Trip Notes for December 7-8, 2019: Cigar Mile, Los Alamitos Futurity, and more

Dec. 7

Aqueduct
Go for Wand Handicap (race 6)

COMMENT: Spiced Perfection was set to be sold after her fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint but when she failed to meet her reserve her owners were not disappointed and she gave them more of a reason to be happy with a victory here. Moved to a mile after proving herself a top-class sprinter the past couple seasons. She’d handled this trip before (second the only prior time she tried it) but that was a long time ago and she’s surely a better filly now than she was then. Her class showed as she was sent right to the lead, was able to set a modest pace while a clear early leader, looked in for a fight when Saguaro Row and Our Super Nova came a her on the far turn and into the lane but she continued on gamely to rebuff those foes to the wire for the win. Her main goal is reportedly another shot at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint next fall, which will be held at Keeneland, a place she loves. She could next go in the Grade 2 Santa Monica at Santa Anita or the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel, both at 7 furlongs Feb. 15, the advantage to the Santa Monica being she could stay home. Saguaro Row, coming off a big win in a sprint stakes here Nov. 9, chased the winner from the start, moved closer to loom a threat just to her outside on the far turn, doggedly kept up the chase but couldn’t get to her. Our Super Nova stalked while outside, moved closer on the far turn just outside Saguaro Row to loom a threat gamely chased the winner thereafter but like the runner-up wasn’t good enough to get to her. Needs Supervision bided her time early from her rail slot, continued inside saving ground, came with a run on the far turn be in behind the eventual winner, plugged along while staying on the fence in the lane but was never really a danger to the winner.

Aqueduct
Demoiselle (race 8)

COMMENT: We were sent back to Handicapping 101 as this was another example of how pace can mean everything as smashing maiden winner Lake Avenue got away with murder up front and took advantage. From her far outside post she broke well, remained well wide as the field was bunched into the first run, quickly assumed command on the outside, opened up a clear lead, was able to set modest splits (track was played very slowly), took some pressure into the far turn but had plenty of gas left in the tank, opened up again and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. While she got every break up front she’s by world-class distance sire Tapit so it’s no surprise she handled this distance well. It was her first start vs. winners and first route, making her run all the more impressive. Trainer Bill Mott said she’d ship to Florida with the rest of his outfit, though he would keep his options open for her as he noted they have big races for the division in Arkansas, Louisiana and New York as well. Maedean, the very slight favorite over Alandra coming off a big win in the Tempted here last month, broke well from her inside slot but as the field bunched out of the gate she got shuffled back to lose position. She remained midpack while saving ground, continued on the rail down the backstretch, tried to move closer into the far turn but remained bottled up on the rail, came off the inside on the turn looking for room, finally found a seam between horses in the lane, weaved through traffic as she finished well for second. She was no threat to the runaway winner but surely her early trouble kept her from being closer. She reportedly ships to Florida with the rest of trainer Mark Hennig’s string. Like the winner she’s by top distance sire Tapit. The first two look quite promising on the Kentucky Oaks trail. Blame Debbie, wire-to-wire winner over maidens in her first route at Keeneland Oct. 6, broke well, was just off early leader Critical Value on the first turn, was content to remain in stalking mode as eventual winner Lake Avenue took command into the backstretch, bided her time there while a few lanes off the rail with Maedean just in behind to her inside, was asked to get going on the far turn, made some progress, swung wide into the lane, plugged along and was no threat to the winner while missing second as Maedean rallied to her inside. Alandra, well backed off a smart debut win at Saratoga Sept. 1 and then a third in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland Oct. 4 when she had trouble and for some reason showed no speed, again lacked speed here as she broke well but eased back, was ahead of only Daphne Moon going into the backstretch, did move closer to be in behind Maedean to the far turn, came out into the lane but was unable to make a dent in a disappointing run.

Aqueduct
Remsen (race 9)

COMMENT: Shotski, a son of grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame, ran fourth in the Street Sense going a mile at Churchill Oct. 27. He entered in last week’s Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club there but scratched due to the rainy forecast there, opting to wait a week and get more ground. Well, the move paid off. As with the Demoiselle this was another example of the power of controlling speed as Shotski went right to the lead, took some pressure first from Chase Tracker and then from Prince James while setting modest splits, kicked away from his rivals into the lane, opened up a clear lead giving himself enough of a buffer to get to the line before a hard-trying Ajaaweed who was cutting into his lead with every stride. He not only controlled the pace, but it didn’t hurt the track surely played toward speed (he was the fourth straight wire-to-wire winner on the card. Maximum Security would make it five straight in another 20 minutes). Owner Adam Wachtel said he’d like to avoid the likes of Independence Hall, meaning he may pass on the Jerome here Jan. 1, with options including the Grade 3 Lecomte at the Fair Grounds Jan. 18 or the Grade 3 Withers here Feb. 1. Ajaaweed, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, was a non-threatening fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 5. Here he sat toward back from the start, steadily advanced up the backstretch while staying wide and in the clear, continued his momentum on the turn and into the lane, doggedly went after the winner, closing the gap though he couldn’t get to him while finishing well clear of the rest. He reportedly ships to Florida with the rest of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s outfit. Chase Tracker dueled inside with the eventual winner from the start from his rail slot, pulled back a bit as Prince James pushed Shotski, followed Shotski while staying on the fence, cut the corner into the lane and plugged along for third though he was no danger to the top two. Forza Di Oro, the slight favorite off a smart maiden win routing at Belmont Oct. 26, moved toward the inside soon after the start to stalk the pace, came off the rail into the backstretch, continued to chase the pace to the far turn but came up empty in the lane. Amends, well backed after a big win over maidens in slop at Belmont (first time with blinkers) Oct. 27, broke very slowly from his outside post to be at the back of the pack while, remained there while wide into the backstretch, was pushed to move closer to the field down the backstretch, was unable to make a dent and wasn’t punished thereafter once the issue was no longer in doubt.

Aqueduct
Cigar Mile Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Considering he had a setback in the summer (colic) that threatened his life as well as his career, the fact Maximum Security has come back seemingly even better is a testament to his heart and quality. In what was viewed as a major duel between him and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run Maximum Security turned this into his own showcase, locking up 3-year-old male championship honors. Coming off a smart win in the 7-furlong Grade 3 Bold Ruler, the son of New Year’s Day broke sharply, as usual, went right to the lead, took pressure from Spun to Run to his immediate right with Looking at Bikinis pressing further outside, maintained a narrow lead while setting splits that were very strong considering the track played so slowly all day, rebuffed a challenge from Spun to Run on the far turn, opened up without really being pushed and cruised to the line under just a hand ride. He’s now been beaten to the wire just once in nine starts. The Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 25 could be next. Spun to Run lost nothing in defeat as he broke well, immediately dogged the eventual winner, continued to hound that rival to the far turn, tried to engage that foe into the lane, was unable to keep pace while a few lanes off the rail but ran on well to hold second. It’s to his credit that he held second after pressing what were for this day on this track pretty fast splits. The Grade 3 General George at Laurel in Feb. 15 could be next, though his trainer also mentioned that his charge could be in line for a freshening. True Timber, third to Maximum Security in the Bold Ruler, filled that slot again. He bided his time off the pace, basically in Looking at Bikinis’ wake, moved closer to be just behind that rival going into the far turn, came with a wide run on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and plugged along to edge Looking at Bikinis who was down to his inside for third, though he was never really a danger to the top two. Looking at Bikinis broke sharply to be just outside the two favorites early, continued to press the issue from there with the two big favorites to his inside, was urged to go after those two on the far turn while wide, was unable to challenge those two into the lane, moved toward the inside in midstretch but got a little tired late to lose third to True Timber. Whitmore, a Grade 1-winning sprinter who tried this distance for the first time, lagged back from the start, as is his custom, saved ground as he bided his time, was urged to get closer on the far turn, came off the inside for clear sailing into the lane but could make only minimal headway without threatening.

Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos Futurity (race 4)

COMMENT: Track listed as good (sealed) after rain Friday. Thousand Words, a $1 million son of Pioneerof the Nile, gamely won his sprint debut at Santa Anita Oct. 26. Facing winners for the first time, routing for the first time and racing with blinkers for the first time the colt showed talent and heart, gamely prevailing and stamping himself one to watch come next year’s Triple Crown trail. He stalked as stablemate High Velocity set a solid pace, went after that foe turning for home to his outside, was getting the better of that rival when Anneau d’Oro surged up to his outside, looked in trouble when Anneau d’Or got up alongside and appeared to put his head in front but gamely rerallied, snatching back the lead late for the win. This was trainer Bob Baffert’s sixth straight win in this race and his twelfth overall. Anneau d’Or, a brave second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Nov. 1, was brave again here but came up just short again. From his rail slot the $480,000 son of Medaglia d’Oro sat off the pace, bided his time in in the small field, came with a smart wide run on the turn for home, surged up alongside the eventual winner in midstretch as if he was going to go past, appeared to put his head in front but then couldn’t counter as the winner rerallied. High Velocity, a $350,000 son of Quality Road who won his first two starts, both sprints, including the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar last time out Nov. 16 and racing without blinkers for the first time, went right to the lead, set a solid pace under pressure from his winning stablemate while holding the fence, battled back gamely when hooked by that rival to his outside turning for home and into the lane, continued to battle to almost the sixteenth pole but then relented, ending up well behind the top two. Wrecking Crew, an $875,000 son of Sky Kingdom who was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when a bit troubled, was away slowly to be at the back of the compact field, tried to get more involved down the backstretch but soon backed out of it and was eased in the stretch. He never acted comfortable on the footing. These guys, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court, Grade 1 winner Eight Rings and impressive maiden winners Honor A. P. and Authentic figure to have a dust-up or two in the coming months to settle the division pecking order out West.

Los Alamitos
Starlet (race 7)

COMMENT: Track still listed as good (sealed) after rain Friday. Bast, a $500,000 daughter of Uncle Mo, was dazzling when romping in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, She didn’t show the same brilliance in the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita Sept. 27, though she still managed to win, and then after dueling on the lead in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Nov. 1 she ended up third, just under two lengths behind today’s foe and heavy favorite Donna Veloce in second. Well, she got back to her best form here as she gamely prevailed over Donna Veloce, marking the third straight year trainer Bob Baffert won both the big juvenile stakes here. She went right to the lead from her inside post, was immediately pressured by heavy 3-10 favorite Donna Veloce to her outside, set a solid pace under constant duress from that rival, looked in trouble when ‘Veloce got up nearly cheek to cheek in midstretch but gamely rebuffed that rival and actually extended her lead a smidge in the final few yards. Donna Veloce, another daughter of Uncle Mo who cost $800,000, was heavily favored off a smashing debut sprint win at Santa Anita Sept. 28 and then a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in what was just her second start, her first vs. winners and first routing. Here she broke well, pressured Bast from the start to her inside, maintained that heavy pressure throughout, got nearly eye to eye with that rival in the lane but couldn’t quite outdo her, finishing far clear of the others in what was basically a two-horse race. It was still a fine try and these two figure to knock heads in the coming months to determine who’s the queen of this division out West. K P Dreamin, eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, stalked those two from the start, tried to move closer turning for home, proved no match but plugged along while wide to outdo Gingham for third. Gingham, a smart maiden winner routing at Santa Anita Oct. 31, stalked early in third between horses, got shuffled to the pack of the pack, was still there turning for home, made a mild move into the lane, proved no match for the top two and plugged along, only losing third in the final strides.

Dec. 8

Aqueduct
Fall Highweight (race 9)

COMMENT: Originally scheduled for Nov. 28 but was canceled (weather), was rescheduled for Dec. 1 but was canceled again (weather). The result here was the cherry on top for trainer Jason Servis. A day after his wonderful Maximum Security dazzled while winning the Grade 1 Cigar Mile, he went out the surging Happy Farm to capture this. The 5-year-old gelded son of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, who Servis claimed for $30,000 in early March, was stepping into stakes ranks after three straight wins and proved up to the task as he dueled from the start with Strike Power to his inside and Seethisquick to his outside, put away those foes on the turn, opened up into the lane, drifted out some at the sixteenth pole but gamely got to the line before a hard-trying Wonderful Light who closed the gap to his outside. Off this the Grade 3 Toboggan at 7 furlongs here Jan. 18 could be next. Wonderful Light, freshened since dueling and running third in a stakes at Laurel Sept. 28, sat a few lengths off the pace while remaining wide, came with a nice run on the far turn, pitched wider into the lane, finished resolutely outside the winner but just couldn’t quite get to him. Recruiting Ready, the favorite off a romping stakes win at Churchill Nov. 2, was pushed along from the start but was still a length or so off the dueling leaders, moved closer on the turn, moved wider out into the lane to loom a threat, had to shift out some when the winner moved out in front of him in deep stretch and stayed on well for third. Strike Power, who nearly won the Grade 2 True North at Belmont June 7, ran fifth in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga July 27 and was making his first start here since a fifth in a turf sprint stakes there Aug. 30, was disappointing in his return as he showed his customary early speed but was immediately joined by Happy Farm to his outside and then by Seethisquick further out going to the far turn, dueled with those foes while staying on the fence but gave way into the lane. Maybe a return to Gulfstream can help as all three career wins have come there.

Los Alamitos
Bayakoa (race 8)

COMMENT: Track listed as good (sealed) as a track already wet took more rain in the morning and during the day. Mirth, a Grade 1 winner on turf who would have been one of the favorites, scratched for that reason and will instead point for the Grade 3 Robert Frankel on turf at Santa Anita Dec. 28. Mo See Cal also scratched and was being treated for colic. Queen Bee to You looked like a new horse romping in the Betty Grable, a sprint, at Del Mar Nov. 17. The daughter of Old Topper already owned a wet-track win coming into this and had posted two of her six wins here so the footing was in her corner and she took advantage. The 5-year-old mare broke slowly to be last early, bided her time toward the back while wide on the first run, continued wide while advancing down the backstretch, came with a smart run on the far turn while still wide to challenge leader and favorite Lady Suebee, got the better of that rival into the lane to grab the lead and extended her margin from there without really any worries in the final half-furlong. Zusha, a well-beaten second to Mo See Cal in an optional claimer at Santa Anita last time out Oct. 10, sat back just in front of the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate as early or as strongly as that foe, was still in behind a tiring Lady Suebee in to the stretch and finished decently to beat that rival for second while no danger to the winner. Lady Suebee, favored off a romping win in a dirt stakes at Del Mar Aug. 23 and back to dirt after setting the pace and fading to tenth in a turf stakes at Santa Anita Oct. 5, dogged early pacesetting longshot Arctic Roll, took command from that foe into the far turn, opened up some into the lane but then had no answer when the winner came storming onto the scene and then tired a bit to lose second in the final strides. Mongolian Humor stalked while saving ground early, got shuffled back going to the far turn to find herself last, came out on the far turn but failed to muster a run.