Trip Notes for December 28-29: Mr. Prospector, W.L. McKnight, Daytona, Robert J. Frankel

Saturday, Dec. 28

Gulfstream - Mr. Prospector (race 9)

COMMENT: Singanothersong continued his ascent with an impressive victory. After being gone six months he was a sharp second here Oct. 20. He then easily beat a strong group of optional claimers here Nov. 17 and his connections felt good enough to step him up to this level. They were right. He dogged early pacesetting favorite Star Harbour, wrested the lead from that stubborn foe into the lane and edged away in the final furlong to win fairly comfortably. He could next appear in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Feb. 8. Tough veteran Fort Loudon, a proven commodity at the highest level, was just behind the eventual winner early, doggedly kept after that foe in the lane, but just couldn’t get to him. Star Harbour, coming back quickly after a big win the Sunshine State here Dec. 8, set the pace as expected, battled back when hooked by the winner, couldn’t stay with that foe and weakened some late. Apriority broke poorly, was very wide throughout, and never able to be a factor.

Calder - W. L. McKnight Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: Twilight Eclipse, who set a world record for this distance in this race last year, his only prior start here, validated his love for this place despite a change of footing (race was washed off the turf onto the main track) with another smashing victory. Coming off a better-than-looked sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (beaten just 2 1/4 lengths) the son of Purim was able to get away with murder up front (set dawdling splits of 26.46, 53.66, 1:19.81, 1:45.83), began to extend his lead into the lane and drew off to win with ease. Dannhauser chased the winner from the start, nudged closer turning for home but couldn’t keep up with that foe while clearly best of the rest. Flatter This made it a virtual parade as he stalked in third and kept to his task to hold that spot to the line.

Santa Anita - Daytona (race 8)

COMMENT: Coming off a strong fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on this hillside course, Unbridled’s Note posted his third stakes victory down the hill. He bided his time in fifth while Truest Legend set a hot pace (he was later pulled up and vanned off), moved up to challenge into the lane as El Commodore grabbed the lead, and got the better of that rival in the final half-furlong. His love for the hillside may make for a productive run during this meet as there are a couple stakes on the hill: the Sensational Star Feb. 22 and Grade 3 San Simeon April 13. If he can get to the BC Turf Sprint again here in the fall he at least won’t have to face two-time winner and hillside queen Mizdirection (retired). El Commodore did everything right but just came up short. He dogged Truest Legend early, took over coming into the lane, battled back gamely when hooked by the winner, but try as he might couldn’t quite fend him off while finishing well clear of the rest (4 1/4 lengths). Gallant Son stumbled badly at the start, going to his knees, sat a few lengths behind the eventual winner and then finished with good energy. It was a big run considering he severely grabbed a quarter in that stumble at the start. Chips All In, the second choice, stalked in fourth but never really mustered a run.

Sunday, Dec. 29

Santa Anita - Robert J. Frankel (race 8)

COMMENT: Customer Base couldn’t quite handle Egg Drop in the Grade 2 Goldikova here Nov. 3 but when Egg Drop came back to win the Grade 1 Matriarch it sure flattered this gal, who here notched her first graded win. But it wasn’t easy. She sat well back early, steadily advanced, launched a serious bid into the lane and gamely just nudged past a stubborn Stormy Lucy to win by a nostril. She can certainly do damage in the right spots, meaning she likely has to stay away from the best of the division. The Grade 2 Buena Vista at a mile Feb. 17 could be next. Stormy Lucy did everything right but came up just a nose short. She sat midpack, was just in front of the eventual winner turning for home, was still in front of that rival with just a few strides to go but got nipped on the line while well clear of the others. Gulsary, the favorite, sat well back behind the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate nearly as quickly but got going late to get up for third, though she was never really a threat. Nickels Wild, a 52-1 longshot, dogged pacesetter Appealing from the start, grabbed the lead in midstretch looking as though she might post the big upset, but weakened in the final furlong.