July 18 Saratoga National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (race 3) COMMENT: Gufo, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, scratched (to train up to the Saratoga Derby on Aug. 15). Inner turf course was listed as firm, though there was still some give in the ground. There was already a general consensus that Decorated Invader was the top 3-year-old turf male in the land, and the $200,000 son of Declaration of War confirmed that thought with a professional win. He broke well, was content to sit second a few lanes off the fence, well behind runaway early leader Get Smokin, remained there well off the pacesetter down the backstretch, closed the gap heading to the far turn, got closer on the turn, moved up to challenge that rival to his inside into the lane, and pushed his way past to go on to victory. He’s now 3 for 3 this year. The Saratoga Derby figures next. Get Smokin, third to Decorated Invader in Gulfstream’s Cutler Bay on March 28 and then fifth to today’s foe Domestic Spending in an allowance race June 7 at Belmont, broke well, went right to the lead while moving a few lanes out, opened up a big early lead by the clubhouse turn, maintained a big advantage though he wasn’t going terribly fast, had the field close in on him on the far turn but had something left, battled back when engaged by the winner, couldn’t quite keep pace with that foe in the final furlong, but stayed on gamely to just hold second. The Saratoga Derby could be an option, though you wonder if that longer trip (1 3/16 miles) may be a bit beyond him. Domestic Spending, stepping into stakes ranks after winning his first two starts, sat last from his rail slot, remained there while saving ground under restraint, bided his time at the back of the small field (though he wasn’t that far behind the eventual winner), was urged to start his run on the far turn when moving off the rail, moved wider out into the lane to continue his run, drifted out some under a left-handed whip, made a brief surge to look threatening outside the top two, drifted inward under a right-hand whip in midstretch to lose some of that acceleration, got straightened and going well again late when shifted back to a left-handed whip, but was too late. There’s talent here, but also some greenness he has to work through. Still, the Saratoga Derby seems a logical next step. Trainer Chad Brown won this race in years past with the likes of Bricks and Mortar and Raging Bull, so that tells you he holds this guy in high regard. Saratoga Coaching Club American Oaks (race 10) COMMENT: Altaf, a monster maiden winner last time out and 5-1 on the morning line, scratched (Trainer Chad Brown said he didn’t like the way she was moving in her morning jog.). Paris Lights continued her ascent, as the daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin won for the third straight time and likely punched her ticket to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill. She broke well from her outside post, immediately got position stalking/pressing pacesetter Crystal Ball through slow splits, continued to hound that rival to her outside, looked ready to take control on the far turn as she seemed to be traveling easily while Crystal Ball was under a hard ride, challenged that foe into the lane, but couldn’t put her away and had to battle hard all the way to the line to get the narrow decision despite taking a late bump from Crystal Ball. She certainly appears to be progressing, but she’ll need more of that if she’s to deal with the likes of Gamine, Swiss Skydiver, Shedaresthedevil, Speech, and others in Louisville. Crystal Ball, a $750,000 daughter of Malibu Moon, romped over maidens June 14 at Santa Anita. So, for this she was asked to ship across the country to face winners for the first time and nearly overcame all that. She broke well, went right to the lead, was able to set modest splits despite pressure from Paris Lights to her outside, looked in trouble when her rider went to the whip and was asked for run on the far turn, but she continued to respond and battled inside of Paris Lights, bobbled and stumbled a bit entering the lane, got straightened to re-engage with Paris Lights, came out again to bump Paris Lights in deep stretch, but stayed on gamely to just miss. Antoinette, back to dirt after a third in the Grade 3 Wonder Again on turf June 20 at Belmont, sat just behind the two pacesetters while inside, remained in just behind Crystal Ball with Tonalist’s Shape to her outside, came off the inside turning for home, was asked to go after the top two while wide entering the lane, was unable to get on terms with those rivals, and plugged along for third. Tonalist’s Shape, a winner of 6 of 7 including a stakes at Gulfstream last time out May 15 but adding blinkers for the first time, broke well from the rail but steadied sharply going to the first turn when Antoinette came over in front of her, became rank into the turn, threw her head as her rider steered her to the outside while keeping a firm hold, finally seemed to settle some into the backstretch, stalking while outside of Antoinette, came under a ride turning for home while wide, but came up empty. Surely all that activity early took a lot of out of her, but the blinkers certainly didn’t appear to help. In fact, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said later that the blinker experiment failed and that she’d have then removed for her next start, which could still be the Kentucky Oaks – though you wonder if this type of distance is really what she wants as her only two poor races came at 1 1/16 miles and at 1 1/8 miles, and came the only times she went around two turns. Monmouth Matchmaker (race 9) COMMENT: Stop me if you’ve heard this before – Chad Brown wins a graded stakes for turf distaffers. He didn’t just win, he ran 1-2-4, led by Nay Lady Nay. Coming off a better-than-looked eighth in the Grade 3 Mint Julep on May 30 at Churchill when beaten by just two lengths, her first start in seven months, this full sister to Group 2 winner Arizona bided her time early while saving ground, sitting well behind pacesetter Valedictorian who set a solid pace, moved closer by the far turn, advanced along the rail in to the lane, came through between stablemates Tapit Today to her inside and Beautiful Lover to her outside in midstretch, and staying on gamely for the score. Beautiful Lover, also from the Brown barn and dropping off a decent fourth in the Grade 1 Gamely on May 25 at Santa Anita, raced just outside of stablemate Nay Lady Nay from the start, remained alongside that gal to her outside on the turn, rallied with that gal to her inside, but couldn’t quite outfinish her. Feel Glorious, cutting back in distance after being a well-beaten third in the Grade 2 New York at 1 1/4 miles on June 27 at Belmont, sat well back from the start, remained well behind the eventual top-two finishers turning for home, swung out into the lane, didn’t appear to be going anywhere, but found her best stride in the final half-furlong, closing well for third outside the top two. Tapit Today, the third Brown entrant, showed speed to dog pacesetter Valedictorian from the start while clear of the others, continued to press outside that rival to the far turn, was alongside Valedictorian on the turn, got the better of her into the lane only to tire a bit in the final yards as her two stablemates went past, ending up fourth when Feel Glorious got past her in the final strides. Monmouth Monmouth Cup (race 10) COMMENT: Bodexpress, who has had his share of drama, scratched at the gate (bleeding from the nose, though it was found later to be the result of a scrape). His scratch likely changed the race shape, too, as he was part of the speed brigade. Global Campaign has shown freakish ability at times but at other times not so much. This wasn’t the freakish Global Campaign but a professional gritty version who gamed out the victory. With blinkers removed, he still showed speed from his rail draw. He ended up setting the pace but was able to set modest splits along the rail despite being pressured by Joevia, dispatched with Joevia into the lane, looked in deep trouble when Bal Harbour stormed up alongside to his outside into the lane, appeared in deep water as Bal Harbour edged past in midstretch, but battled back gamely along the rail to get the lead again and edge clear. Math Wizard, coming off a couple dull outings this year, looked back on track here as he bided his time early at the back of the field, started a wide run on the far turn, continued it into the lane, finishing well to get past Bal Harbour to his inside and close the gap on Global Campaign, though it was too late. Bal Harbour, making his first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct, stalked in third a few lanes off the rail, crept closer on the far turn while wide, came with a smart wide run into the lane, looked like the winner as he passed Global Campaign to his inside in midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his run in the final furlong, tiring to fourth. Maybe the layoff got to him in that ninth furlong. Monongahela stalked in fourth while saving ground, tried to get closer to the lead into the lane while staying on the fence, was unable to do so, but kept on to hold fourth, though he finished far behind the top trio. Monmouth United Nations (race 11) COMMENT: Aquaphobia had been knocking on the door going shorter, but here trainer Mike Maker moved the 7-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway to a new, longer game, and the move paid off. Last seen finishing a good fourth to the talented Factor This in the Grade 2 Wise Dan on June 20 at Churchill, Aquaphobia bided his time in third as Paret set a modest pace under some pressure from longshot O Dionysus, saved ground as he moved closer while inside, just behind Paret, came off the inside into the lane, charged up to Paret’s outside with Corelli further out to challenge for the lead, got the better of Paret late, and was edging away at the line. The move to this longer game appears to have given the veteran a new lease on life, not bad for a horse claimed for $62,500 in January. While the winner ran well, Zulu Alpha and United, the two best American turf stayers, aren’t likely quaking in their shoes over this. Paret, a 38-1 upset winner of the Tiller on June 4 at Belmont, his first start in eight months, showed that run no fluke as he ran well again here. He went right to the lead, set a modest pace while saving ground, taking some pressure from O Dionysus, dispatched with that foe turning for home while holding the fence throughout, kicked clear into the lane, stayed on gamely as Aquaphobia confronted him to his outside, couldn’t fend off the winner, but showed heart to be second. Corelli, seventh to Paret in the aforementioned Tiller, his first start in the United States, stalked just behind the eventual winner a few lanes off the rail, came with a wide run into the lane with Aquaphobia to his inside as the pair gamely went after Paret, couldn’t finish with the top two, but stayed on well to be a game third, well clear of the others. Arklow, doing something trainer Brad Cox rarely does, coming back quickly, in this case six days after running sixth in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on July 12 at Keeneland, was sent off the 6-5 favorite due to his back class. He sat well back, as is his norm, while saving ground, came off the inside going to the far turn, swung wider out into the lane, but could make only modest headway while never a threat to the top three. He ran decently, but this Grade 1 winner is likely better than these yet could only manage fourth. Could it be time and all those furlongs are catching up to him? Monmouth Haskell (race 12) COMMENT: Trainer Bob Baffert got his ninth Haskell win with Authentic but after the horse seemed to have the race in the bag he had to win a desperate photo. Coming off a second to the West’s top 3-year-old, Honor A. P., in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on June 6, the $350,000 son of Into Mischief utilized his speed as he went right to the lead, set modest splits under minimal pressure from Ny Traffic, seemed to race a bit green in spots (rider Mike Smith later said the horse ducked at shadows a few times), opened up into the lane as if it was a done deal, but then only just got to the line before a hard-trying Ny Traffic. His time was narrowly faster than what elder Global Campaign ran this distance an hour or so earlier (1:50.45/1:50.47). This is obviously a quality colt, but this isn’t the first effort that makes you wonder if he really wants the 10 furlongs of the Kentucky Derby. That still figures his next stop. Ny Traffic, a game second to the highly promising (but now hurt) Maxfield in the Grade 3 Matt Winn on May 23 at Churchill Downs, broke well, showed the speed to press Authentic to his outside from the start, remained in pace-pressing mode to the far turn, looked in trouble when Authentic kicked away from him into the lane, but kept to his task resolutely, rallying at Authentic to his outside only to fall a nose short. The way he finished hints the added ground in Louisville shouldn’t be a problem. Dr Post, second to Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Belmont on June 20, sat midpack a few lengths off the pace while saving ground, was urged to get going into the far turn, moved off the rail into the far turn, raced wide outside of Jesus’ Team on the far turn when coming under a ride, got pushed out a bit wider by that foe into the lane, got the better of Jesus’s Team, made some headway in the lane as he ran on for third, though he was never a danger to the top two. Off the Belmont Stakes and this, it may be he’s a cut or two below the top sophomores. The Kentucky Derby is still reportedly in his plans. Monmouth Molly Pitcher (race 14) COMMENT: Horologist was significantly hindered by traffic in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on Apri 18 at Oaklawn or she would have finished much closer than sixth. But instead of moving forward off that run she was pulled up after taking an awkward step in the Grade 2 Santa Maria on May 31 at Santa Anita. Concerns over her condition, however, should have been put to rest as she showed up here at a place she adores for new trainer Bill Mott, as she’s now 5 for 5 at Monmouth. She broke well from her extreme outside post, got position stalking as longshot Wrong Color set a modest early pace, started to advance on the far turn, moving up outside of Our Super Freak who had taken the lead, challenged that rival into the lane, got the better of her inside the furlong pole, and edged clear. This doesn’t mean she’s ready to take on the likes of Midnight Bisou, Monomoy Girl, or Dunbar Road, but it shows she can do damage in the right spots. Our Super Freak, making her first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Inside Information (a sprint) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream, dogged early pacesetter Wrong Color to her outside, took over from that tiring foe on the turn, was immediately confronted by Horologist to her outside, battled back gamely inside that foe before relenting in the final furlong, though she still finished far clear of the others. Royal Flag, a winner of three straight and favored as she was making her first stakes start for the ever-dangerous Chad Brown barn, stalked the pace while saving ground, made a threatening move turning for home, but was one-paced the rest of the way, ending up well behind the top two but far ahead of the rest. She ran well and can make noise in the right spots, but she’s obviously a ways below Brown’s top distaff router, Dunbar Road. She’s a Julie, well backed off a game win in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 13 at Belmont, sat midpack from the start from her rail slot, saved ground throughout, but never mustered a run. She’s become something of an in-and-outer. July 19 Saratoga Lake Placid (race 9) COMMENT: Speaktomeofsummer flattened out when fourth in the Grade 3 Wonder Again here June 20, but she was chasing a classy winner who had things her own way up front and also was making her first start in more than seven months. With that under her belt and no one like Sweet Melania to deal with here, she bounced back for the very hot Christophe Clement barn. From her rail slot she was away a bit slowly, had to check when Stunning Sky came over in front of her into the first turn, got back into stride settling toward the back while saving ground, remained there down the backstretch, started to advance to be just behind the leaders turning for home, came off the rail some into the stretch, doggedly went after leader Stunning Sky, engaged that foe to her outside, and gamely prevailed. The Saratoga Oaks here Aug. 16 could be next, though that race is coming up extremely tough (Sharing, Alms, Harvey’s Lil Goil, Crystal Cliffs, etc.). Stunning Sky, a bit troubled when sixth in the Grade 3 Regret on June 27 at Churchill, broke well, moved toward the inside going to the first run, established a nice position stalking, moved up to challenge pacesetter Blame Debbie turning for home, got by that tiring foe, but couldn’t fend off the winner to her outside. The Saratoga Oaks figures on her radar as well. Queens Embrace sat well back from the start while saving ground, remained well back to the far turn, swung out into the lane and finished well, though she wasn’t really a danger to the top two. Cat’s Pajamas, the 2-1 favorite as she was stepping up into stakes ranks off two straight wins in her first two turf attempts, stalked toward the outside from her far outside post, remained there to the top of the lane, moved out wider as if poised to make a run, but was one-paced to the line and unable to threaten.