Trip Notes for December 16-17: Harlan's Holiday, Remington Springboard Mile, and more

Dec. 16 Gulfstream
Rampart (race 5)

COMMENT: Lewis Bay, a multiple graded winner last year at 3, made her first start in 13 months in this race. But trainer Chad Brown had her locked and loaded and she stamped herself one to watch in 2018. The daughter of Bernardini went right out to the lead, took immediate pressure from favored Curlin’s Approval to her inside, remained narrowly in front, and edged clear ion the final furlong. Add her name to a burgeoning list of strong distaffers ramping up for next year (Forever Unbridled, Paradise Woods, Unique Bella, Abel Tasman, and others). Brown mentioned this type of game (one-turn mile) may be her forte. Curlin’s Approval, who stumbled at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 4, tried to challenge Lewis Bay into the lane and to deep stretch but just couldn’t get to that rival. She ended up second, well clear of the others. Nonna Mela stalked the pace, made a mile wide move into the lane, and finished decently. Gulfstream Sugar Swirl (race 7) COMMENT: Rich Mommy, a daughter of Algorithms, was trying stakes for the first time here after two optional-claiming wins and showed she was up to the task as she posted the 12-1 upset. She stalked in fourth from her outside slot as heavy favorite Dearest and longshot True Romance dueled through strong splits, swung wide turning for home, and came with a strong run to overwhelm her rivals and win going away. The Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie here Jan. 27 could be next. Bodacious Babe was just behind the eventual winner early, moved earlier than that foe to press the pace turning for home, grabbed the lead into the lane as the two pacesetters gave way, but then couldn’t fend off the winner. More Than a Party lagged back, was in tight going to the far turn but got back into stride and finished decently. Dearest, the defending champ and the heavy favorite in her first start since she ran fourth in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney here July 1, broke sharply from the rail, went right to the lead only to be immediately confronted by True Romance, dueled with that foe and then couldn’t keep pace in the lane.

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Gulfstream
My Charmer (race 8)

COMMENT: On Leave took a significant drop in class and proved best. Coming off a third in the very strong Grade 2 Goldikova at Del Mar Nov. 4, she sat midpack as Gianna’s Dream bounced out to a clear lead. On Leave remained in stalking mode as Gianna’s Dream volleyed up front with Defiant Honor, crept closer while staying wide and in the clear, came with her run into the lane to challenge Gianna’s Dream, and finally got the better of that foe. She’ll reportedly be freshened before a 2018 campaign. Gianna’s Dream went out to a clear early lead, was soon confronted by Defiant Honor, dueled with that foe up front through modest splits, battled back gamely when taken on by On Leave, and only relented in the final strides in a fine try. Stormy Victory was taken back early, was still well back going into the far turn, found room along the inside into the lane, and finished strongly to miss by just two necks. Defiant Honor prompted the pace outside Gianna’s Dream to top of the lane but then weakened.

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Gulfstream
Harlan’s Holiday (race 9)

COMMENT: Fear the Cowboy, coming off a third in a stakes at Penn National Nov. 22, returned to a track he loves (now four for six here) to beat a smart bunch. He was away slowly as Conquest Big E set a strong early pace under some pressure from Mr. Jordan, crept closer while staying wide, came with his run into the lan,e and finished strongly to roll past the leaders. This may earn him a shot at the Grade 1 Pegasus here Jan. 27. Mr. Jordan, coming off an 11 1/2-length romp in a Gulfstream Park West stakes Nov. 11, got the better of Conquest Big E, slightly increased his advantage to midstretch as if primed to go on to victory, but then had no answer for the winner’s charge and managed to fend off a Richard the Great to hold second. Richard the Great, a well-beaten second to Mr. Jordan Nov. 11, stalked in third, came with a run into the lane, was no match for the winner but almost caught Mr. Jordan for second. Destin, the favorite after running sixth in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Nov. 24, stalked in fourth, seemingly in a good spot, was asked for run on the far turn but was basically one-paced to the line. He’s been busy since the summer and maybe that told in the stretch here. Page McKenney, a 20-time winner and multiple graded stakes winner, sat midpack while wide and did a slow retreat through the lane. That’s a second straight so-so outing, making you wonder if after 53 starts he’s not quite the horse he was.

Gulfstream
Tropical Turf (race 10)

COMMENT: Shakhimat couldn’t quite get to stablemate Tower of Texas when a close third to that rival in a stakes on yielding turf at Woodbine last time out Nov. 4, but he got firm ground here and got his revenge. From his outside post he pressed early pacesetter Western Reserve, quickly took over pacesetting duties from that foe going down the backstretch, and kept his rivals at arm’s length all the way to the line. Galton, easy winner of an optional claimer on Gulfstream Park West turf last time out Oct. 19, stalked in fourth, came with a nice run along the rail into the lane, and kept after the winner. Tower of Texas lagged back while saving ground, came off the rail into the lane for clear sailing, found a seam between horses, and finished well. Blacktype, the favorite, having won a Grade 2 at Belmont Oct. 9 and then running fourth in a strong stakes at Aqueduct Nov. 18, was away slowly to be last early. He remained at the back of the pack to the far turn, swung widest of all into the lane, and closed well but had left himself with too much to do. Camelot Kitten, fourth and fifth to Blacktype in his last two starts in New York, sat back just in front of Blacktype, pitched out into the lane, made some headway but was never a factor.