Trip Notes for December 7: Tropical Turf, Fred W. Hooper, My Charmer, Hollywood Starlet, Bayakoa
Calder
Tropical Turf Handicap (race 6)
COMMENT: Speaking of Which looked like a potential big player in the turf ranks this year after bringing good form from Ireland to SoCal in 2012. Alas, save for an optional claiming win at Monmouth June 21 the year was a bust – at least until now. He sat midpack in this turf race, bided his time, swung out into the lane, and surged late to get the win. Tetradrachm, the favorite after running third in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Bernard Baruch and fourth in Belmont’s Grade 3 Knickerbocker, stalked the pace, moved up menacingly into the lane but couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Bad Debt pressed pacesetter Heiko from the outside and kept to his task well but the top 2 were just a bit better. Reflecting broke poorly and was never a factor.
Calder
Fred W. Hooper Handicap (race 7)
COMMENT: Csaba, part of a dead-heat win with Ducduc in this least year, was able to celebrate on his own as the tough 4-year-old continued his love affair with this track (now 9 for 12 here). He bided his time comfortably in fourth while I’m Steppin’ It Up set a modest pace. He moved closer as Valid took the lead going to the far turn, gradually wore down that rival in the lane, and was edging away late. The Harlan’s Holiday Dec. 22, a race he won easily here last year, may be next, according to trainer Gleaves. Valid, a 23 1/4-length winner in his last start in the slop here Nov. 23, stepped up in class and showed he’s not just a wet-track specialist as he stalked in third, took command on the turn, battled back gamely when hooked by the winner, but just wasn’t good enough. There might not be a horse on the grounds who can beat Csaba here so no shame in running second to him. On the Loose Again lagged back, came with a threatening run into the lane, but didn’t sustain it well enough to get involved. I’m Steppin’ It Up set the pace under pressure from Sr. Quisqueyano and both weakened. Ducduc, part of the dead-heat win in this last year with Csaba, was slow into stride and never made a move, finishing last.
Calder
My Charmer Handicap (race 8)
COMMENT: Valiant Girl, freshened and cutting back in distance after fading to seventh in the 1 1/2-mile Dowager at Keeneland Oct. 23, relished those changes and the change of venue as she posted the big 42-1 upset. From her rail post she stalked the snail-like pace of Rose to Gold while saving ground. She remained covered up on the hedge, made her move into the lane as she stayed inside to go past a tiring Rose to Gold to get the lead, and gamely outdueled Angelica Zapata in the final yards. Angelica Zapata sat second behind Rose to Gold while that rival set slow splits, moved up to challenge into the lane, but couldn’t outfinish the winner. Strathnaver sat back, angled out into the lane, and finished well for third. Considering the pace and race shape were completely against her she ran very well. Rose to Gold, making her first start on turf, first start vs. elders and first start since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 3, set the slow pace, while saving ground, tried to battle back when hooked into the lane, but weakened in the final sixteenth.
Betfair Hollywood Park
Hollywood Starlet (race 6)
COMMENT: A division looking for a leader remains in a state of flux as Streaming, a winner of her only start (a sprint), stepped way up in class, moved to a route, and overcame all that to beat some accomplished rivals. The daughter of Smart Strike (so she’s bred to route) didn’t just win – she won impressively. She pressed early pacesetter Taste Like Candy from the start, sitting on her hip. She continued to apply pressure down the backside, was asked to challenge going to the far turn, moved up eagerly to bid for the lead, got the better of Taste Like Candy into the lane, and drew away to win well. This was Baffert’s thirrd Starlet, though his first since 2011. Taste Like Candy, another who had made just one start, that a sprint win on dirt at Santa Anita, ran splendidly in defeat considering that after her debut win she had a foot injury and that this was her first start since, first vs. winners and first routing. She went right to the lead, was under constant pressure from Streaming, battled back gamely when hooked by that foe on the turn, couldn’t quite keep up but stayed on well for second. She has promise, too. Untapable, winner of the Grade 2 Pocahontas but eased when eighth in the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies, bided her time in sixth early, moved up threateningly going to the far turn and stayed on well though she was never really a threat to the top two. Rosalind, favored after running second in the Grade 1 Alcibiades and third in the Juvenile Fillies, lagged back and finished decently. She and Untapable didn’t exactly flatter the form of that race, particularly the 1-2 finishers had both run just once, were both maiden winners only and had never routed. Arethusa, romping winner of the Sharp Cat, was far back early, as in the Sharp Cat, and put in a solid sustained rally along the rail but had left herself with far too much to do.
Betfair Hollywood Park
Bayakoa (race 8)
COMMENT: Broken Sword gave further evidence to the importance of speed. Coming off a romping win over Golden Gate’s synthetic main track last month where she led wire to wire, she again used her speed here, going right to the early lead. She set solid splits while left on her own and that left her more than enough gas in the tank to play keep-away all the way to the wire. Fiftyshadesofhay, a three-time stakes winner this year and the heavy favorite, bobbled at the start to get away poorly. She was well back early, steadily advanced, tried to make a run at the winner through the lane but that one was already long gone. She still finished far clear of the rest (5 1/2 lengths). Warren’s Veneda sat midpack, made a mild move on the far turn but didn’t sustain it. Charm the Maker was midpack early but gave way.