-eighths. Instead, it was run in the slop at a mile and a quarter. The field was reduced to four, and Turco Bravo set the pace, and chalk Red Knight stalked from 2nd. The latter took the lead after a mile, but Highland Sky was breathing down his neck. Highland Sky took off in the stretch and was more than eight lengths in front at the end. Red Knight was 2nd and Turco Bravo was 3rd. Redicean never got involved and trailed throughout.
Riskaverse Stakes Recap (8-22-19) - Winner: Catch a Bid ($3.80)
The inner turf course was yielding and 20-1 longshot Dalika almost stole this one. She lead every step of the way under Jose Ortiz, except the one that counted. Catch a Bid stalked the pace in 4th, got closer in the stretch, and got her head down at the last possible moment under Irad Ortiz Jr. Xanthique raced in third place all the way around the track, and New and Improved was another nose back in 4th. Hotsy Totsy was 5th throughout and All Quality chased the pace and retreated to last place.
Fleet Indian Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Newly Minted ($4.30)
This was a one-horse race all the way. Maiden Beauty was the early leader but that would not last long. Strong favorite Newly Minted was all over her from the outset, and she went well clear once that one weakened. She rolled by nine lengths in this nine furlong contest. Kid Is Frosty was clearly second best and Elegant Zip was best of the rest in 3rd. Wait a Minute and Maiden Beauty were next, and Behind the Couch was pulled up and vanned off.
Yaddo Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Belle of the Spa ($64.00)
This was the upset of the day. Belle of the Spa did not have to work very hard to get to the lead, and she was absolutely crawling up front (25.08, 50.51, and 1:15.63). Race favorite Munchkin Money was sitting in 2nd, a length back for much of the running, and she got on even terms in the lane but could not go by in a neck defeat. Kressie was an even 3rd and was followed by Wegetsdamunnys and English Soul. Held Accountable was well behind the rest in last place.
Seeking the Ante Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Fierce Lady ($4.20)
Time Limit was pressured by My Italian Rabbi, and Fierce Lady sat off of them in 3rd. The latter poked her head in front in the lane but Time Limit would not go away. Fierce Lady was ultimately best by a neck and Time Limit was 5+ clear of My Italian Rabbi. Violent Point and Big Q were next, and it was a country mile back to Wharf Cat.
Funny Cide Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: City Man ($6.50)
The money showed on City Man, and he did not disappoint. He tracked inside speed Bull of Bayern, and after putting that one away, he opened up and won by more than four lengths for Joel Rosario and Christophe Clement. I went with late runner Cleon Jones as my top choice, and he took action as well. He was 8- morning line but went off at 3-1. He rallied for the place, and Listentoyourheart was along to complete the trifecta. Theitalianamerican went from last to 4th, and Bull of Bayern weakened to 5th. Opportunist, Mission Wrapitup, Sky of Hook, and No Lime trailed.
West Point Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Offering Plan ($6.40)
Everyonelovesjames had to go fast early to secure the early lead over a turf course labelled good. Mo Maverick chased that one and they opened up by many lengths for the first six furlongs. The lead was evaporating quickly and the whole complexion changed in the stretch. Therapist, Offering Plan, and Dot Matrix were the three big movers, and Offering Plan was traveling best late to prevail by a neck over Dot Matrix. Therapist got past a stubborn Everyonelovesjames in the battle for show honors. Hoboe was next, followed by Rapt and Mo Maverick.
Albany Stakes Recap (8-23-19) - Winner: Funny Guy ($17.00)
Funny Guy got the first run, and that was the key to his head victory. The pace was honest with Not That Brady showing the way. Just Right, Blindwillie McTell, and Kazmania prompted the pace, and Funny Guy was right behind that group. The early leaders started to weaken and Funny Guy made the first run, opened up by a length in a half in the stretch, and just had enough left to hold off my late running top choice Bankit. Doups Point got going late and comfortably secured the show. Not That Brady weakened to 4th, and just behind him were Blindwillie McTell and Just Right. The trailers were Kazmania, Daddy Knows, and Dancers for Token (well behind the others).
Forego Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Mitole ($3.80)
Promises Fulfilled and Mitole dueled for a half-mile, and the former was done early. Mitole was full of run and opened up a commanding lead in the stretch. He coasted home by three lengths, and Firenze Fire outfinished Killybegs Captain for the place. Air Strike passed tired rivals and finished 4th. Bon Raison was next and Promises Fulfilled faded to last in a below par effort. He was down on the inside, and that was not the place to be on Travers Day.
Ballerina Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Come Dancing ($3.50)
Come Dancing looked good winning this. She had an uncomfortable start but Javier Castellano did not panic. She was wide and last early, but there were only five horses, and she moved up quickly, took over in the stretch, and was much the best by 3+ lengths. Dawn the Destroyer chased outside and was up for the place. Course specialist Special Relativity was best of the rest in 3rd. Separationofpowers dueled with Mia Mischief and they were separated by a neck at the back on the pack. The former took the worst of it. She bobbled at the start and ended up dueling inside. The trip and dead rail ruined her day, and she might be worth playing back next time.
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Mind Control ($22.80)
Shancealot was the strong favorite and controlling speed from the rail. He may have lost this race at the draw. He was able to secure the early lead but was not racing on the best part of the track. He was clear by a length through a half-mile, and was 2+ clear in the stretch, but outside stalker Mind Control was gaining, along with late runner Hog Creek Hustle. The wire was rapidly approaching and three noses were together on the line. In the end, Mind Control got the nod over Hog Creek Hustle, and Shancealot was 3rd. Rowayton was another neck back in 4th. Nitrous went from last to 5th, and was followed by Call Paul, Borracho, The Big S, and Twelfth Labour.
Ballston Spa (G2) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Significant Form ($16.60)
Chad Brown entered three in this spot, and his longest priced runner emerged victorious. Conquest Hardcandy and Scottish Jig carved out honest splits, and Significant Form followed those two, moved up in the stretch, and held off Indian Blessing to win by a neck. Starship Jubilee edged Chad Brown trainee Fifty Five for the show, and Conquest Hardcandy was the fifth neck on the line. Hogans Holiday and Scottish Jig were next, and the two favorites Secret Message and Mascha never got involved.
Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Midnight Bisou ($5.40)
This was the race of the day! Coach Rocks and She’s a Julie were the top two early, and the pace was honest. Elate was just behind them in 3rd, and the strong favorite was getting a perfect trip. She moved to the leaders under Jose Ortiz and briefly spurted away, but Midnight Bisou was gathering momentum from the back of the pack and the match race was on. The two favorites were inseparable down the lane and the bob of the nose went to Midnight Bisou. Elate lost nothing in defeat, and they were 8+ clear of show finisher She’s a Julie. Wow Cat rode the dead rail and ended up 4th, and Coach Rocks weakened to 5th. Golden Award faltered and was pulled up and walked off.
Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Annals of Time ($7.10)
Chad Brown had three in here. I thought he going to use his 60-1 outsider Proven Reserves as a rabbit, but that one never got involved. Instead, his recent import Ya Primo seemed intent on the lead under Jose Ortiz, and he battled with Channel Maker for at least a mile and a quarter. They were not flying, but the pace was honest and contested for the marathon distance. Channel Cat stole the Bowling Green (G2), and he was lurking behind the leaders this time. He made his move and took a short lead in the stretch, but he could hear footsteps. Annals and Time was the slight favorite for Chad Brown, and he was moving sightly better than Sadler’s Joy and beat that one by a neck. Channel Cat was 3rd and Channel Maker was 4th. Noble Thought, Pillar Mountain, Proven Reserves, Tiz Morning, and Ya Primo completed the order of finish.
Travers Stakes (G1) Recap (8-24-19) - Winner: Code of Honor ($10.80)
Mucho Gusto and Tacitus set this up for a closer. When two very good horses are battling on the lead at a mile and a quarter, you just know another quality horse will pick them off. Tax from post 12 also pushed the pace, and Code of Honor’s pilot John Velazquez had to be loving the race shape. He was patiently ridden from 9th, and he started to move up with a quarter of a mile remaining. He raced wide throughout and swung out even wider in the stretch, and rumbled down the middle to prevail by about three lengths. Tacitus fought with Mucho Gusto throughout and gamely finished a 1/2 length in front of that one for 2nd. The top three ran quality races and Tacitus settled for the runner-up spot once again (also 2nd in G1 Belmont and G2 Jim Dandy). The blinkers definitely got him in the race earlier, and he lost nothing in defeat. He will win one of these big races at some point. Mucho Gusto tried to steal it and probably would have if Tacitus did not get the equipment change. Hats off to Shug McGaughey for having Code of Honor in peak form for the mid-summer Derby. Endorsed rallied from 12th to complete the superfecta. Owendale was a bit more forwardly placed than expected from the rail, and he ended up an even 5th. Highest Honors sort of ran in place throughout and was right behind that one in 6th, and Tax gradually weakened to 7th. Chess Chief, Laughing Fox, and Scars Are Cool were next, and it was a big gap back to Looking At Bikinis (stumbled at start) and Everfast.
Better Talk Now Stakes Recap (8-25-19) - Winner: Front Run the Fed ($4.90)
They key to this race was Bulletin. He was obviously a talented turf sprinter with speed, but could he go one mile? He went to the front as expected, and was chased by Swamp Rat, Regally Irish, and Our Braintrust. At 2-1 odds, he was a bad proposition, and ended up weakening to 3rd in the stretch. The two late runners dominated in the lane. Bourbon War and Front Run the Fed were in full flight to the wire, and the latter was moving best and prevailed by a 1/2 length. The margin of victory was deceiving. He was confidently handled late under Jose Lezcano. Bourbon War was clearly second best in a promising turf bow. Bulletin was best of the rest in 3rd. The strung-out field also included Swamp Rat, Our Braintrust, and Regally Irish.
Article by Jarrod Horak
Photo by Josh Chicorelli
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