Trip Notes for December 12, 2020: Fort Lauderdale and more

Dec. 12

Gulfstream
Rampart (race 4)

COMMENT: Main track listed as ‘fast’ despite overnight rains. Letruska appeared to have a class and speed advantage and it showed as the daughter of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver led her rivals on a merry chase. Freshened since blasting out to a big early lead in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont on Oct. 4 before tiring to fourth, she broke sharply as the 3-2 favorite racing without blinkers for the first time, went right out to a clear lead while moving to the rail, took some pressure as Bajan Lady came off the inside to position herself on Letruska’s right hip down the backstretch, continued to lead through solid splits, started to edge away on the far turn and extended her lead into the stretch and through the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Dream Marie, coming off a romping optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 27, broke decently from the far outside, stalked the pace just behind and outside Bajan Lady, crept closer while wide on the far turn and continued on well in the lane, though she was no danger to the winner. Bajan Lady, coming off two romping wins over optional claimers at this trip at Gulfstream Park West, broke inward, ended up behind Letruska early while on the inside, came off the rail, moved up to Letruska’s right hip to apply pressure, continued to press Letruska to the far turn, couldn’t keep up thereafter but plugged along to hold third. Sally’s Curlin, dropping off a seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, was devoid of speed as usual, sitting last well behind the field, remained there to the far turn, swung wide turning for home, made some headway but was never really a factor having left herself with far too much to do.

Gulfstream
Sugar Swirl (race 6)

COMMENT: Main track listed as ‘fast’ despite overnight rains. Lady’s Island, the defending champ, appeared to have her work cut out for her as there were two other sizzlers in here (Golden Ami, Cinnabunny). But Lady’s Island’s speed again proved lethal, though she got some help when Cinnabunny, the favorite, blew the start and Golden Ami couldn’t keep up early, and then she had to survive an inquiry and claim of foul. Lady’s Island, freshened since dueling and fading to sixth in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland on Oct. 3, broke sharp as usual, shot right out to a clear lead, moved to the rail holding a clear lead through fast splits, opened up into the lane as if going on to an easy win, got weary in the final furlong, drifted out in the final half-furlong (the subject of the inquiry as it tightened things up on Cinnabunny and Sound Machine) despite a strong right-hand whip and just got to the line before three hard-charging rivals. Bronx Beauty, shortened up to her preferred trip after fading to fourth in a 7-furlong stakes at Belmont on Nov. 1, bided her time early a few lengths off the pace while racing wide and in the clear, started to advance on the far turn while remaining wide, pitched wider still into the lane to be widest of the first four and finished strongly to just miss. She wasn’t affected at all by the winner’s drifting out late. Cinnabunny, sent off as the heavy favorite with the move to the riding-high barn of Brad Cox after two romping wins at Parx Racing, got away slowly to be last early after showing big speed in all her other starts, was last going down the backstretch, started to advance into the far turn, ducked to the rail into the lane, made steady headway, continued to close well in Lady Island’s wake, came off the rail, continued to surge between horses, steadied when Lady’s Island came out some to her left, bumped with Sound Machine to her right and just missed. Considering the bad start and late trouble this was a super first effort for this barn. Sound Machine, second in a stakes at Gulfstream Park West on Nov. 14, sat a few lengths off the lead, was still there turning for home, closed well just inside of Bronx Beauty, advanced well between horses but got bumped by Cinnabunny to her left and had to steady. Golden Ami, stepping up off two romping wins to start her career and had yet to be headed by a rival, broke well but couldn’t match strides early with Lady’s Island to her inside, chased that foe to the far turn, then weakened from those efforts.

Gulfstream
Harlan’s Holiday (race 9)

COMMENT: Main track listed as ‘fast’ despite overnight rains. Tax, freshened since tiring to fifth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on May 2, had been working splendidly for his return for trainer Danny Gargan, who has amazing numbers off a long layoff like this. Tax ran to those works, easily winning and punching his ticket for a shot at the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup here Jan. 23. From his rail slot he broke smartly, went right to the lead, set a solid pace, taking some pressure from Royal Urn who was on his right hip and Tatweej who pressed while wider out, maintained a slight advantage to the far turn, quickly opened turning for home and blew the race open into the lane as he moved out to a big lead and won geared down. Good as he looked, the Pegasus will be much tougher with defending champ Mucho Gusto and Grade 1 winners Code of Honor, Tiz the Law and Knicks Go also eyeing that race. Eye of the Jedi, winner of two straight here in the spring/summer including a stakes and making his first start since then (five months) lagged back from the start, remained there to the far turn while saving ground, advanced along the rail on the far turn, came off the rail some turning for home, advanced between horses into the lane, moved to the rail in the stretch and finished well for second, though he was never a danger to the winner. Phat Man, who had posted his three best Beyers on this track last fall/winter including running second in this race, sat fourth a few lengths off the pace, bided his time there, crept closer while wide into the far turn, made a mild move but couldn’t sustain it enough to threaten the winner and then lost second to ‘Jedi, who rallied past to his inside. Math Wizard, freshened since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Sept. 5, was devoid of speed, as usual, sitting last from the start, remained at the back of the pack heading to the far turn, started a run while wide on the turn, continued to advance into the lane but flattened out some once straightened away. Tatweej, stepping up in class after three romping wins over lesser, broke well from his outside post, sat third stalking the pace of Tax while just outside of Royal Urn, was urged to get closer on the turn, made some headway but came up empty thereafter.

Gulfstream
Fort Lauderdale (race 10)

COMMENT: Turf course listed as ‘good’ despite overnight rains. Largent had done nothing wrong in his first eight starts, finishing in the exacta each time, topped off by stakes wins on Colonial turf on July 29 and on Laurel turf last time out on Oct. 9. The $460,000 son of top sire Into Mischief took a big step up in class here but proved up to the challenge, notching his first graded stakes win, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a fourth win on the day and maybe punching his ticket to the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf here Jan. 23. He bided his time early as Halladay set a strong early pace under pressure from 2-1 favorite Factor This, remained there while saving ground, advanced while inside to the far turn, came out into the lane, surged into contention to grab the lead by midstretch and draw clear. The Pegasus World Cup Turf seems a logical next spot, though surely the water will be deeper there. Doswell, another longshot, sat midpack from the start while saving ground, continued there sitting a few lengths off the strong pace, had to steady when in traffic turning for home, got going again into the lane while still inside, finished well but couldn’t finish with the winner. Off this he wouldn’t seem out of place in the Pegasus World Cup Turf as well. Breaking the Rules, who pressed the pace before fading to fourth in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker at Aqueduct on Oct. 18, showed more patience here as he sat back racing with the eventual winner, came with a smart wire run to advance into the far turn, continued to make progress while wide into the lane, loomed a big threat once straightened away, proved no match for the winner but kept on well, losing second by only a nose. Halladay, dropping after setting the pace before fading to sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 7 and winner of all three prior starts on this course, shot out of the gate from his far outside draw, proved quickest as he cleared over in front of the field getting to the rail, was strong while on the fence and taking some pressure from Factor This, held the lead to the far turn, battled back when confronted into the lane before giving way. Factor This, the 2-1 favorite after finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, broke sharply from his tough outside post, was outrun to the lead by Halladay but was still able to get over to the inside, allowed Halladay to clear him, came off the fence to move up outside Halladay to press that rival, pushed Halladay through strong splits while on that rival’s right hip, was still there turning for home but gave way once headed by others. Both Halladay and Factor This likely don’t want farther than this at this level. Delaware, a sharp rallying third in a mile stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 14 and racing without blinkers, stalked the pace just a couple lanes off the rail, was still there to the far turn but then backed out of it on the turn and gave way.