Trip Notes for April 29-30: Miami Mile, San Francisco Mile, and more

April 29

Gulfstream
Miami Mile (race 5)

COMMENT: Three horses were scratched, including expected favorite All Included, leaving a field of four. War Correspondent, the 3-5 favorite, took advantage. War Correspondent, freshened since finishing fourth (moved up to third via a disqualification), just a neck behind All Included in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Feb. 1, broke well to stalk early pacesetter Applicator through modest splits. He crept closer to that foe going to the far turn, moved up to challenge him into the lane, got the better of him by midstretch, and edged away late. This was his first win in over two years. Applicator bounced right out to a clear lead, continued to travel well as the eventual winner closed in, battled back when hooked, couldn’t quite stay with that foe but kept on to hold second. Lubash, a stablemate of the winner, was racing for the first time since finishing second before being awarded the win via disqualification in the Grade 3 Tropical Park Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 26. He was last early, came out into the lane to make his run, closed willingly, and just failed to catch the runner-up. The 10-year-old apparently still has gas in the tank.

Golden Gate
San Francisco Mile (race 7)

COMMENT: Last year Alert Bay ran second in an allowance race here and then won this race. This year he won his allowance prep April 2, his first start in eight months, and looked good as ever defending his title. The 6-year-old son of City Zip, winning for the 14th time, broke sharply as the 3-5 favorite to dog pacesetter Many Roses, bided his time on that foe’s hip to the far turn, moved closer into the lane, was then asked to for run, took command, and drew clear. G. G. Ryder, fifth to Alert Bay in this race last year and third to him April 2 main, was just behind the winner to the top of the lane, loomed a threat coming into the stretch, and just got up for second. Many Roses, who dueled for the lead band ran fifth in that April 2 allowance race, set a solid pace under some pressure from Alert Bay, battled back when initially confronted by the winner, couldn’t keep pace with that foe, and lost second in the final strides while finishing far clear of the rest.

Santa Anita
Thunder Road (race 7)

COMMENT: Farhaan, an 8-year-old, came west this year and ran second in his first start here March 9. With most of the top West Coast turf milers taking a pass on this, save for Bolo, Farhaan moved forward and posted the 8-1 upset. He was a bit slow into stride as Sawyer’s Hill set a strong pace under pressure from Bolo. Farhaan steadily advanced, came wide into the lane, and powered home to surge past the leaders and win going away. This could set him up for a shot at the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here June 3. Perfectly Majestic stalked while saving ground, came with a smart run into the lane, got the better of Bolo but then was unable to finish with the winner. Bolo, coming back quickly after a ninth in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland April 14, dogged early pacesetter Sawyer’s Hill, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t sustain his bid, finishing a tame third. He seems best with time between starts. Sawyer’s Hill, the second choice coming off a win here March 30, battled back when challenged by Bolo into the lane but then gave way once headed.

April 30

Santa Anita
Santa Barbara (race 6)

COMMENT: Evo Campo won the 1 1/2-mile Possibly Perfect here 10 months ago before a nine-month layoff due to foot issues. She came back to be fifth in the Grade 2 Santa Ana here March 12 but the slight drop and added ground played ideally for her here as she proved an easy winner. She sat third early as Responsibleforlove ran off to a big early lead while setting a modest pace, was soon second but still well behind the pacemaker, crept closer as the field reached the far turn, had no trouble going past Responsibleforlove, and drew clear. She’s won at a mile as well so she’s got some versatility, though this longer game may be more to her liking. She may well target defense of her Possibly Perfect title here June 4, though this year it’s been shortened to 1 1/4 miles. Responsibleforlove popped right out to the lead while moving to the rail, extended her margin to as big as eight lengths going down the backstretch, tried to battle back when Evo Campo confronted her, and held second. Estrechada was last turning for home and finished well, though she was never a threat to the winner. Place des Vosges, favored after two straight impressive optional-claiming wins here this meet, was last early, moved up to fourth by the far turn, but was unable to sustain her run. The class hike may have been a tad beyond her, at least at this stage of the game. Laseen, at 5-1, unseated rider Mike Smith at the starting gate, ran off, and was scratched.