Off the Charts Trip Notes – May 2, 2013

Off the Charts Trip Notes (May 2, 2013) 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.

Churchill
DISTORTED LEGACY (Race 1 @CD, April 27, 2013, One Mile, Optional $80,000 3X) Hard to image having trouble with only 4 runners but it happened and at the worst time for this old mare. Racing last far behind the embattled leaders and several lengths behind the odds on favorite that raced third, DISTORTED LEGACY rallied impressively and got the jump on the big favorite as both were inhaling the leaders at the top of the stretch. With room to pass the favorite just outside the top pair, rider Brian Hernandez made a terrible decision and ducked to the rail to try and slip through. It was a bad decision since whatever opening that was there closed quickly and Hernandez lost all winning momentum and had to steady his horse, surrendering the race in the process. After DISTORTED LEGACY got going again she had no trouble in securing the place position.

REWARDBYBLITZING (race 6 @CD, April 27, 2013, 6 furlongs, $5,000 Claiming) The filly is blessed with early speed and lost all hope at the break when she broke in air, was bumped on one side and then darted to the outside of the track and far behind the field. She is in good form and should be considered at this level if she makes back to the races soon.

SANTO DIVINO (Race 8 @CD, April 27, 2013, 1 1/16 miles turf, MSW) The young colt’s nose touched the Louisville lawn with the horrible start and was quickly left behind. Rider Corey Lanerie did a great job gathering his mount and moving forward along the hedge. The best race of his career was on the lead, which was obviously denied to him in this race. The colt ran a decent race, made up to fifth and was in the mix until the 1/16 pole. But the start was too much to overcome.

Pimlico
MY LIL VIRGINIA (Race 7 @PIM, April 26, 2013, 5 furlongs, turf, $25,000 Claiming 2L) Sent off at more than 35-1 in a field of 10, this filly was probably the best of the bunch in Baltimore in this race. She did break inwardly and was temporarily tied up with foes at the start. She moved up quickly and then hesitated briefly with about a half mile to go. Under a tight hold throughout the turn, MY LIL VIRGINIA was looking for a place to go for the great majority of the stretch. She tried to move in and out and was steadied at the 1/16 pole. She finally had room late and burst through to gain show only a length from the winner.

Lone Star
WIMBLEDON STAR (Race 1 @LS, April 26, 2013, 5 furlongs, $10,000 Claiming) A mare taking on older males, she was fractious at the gate, stumbled start, several wide down the backstretch and in the turn. She ran well after the poor start to get third; beaten by about 3 lengths. WIMBLEDON STAR is much better than she showed on this day.

COMMENCING (Race 8 @LS, April 27, 2013, One Mile, Allowance 2L) forced to go wide in first turn then went to the rail once traveling down the backstretch. Began a move in the far turn but had to wait while attempting to go between rivals. Came out of the turn a few wide and then swung out for a free run. It was a near impossible situation for this confirmed sustained pace runner. The pave was horribly slow and the leader could have crawled to the wire. COMMENCING gave a good effort after being compromised in more ways than one. Appears to be a perfect candidate for blinkers.

At Holly wood Park
WARREN’S VENEDA (Race 10 @HOL, 6 ½ furlongs, Maiden Stakes) Off a bit slow, this filly progressed down the backstretch to be among the leaders entering the turn where she was checked the first of several times. The second check forced her to drop from second back to sixth and the last time was near the top of the stretch where she came close to a halt. When the opportunity finally arose, WARREN’S VENEDA exhibited a tremendous burst of speed along the rail and passed the leader with ease about a hundred yards from the wire and proved her superiority. A clean trip for this filly could have resulted in a double digit win.

AT BELMONT PARK
JADE RUN (Race 3 @BEL, April 27, 2013, One Mile, MS W State Bred) This gelding was a bit crowded at the start and was then taken back to last, was wide into the turn and then about 6 wide when he began to rally. He managed to get to the middle of the pack without hardly being noticed and then at the 1/16th pole closed with a flurry to get second, not far from the winner. He did this when the track was not favorable to wide runners and deep closers.

AT WOODBINE

NORTHERN PASSION (Race 8 @WO, April 28, 2013, 6 furlongs, Grade III) The filly stumbled right out of the gate and was left several lengths behind. She caught the back of the field just before the turn and was forced to hesitate along the rail, then checked slightly moments later while in the turn. She finished with a very good rally to gain the show position. Much better than final placing indicates.

AT TAMPA BAY DOWNS

QUINICHETTE (race 8 @TAM, April 24, 1 mile turf, cl25-3L). The heavy favorite in this field of turf runners suffered a brutal trip en route to a sneaky great third place finish. She was full of run turning for home when the jockey ran her up on heels along the inside. Steadied her hard at the 1/8th pole, losing all chance. She then altered course to the three path and finished well to gain third behind two horses that had clean trips. Not one of Ryan Curatolo’s best mounts as a rider.