Window Shopping’s best is yet to come

There’s plenty to say about the three races under discussion this week. I’m going to get right to saying it.

Summertime Oaks

There are only seven entered, but the race is much more interesting than I anticipated – and playable too, if like me you want to beat The Alys Look.

This filly looked modest her first three races, looked good beating Chop Chop in the Silverbulletday, then modest again when it became apparent Chop Chop wasn’t turning out to be much in 2023. The Alys Look regressed in the Fair Grounds Oaks, but looked good once again finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks. The Kentucky Oaks also adds luster to her second-place finish in the Untapable Stakes since the filly who beat her, Pretty Mischievous, was much the best in the Oaks.

All that came for multiple Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox. Now, oddly, Cox is out and the young trainer Chris Davis is in. New barn, odd placement shipping to California soon after the Oaks, and negative vibes around the filly who should be favored.

And Tell Me Nolies is what she is, as is Doinitthehardway, who ought to be part of a robust pace. Ancient Peace and Anywho, even Lily Poo, hold at least some appeal, but I’m very partial to Window Shopping.

Window Shopping scored the kind of maiden win about which you’re supposed to be skeptical: big margin and a moderate speed figure in an off-turf race. But I liked the way the filly looked making just her second start, first on dirt. Trainer Richard Mandella must have liked it, too, because he put Window Shopping into the Santa Anita Oaks.

Window Shopping, going confidently along the rail, as she’d done in her maiden win, made a smooth, effective middle move and appeared to be cruising into real contention when the horse in front of her stopped and Window Shopping had to be violently checked. That she gathered herself and managed third was impressive.

Mandella was patient picking another spot while keeping Window Shopping on a strong, regular work pattern that included a company drill with standout 3-year-old Geaux Rocket Ride. The colt got away from her at the end of that work, but she mainly held her own and has come back with more solid breezes, including the three furlongs last weekend that showed her sharpening up. Window Shopping? Nope – I’m buying.

Pennine Ridge

Chad Brown runs three horses here but none figure to be among the top two choices with Silver Knott, second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and the talented Far Bridge taking action.

Silver Knott can be excused his last-start Guineas flop owing to very testing course conditions. Far Bridge ran a winning race losing the American Turf on Derby Day.

But I’ll try one of Brown’s trio, Belouni, who will not at all mind if forecast rain comes and softens the Belmont grass. I’m drawing a line through the French import’s American debut at Gulfstream. His Woodhaven over this course was very good. Badly blocked off the far turn and for most of the homestretch while full of run, Belouni got through and proved much the best. He could have been closer in that race and will be closer Saturday going a longer trip in a paceless contest.

The Brown-trained Kalik will lead, and I don’t rule out a wire-to-wire win from him, either. My guess is Belouni will be ridden closest to the pacesetter, outkicks Kalik, and then holds clear the two favorites at a very square price.

Jersey Derby

Talk of the Nation likely will be oddson under Paco Lopez and deservedly so. He’s clearly superior, so far, to everyone in this field. However, an inside draw with ample pace to the outside is going to lead to a tougher trip than Talk of the Nation had in his two sharp victories this year, and I think Activist Investing could prove a worthy foe.

Activist Investing got wiped out going into the first turn of his career debut. Second time out, he ran through the homestretch weaving like a drunken sailor. Blinkers went on third time out, and Activist Investing focused, finished, and looked good. Put away for the winter, he’s been on a steady work pattern and just might turn out to be a decent 3-year-old.