Trip Notes for Dec. 14-15, 2019: Sugar Swirl, Rampart, and more

Dec. 14

Gulfstream

Sugar Swirl (race 6)

COMMENT: Lady’s Island came here on a tear, having won seven of her previous eight, though this was her first time venturing into graded stakes waters. It didn’t bother her in the least as the 5-year-old daughter of Greatness continued her winning ways. While there appeared to be quite a bit of speed signed up here, she proved the speed of the speed as she shot out to a clear early lead, set a brisk early pace, soon expanded her margin going to the far turn and basically just led her rivals on a merry chase as she never had a nervous moment in the lane. Pretty darn nice for a gal they claimed for just $16,000 in June 2018. Meadow Dance, second to Grade 1 winner Mia Mischief in a stakes at Churchill last time out on Nov. 1 after winning three straight off a long layoff, was midpack early, made a wide early move to try and keep the eventual winner within reach going to the far turn, remained wide as she chased the winner and kept to her task well, though she was never really a threat to Lady’s Island. Pretty Greeley lagged well back from the start, improved her position while wide on the far turn and continued on decently in the lane to get third, though she was never a factor. A Bit of Both, the 9-5 favorite after winning seven of her first nine including a stakes at Ocala last time out on Nov. 26, chased from the start, tried to make a run on the turn and into the lane but flattened out while unable to threaten. Stormy Embrace, a sharp second in this last year and a Grade 2 winner here in June, was slow into stride to be well back early between horses and never mustered a run. This was her third straight not-so-hot outing making you wonder if time is catching up to her.

Gulfstream

Rampart (race 8)

COMMENT: Pink Sands found Grade 3 foes too much to handle at Saratoga and Churchill this summer but perked up some to be third in a stakes at Aqueduct last time out Nov. 9. The $625,000 daughter of Tapit continued her forward move here, notching her first graded stakes win. She did it the hard way, too, as she bumped hard with Molto Bella to her outside at the start to end up last while 9-5 favorite Cookie Dough set a solid pace under pressure from Baccarat Fashion, remained well back while quite wide, started a smart wide run on the far turn and carried it through the stretch while out toward the middle of the track to pass all her rivals, reeling in then-leader Cookie Dough late for the win. Trainer Shug McGaughey said the Grade 2 Inside Information here on Jan. 25 could be next, though that would require cutting back to seven furlongs. Cookie Dough, favored as she was multiple Grade 2-placed in the spring and came into this off a freshening and some super works, went right to the lead, took pressure from Baccarat Fashion while setting a solid pace, dispatched with that foe turning for home, opened up a clear lead into the lane as if going on to victory only to tire some and have Pink Sands surge past late to her outside. Cairenn sat well back from the start, ahead of only the eventual winner, started a smart wide run on the far turn and into the lane, was still just ahead of the eventual winner at the eighth pole but couldn’t finish with that foe and couldn’t quite catch Cookie Dough for the place. Baccarat Fashion, well backed as she stepped up after a monster optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park West on Oct. 24, bumped with Cairenn at the break, recovered well to chase the pacesetting favorite, tried to make a run at that rival on the turn but was unable to get on terms and tired a bit in the lane. Molto Bella, the second choice off a smart optional claiming win at Churchill on Nov. 17, broke inward to bump had with Pink Sands, was midpack early but lost position going to the far turn and never mustered a run.

Gulfstream

Fort Lauderdale (race 9)

COMMENT: Imagine that, it’s a graded stakes on turf and Chad Brown ends up posing for pictures. This time the victor was Instilled Regard, the $1,050,000 son of Arch who ran fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2018 and had shown turf talent even if he came into this winless in three starts on grass. He stalked the early pace set by Cross Border under pressure from Marzo, remained there to the far turn, moved closer between rivals into the lane and finished well toward the inside to get to the line before a trio of challengers who were to his outside. The Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf here on Jan. 25 is a possibility, particularly with so many of the big turfers either retired (Bricks and Mortar) or who haven’t worked recently so likely aren’t pointing for it (Without Parole, Lucullan, Analyze It, Raging Bull, etc.), though you’d still expect with that kind of money being offered there will be big challengers, maybe from Europe. Admission Office, a good rallying third in the Grade 3 River City at Churchill on Nov. 16, lacked speed, as usual, to be last early, remained at the back of the pack to the top of the lane, shifted widest of all into the lane, finished strongly but couldn’t quite get to the winner. Channel Cat, the favorite off a respectable seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 (beaten by just 2 1/2 lengths), lagged back, bided his time there, came out for room in the lane, finished gamely between horses but just wasn’t quite good enough. Admission Office and Channel Cat could eye the Pegasus as well. Flavius, the other Brown runner, sat back just ahead of Channel Cat, came with a strong challenge into the lane to reach contention, put his head in front by the eighth pole but couldn’t sustain his run between horses. Cross Border, a winner of four of his last five in New York, the lone loss coming when a good fifth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont on Oct. 5, went right to the lead, was able to dictate tempo setting a slow pace under some pressure from Marzo, was challenged by that rival on the far turn, remained in the thick of it to midstretch but tired late.

Gulfstream

Harlan’s Holiday (race 10)

COMMENT: War Story was probably in too deep when sixth in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 17 but got some class relief at Parx on Oct. 5 when a good second after being dropped into a Grade 3. Freshened since, the veteran 7-year-old did even better here to get the win. The son of Northern Afleet was away slowly, seemed to content to remain toward the back, started to advance on the far turn between horses, continued his progress into the lane, surged to the lead in the final furlong and drew off. This could mean a shot at the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup here on Jan. 25 is possible, though obviously the water will be deeper there with the likes of Omaha Beach eyeing that event (though such top-class runners as Maximum Security and Tax might instead await the Saudi Cup after the announced purse reduction of the Pegasus, while McKinzie, Code of Honor, Tacitus, Midnight Bisou, Mucho Gusto, Performer, Higher Power, Country House, Game Winner, War of Will and some others don’t appear to be pointing for the Pegasus). Phat Man, stepping up after a couple months off and last seen chasing Spun to Run at Parx (that guy came back to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and run second in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile), sat back just behind the eventual winner, came with a smart wide run to the top of the lane to loom a big threat but couldn’t finish with the winner. Bodexpress, favored off two big wins including a track record-setting performance at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 20, was fractious in the gate, kicking open the gate, having to be backed out and reloaded. Once in and settled he went right to the lead, took early pressure from Prince Lucky to his inside, was soon a clear leader as that rival took a bad step and was pulled up, held the lead through modest splits as Red Crescent came forward to press the issue, was pressed harder by that rival into the lane while moving to the fence, continued on gamely but was no match for the top two finishers as they blew past to his outside. Prince Lucky, the second choice after a second in the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont on Sept. 21 and fourth in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler there on Oct. 26, showed speed form his rail slot to press the pace inside Bodexpress but went wrong entering the backstretch, was pulled up and vanned off (fractured sesamoid right fore).