Trip Notes for December 13: Sugar Swirl, Starlet

Saturday, December 13

Gulfstream Park - Sugar Swirl (race 3)

COMMENT: Merry Meadow, a Grade 3 winner, is on her game. She was a smart winner of the Sky Beauty at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 1, worked well since, and put up another fine performance here. She bided her time early not too far behind pacesetter R Free Roll, who was pressured by Wildcat Lily, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a nice run into the lane to grab the lead late and pulled clear. Wildcat Lily dogged 4-5 favorite R Free Roll from the start, got the better of that foe by midstretch, but had no answer for the winner and just managed to hold second despite her rider losing his whip. Ol Donyo sat back and didn’t seem to be going anywhere, but came with a smart late surge to nearly get second. R Free Roll bounced right out to the lead, as expected, took pressure from Wildcat Lily while inside, then tired once headed.

Los Alamitos Race Course - Starlet (race 8)

COMMENT: She may not be brilliant but Take Charge Brandi has got guts, and she showed that again here when almost surely locking up championship 2-year-old filly honors. Winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess in the last six weeks, she went right out to the lead as the 6-5 favorite, was pressured by Maybelline, dispatched with that foe into the lane, got a brief challenge from Majestic Presence, rebuffed that gal and gamely persevered to keep hard-trying Feathered at bay through the final half-furlong. Trainer Wayne Lukas said Take Charge Brandi will winter at Oaklawn and possibly target races like the Honeybee and Fantasy. Feathered stalked the pace while saving ground, came with her bid along the inside, but couldn’t quite get to the winner. Maybelline chased the winner from the start, loomed a threat turning for home, and stayed on bravely for third. Majestic Presence stalked the pace, made a threatening run into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it.