Trip Notes for December 19: Mr. Prospector, Los Alamitos Futurity

Saturday, December 19

Gulfstream - Mr. Prospector (race 4)

COMMENT: X Y Jet flashed promise early in 2015, including running second in the Grade 3 Hutcheson here. But he then stumbled badly at the start of the Grade 2 Swale here March 7, was eased, and had to have surgery to remove a bone chip. After recuperating, he’s come back strong, winning two allowance races this summer and fall and topping it off here with a monster performance. The only 3-year-old in the field, X Y Jet bounced right out to a clear lead, opened up a huge lead on the far turn while setting fast splits, remained 10 1/2 lengths in front at the eighth pole, and cruised home under wraps. Grande Shores was slow into stride to be last early, came with a nice rally, and stayed on well to get second. C. Zee lagged back, made a run into the lane along the inside, but couldn’t sustain it and lost second in the final strides. Speechify, winner of this race last year, lagged back and never mustered a run. Stallwalkin’ Dude, the 7-5 favorite off a fast win here Dec. 5, seemed in a good spot stalking in third but then weakened. Singanothersong, winner of this race in 2013, chased the winner early and gave way.

Los Alamitos - Los Alamitos Futurity (race 8)

COMMENT: Mor Spirit, a $650,000 son of Grade 1 winner Eskendereya, improved on his second to Airoforce in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill and thrust himself into the upper division of 2016 Triple Crown hopefuls with a smart victory here. Whereas he dueled on the lead in the Kentucky Jockey Club, this time he bided his time. Frank Conversation set a solid pace under pressure from Mor Spirit’s stablemate Toews On Ice. Mor Spirit began to advance wide on the far turn, edged past Toews On Ice, and slowly pulled away for the win. This is trainer Bob Baffert’s eighth win in this race. Toews On Ice, winner of his prior three starts, was routing for the first time here. He dogged Frank Conversation, took over turning for home, was confronted by Mor Spirit in midstretch, and finished far clear of the others. This result may have hinted at distance limitations for Toews On Ice. I’malreadythere stalked in third while wide, looked in trouble when he fell back coming into the lane, but got going again to get third.