Off the Charts Trip Notes (June 5, 2012) spotlights horses throughout the country who encountered some type of significant or meaningful trouble in their most recent start or just gave an extremely impressive performance. Please note that horses spotlighted in Off the Charts Trip Notes are never an automatic bet back, but rather runners to give a serious look at given the trips and the trouble spotted by our expert handicappers at AGameofSkill.com. Horses below listed in track name order.
At Arlington Park
Only Exception (Race 8, May 30 at Arlington, 5F, turf). Favorite in field of 9. Hard to believe jockey James Graham and his filly did not completely fall on the Arlington lawn after a horribly bad start. The filly went to her knees and it appeared that her nose actually touched the turf. She was immediately 8 lengths behind the first flight before she could take a step. Graham did a very good job not to rush his mount and quickly took her to the outside. She traveled 5 wide or more throughout the entire turn while Graham refrained from asking her for run. Once totally out of harm’s way, in the middle of the course she began to rally and did a very good job for a respectable third.
At Monmouth Park
Preach Easy (race 4, May 28 at Monmouth Park, 5 1/2 furlongs turf). This daughter of Corinthian was making her turf debut, sprinting for trainer Ramon Preciado and I expected a big effort from this three year old filly. She did not disappoint, rallying from well back under jockey Joe Bravo to narrowly miss at the wire. Unfortunately, she was stopped abruptly at the top of the stretch, which was actually hard to see because of how the horses were positioned on the screen. That critical loss of momentum in this short race clearly cost her the race. She can run on any surface but look for her in a turf sprint claimer.
At Presque Isle
Home Field (Race 7, June 2 at Presque Isle, 1mile 70 yards). Favorite in field of 8. Forced to stay on rail with no place to run and was being restrained on the far turn. Made move at top of stretch, was going out then moved in, then moved back out and was squeezed during rally at the leader. Fought gamely in tight quarters but lost ground due to trouble and finished a good third. One to watch back for sure!
At Woodbine
Kiss In The Forest (Race 6, June 3 at Woodbine, 6 1/2F, turf). Longest choice on the board in field of 6. Filly was ready to run in first race after layoff. She stayed along the rail with no incidents until top of the stretch. When asked for run she moved well but went out then back inside, then back out and back in. With a 1/16th of a mile to run, she was behind a wall of 3 horses and could only be an observer at that point. She appeared to be an off the pace winner, at big odds mind you, with a clean trip.
Forest Gamble (Race 7, June 3 at Woodbine, 6 furlongs, maiden special weights). In the very next race after Kiss In the Forest’s troubled trip, this first time starter crushed a field of maiden special weights runners. It was so impressive that she gets on this horses to watch list despite any trouble. It is not easy to win first time out, and Forest Gamble looks like she has a bright future for trainer Josie Carroll.
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