Racing Roundtable: Forte, Elite Power underscore champion status

James Scully and Kellie Reilly weigh in on Forte's victory in the Jim Dandy (G2), developments in the sprint division with the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) and Bing Crosby (G1), and more in this edition of the Racing Roundtable.

What does Forte's Jim Dandy win portend for the Travers?

James Scully: An exciting showdown with Mage is on tap. Seldom flashy, Forte excels at gutting out narrow wins, and he had to survive an inquiry after prevailing by a nose in the Jim Dandy. That sets the stage for another match-up with Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage, who Forte re-rallied to defeat in the Florida Derby (G1).

Mage has improved significantly since their previous meeting, and the late runner received an ideal prep when finishing second in the recent Haskell (G1). The Travers will feature additional depth, including Arcangelo, who snapped Forte’s five-race win streak in the Belmont (G1), but Forte and Mage will be the top draws, both leading candidates for three-year-old male divisional honors. It promises to be quite the battle on Aug. 26.

Kellie Reilly: Sharper with the addition of blinkers, Forte answered a key tactical concern ahead of the Travers, and reiterated that he’s a threat to reign as divisional champion once again. That said, he’ll meet stronger challengers in the Travers, and we would have learned more if the Jim Dandy hadn’t been a tactical race, in a small field, in the slop.

The set-up wasn’t conducive to a few others, including Angel of Empire, who lay much closer to stalk pacesetting stablemate Saudi Crown. And Angel of Empire was bothered by Forte’s maneuver to shove him out of the way at the top of the lane, under an aggressive Irad Ortiz Jr. Forte was full of run, and the best horse on the day, but arguably fortunate not to be disqualified for clearly buffeting Angel of Empire. On the other hand, Forte had to regain his momentum after the barging match too. He would have probably been more decisive with a cleaner trip, instead of just barely nipping Saudi Crown, who had everything his own way. The inexperienced Saudi Crown has now run back-to-back gutsy races, having just been outdueled in the Dwyer (G3) as well, and his day will come.

Thoughts on the sprint division after the Vanderbilt and Bing Crosby?

JS: After a career-best performance in February’s Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G1) overseas, Elite Power lacked the same luster winning the True North (G2) at Belmont June 10. The sprint champion alleviated any concerns with a top-class victory in the Vanderbilt, overhauling Gunite in the final strides by a neck. The runner-up ran a huge race, and the top two finishers rank as the leading Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) contenders on the East Coast.

California-bred stakes star The Chosen Vron returned to open competition with a gutsy head decision in the Bing Crosby, stretching his win streak to eight. Saturday’s win came at six furlongs, and The Chosen Vron handles any distance up to a mile, recording three of the last eight wins at six furlongs. Runner-up Anarchist, who made his first start against winners earlier this year, remains a promising prospect in the sprint ranks for Doug O’Neill. And Dr Schivel, who missed by a neck in third and finishing a nose second in the 2021 Sprint at Del Mar, rebounded from an unplaced effort in the Met Mile (G1), and the five-year-old remains a top Sprint contender out west.

KR: Both the Vanderbilt and the Bing Crosby underscored Elite Power’s status as the top sprinter. Given how the Vanderbilt unfolded, Elite Power really shouldn’t have been able to catch Gunite. That admirably tough battler burst clear in the Saratoga slop, but Elite Power delivered a 110 Brisnet Late Pace rating to head him on the line. Later in the Bing Crosby, Elite Power received a form boost. Anarchist, a hard-trying but well-beaten second to Elite Power in the True North (G2), just missed by a head to Cal-bred win machine The Chosen Vron in a messy race at Del Mar. The Chosen Vron and Elite Power both extended their respective winning streaks to eight, although The Chosen Vron gained most of his in state-restricted company. If there’s one possible nitpicking about Elite Power’s chances to repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), it’s that six furlongs is his bare minimum trip, and he’ll have no margin for error closing from off the pace at Santa Anita.  

What else caught your eye over the weekend?

JS: A week after Valentine Candy captured an intriguing maiden special weight at Saratoga, Justify was represented by a promising two-year-old colt at Del Mar, Heartland, who left himself plenty to do after a bad start and flew home through the stretch to win his career debut at 5 1/2 furlongs. The Bob Baffert-trained chestnut colt registered a 93 Brisnet Speed rating for the two-length decision.

At Saratoga, Seize the Grey caught the eye leading all the way on a sloppy track Saturday, facing a serious bid from 2-1 favorite Lambo entering the far turn before engaged by 5-2 second choice Dornoch, a half-brother to Mage, in upper stretch. Seize the Grey, an athletic gray son of Arrogate making his second career outing for D. Wayne Lukas, turned back both challenges like a seasoned pro, offering more in the final sixteenth to win going away by about two lengths. The up-and-coming colt earned an 89 Speed rating.

KR: A few possible Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) contenders competed in a fantastic renewal of the “Win and You’re In” King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Ascot, where Hukum bested Westover in an instant classic. The drying-out ground wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and conditions played into the hands of the two strongest stayers. Hukum has a right to be labeled comeback player of the year, recovering from an injury that cut him down when he was getting seriously good last season, and he’s amazingly returned in his prime. The six-year-old’s mature power helped him in his duel with the four-year-old Westover, who is still developing despite being a high-class operator already.

If Hukum is unlikely to take up his free spot in the Breeders’ Cup at a firm Santa Anita, Westover could turn up for a Juddmonte operation that’s historically committed to the championships. Those beaten further in the King George, by likely exaggerated margins on the day, would have claims to fare better in the Breeders’ Cup. Third-placer King of Steel has huge upside as a three-year-old, and the older brigade of Luxembourg, Pyledriver, and Emily Upjohn are better than they showed at Ascot. So is the disappointing favorite Auguste Rodin, who folded early, and now finds himself at a crossroads.

Finally, I have to mention the mixed fortunes for Godolphin on Sunday. Reigning Turf winner Rebel’s Romance was moving exceptionally well amid the Bowling Green (G2) field when he clipped heels and lost Richard Mullen, who remains hospitalized. Rebel’s Romance escaped unscathed, and hopefully we’ll see him back in the Aug. 26 Sword Dancer (G1). Earlier Sunday in Germany, his Charlie Appleby stablemate Nations Pride had a much happier time wiring the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (aka Bayerisches Zuchtrennen) (G1) at Munich. A global campaign is on tap for the Teofilo colt, whose November target is the $1 million Bahrain International Trophy (G2) at his optimal trip of about 1 1/4 miles.

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