Trip Notes for December 31-January 1: American Oaks, San Pasqual

Dec. 31

Santa Anita

Midnight Lute (race 3)

COMMENT: Things could not have ended any better for trainer Peter Miller as his two entrants, St. Joe Bay and Solid Wager, hit the wire simultaneously here, each earning his first graded stakes win. On a track listed as sloppy (sealed) after heavy rain, St. Joe Bay, the even-money favorite off a romping optional claiming win at Del Mar Dec. 4, shot right out to the lead. He set a very fast pace while dueling with Navy Hymn, who was just to his outside, got rid of that foe turning for home but was immediately encountered by Tough Sunday into the lane. St. Joe Bay got the better of that foe but couldn’t quite withstand the charge of his entrymate. Solid Wager, coming off a win over Cal-breds at Del Mar Nov. 20, sat last early in the small field, pitched wide to make his run into the lane, was still last by midstretch, but rallied strongly. Tough Sunday bided his time in fourth while saving ground, came with a strong run into the lane to challenge St. Joe Bay, but couldn’t sustain his bid. Jimmy Bouncer stalked the pace, made a move into the lane to be a close third by midstretch, but then flattened out. Navy Hymn dueled just outside of St. Joe Bay but gave way turning for home. He was vanned off after being pulled up while galloping out.

Santa Anita

American Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: The distance of this turf race was shortened to 1 1/8 miles from the original 1 1/4 miles to avoid going across the wet main track. Decked Out not only benefitted from the distance cutback (now all three of her wins have come at 1 1/8 miles) but from the move back in against peers only after finishing 12th and last in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive here Oct. 1. She sat well back early as Sassy Little Lila set a solid pace, remained well back to the top of the lane, swung wide to launch her bid, and came home resolutely to just get up. Sassy Little Lila, coming off a second in a stakes at Aqueduct Nov. 25, went right to the lead, took modest pressure from 5-2 favorite Stays in Vegas, dispatched with that foe into the lane, but was immediately taken on by Lady Valeur. Sassy Little Lila rebuffed that gal but couldn’t fend off the winner in a big effort. Lady Valeur, coming off a stakes win at Golden Gate Dec. 10, stalked in fourth while saving ground, came with her run into the lane to challenge leader Sassy Little Lila, but couldn’t get past that foe. Stays in Vegas, the favorite off a third vs. elders in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar Dec. 4, dogged Sassy Little Lila from the start, was still a threat turning for home, but then weakened. Could be she emptied her tank in that big Matriarch try. Queen Blossom, an Irish invader, was away slowly and forced to steady, sat well back while saving ground, and could make only minimal headway. Mokat, fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 20 and then fifth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland Oct. 15, stalked in third but gave way badly to finish last.

Jan. 1

Gulfstream

Mr. Prospector (race 4)

COMMENT: Squadron A, the longest-priced horse in the race, took advantage of the abundance of speed to post the 19-1 upset. He was coming off an optional-claiming win at Churchill Nov. 12, and the second- and third-place finishers both came right back to win. Squadron A bided his time early at the back of the field as El Deal set a hot pace under pressure from 6-5 favorite Delta Bluesman. Those two continued to volley up front into the lane, when they were overtaken by Candip as Squadron A started his run. He moved to the inside, surged past Candip, and pulled clear. Candip stalked the pace, came with a run on the outside to take command from the two tiring pacesetters into the lane, looked on his way to victory, but proved no match for the winner’s charge. Delta Bluesman, the favorite off a sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, pressed El Deal through strong splits, and was getting the better of that foe into the lane when first Candip and then Squadron A blew on past. A number of these could renew acquaintances in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs Feb. 25.

Santa Anita

San Pasqual (race 8)

COMMENT: The race lost some luster when Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate was scratched due to the wet track condition. With Arrogate out, Midnight Storm looked dominant on paper, and that’s the way it played out on the track. Coming off a romping win in Del Mar’s Grade 3 Native Diver Nov. 27 on a track listed good, he went right out to the lead and set sizzling splits while staying on the rail while being pressured by Dalmore. He rebuffed a challenge from that foe coming into the lane, and had enough of a buffer to keep Accelerate at bay. Midnight Storm has shown he can compete with some of the game’s best on turf, on fast dirt, and now on wet dirt. Accelerate, third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here Nov. 4, sat last in the four-horse field early, came with a run on the turn and into the lane, but wasn’t a threat to the winner. Dalmore, fourth as the favorite in the Zia Park Derby Nov. 23, chased the winner, made a run at him turning for home, but couldn’t keep pace. Prospect Park, a highly promising Triple Crown candidate in 2015, stalked in third early, lost that position turning for home, and never mustered a run.