Trip Notes for December 29, 2018: Robert J. Frankel and American Oaks

Dec. 29

Santa Anita
Robert J. Frankel (race 4)

COMMENT: On paper Fahan Mura had a speed and class advantage on her rivals, and that’s the way it played out on the track. After setting a fast pace before giving way readily to end up 12th in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 2, she dropped in class and moved to a longer trip. Her only prior try at 1 1/8 miles saw her finish third in the Grade 2 Mabee at Del Mar on Sept. 1, but the daughter of grass champion and crack grass sire English Channel showed she could indeed carry her speed this far. As ex-pected she went right out to a clear lead, set a solid pace while remaining clear and holding the fence, continued untroubled into the lane and held as Excellent Sunset closed the gap in the final furlong. Trainer Vladimir Cerin said she would race in 2019, and a race such as the Grade 3 Megahertz at a mile here Jan. 21 could be next, though there she could run into Vasilika, likely the best SoCal female turfer. Or they could await the Grade 2 Buena Vista, also at a mile, here Feb. 23. Now that she’s proven she can go 1 1/8 miles that opens up more options down the road (i.e., the Grade 1 Gamely here in May). Excellent Sunset, who finished ahead of Fahan Mura when eighth in the Matriarch after winning three of her first four U.S. starts after racing in England, lagged well back early, moved closer to sit fourth going down the backstretch, seemed content there, started a run on the far turn, continued it into the lane to close the gap on the winner, though it never appeared as though she would catch her. Quebec, second in the Swingtime here Oct. 7 (won by Fahan Mura) and then fifth in the Kathryn Crosby at Del Mar on Nov. 9 (won by Excellent Sunset), ran well, but again found those two just a bit too tough as with blinkers removed she sat second from the start, bided her time there, tried to close the gap on Fahan Mura into the lane, was unable to do so but kept on for third. Escape Clause, second in the Kathryn Crosby at Del Mar on Nov. 9, her first try on turf, then a good third in the longer Grade 3 Red Carpet there Nov. 22, got jostled around at the start, so she was unable to use her speed, then seemed eager early and was forced to steady, remained toward the back, angled to the inside on the far turn to start a run but had to steady off heels again, came off the inside and kept to her task in a nice try considering the trouble.

Santa Anita
American Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: The Chad Brown turf express keeps rolling as yet another East Coast shipper found success on the West Coast as Competitionofideas rallied strongly to easily win this Grade 1 in her first graded stakes try. He shipped Uni to win the Grade 1 Matriarch and Raging Bull to win the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, both at Del Mar earlier in December. This $325,000 daughter of Speightstown rallied smartly for third in a stakes washed off the turf at Aqueduct last time out Nov. 22, but her best moments had come prior, on turf. She was back to that footing here and took advantage as she sat last early as longshot K P Pergoliscious set a modest pace, remained last to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and blasted home to roll past the leaders inside the eighth pole and draw clear for the easy win. She appears to have a bright future, though she probably doesn’t hold a candle to stablemate and top 3-year-old turf female Rushing Fall. She will reportedly get a freshening, as she’ll go to winter with Brown’s contingent at Palm Meadows in Florida. K P Pergoliscious, a huge longshot as she has only a maiden win to her credit, outran her 90-1 odds to give trainer Jeff Mullins second- and third-place finishes here. She went right out to a clear lead, set a modest early pace, took pressure from stablemate Amandine on the turn and into the lane, rebuffed Amandine all the way to the wire but was no match for the winner in the final furlong. Amandine, wheeled back just three days after winning the Lady of Shamrock here Dec. 26, continued her strong form as she broke sharply to dog stablemate K P Pergoliscious from the start, pressed that gal through modest splits, moved up to challenge on the far turn, and while unable to counter the winner’s charge finished just a head behind her stubborn stablemate. Paved, who nearly beat top elders when second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive here Sept. 29 but was then a non-factor 12th when facing the best in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, bided her time from the start, crept closer by the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane but was basically one-paced to the line. Princess Warrior, smart winner of the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill last time out Nov. 23 for trainer Ken McPeek, who won this last year with Daddy’s Lil Darling, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane to midstretch, but couldn’t sustain her bid. Californiagoldrush, favored after winning three of her first four starts including the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont last time out Sept. 15, lagged back early while wide, made a threatening move on the far turn but came up empty thereafter.