Trip Notes for Feb. 2-3: Road to the Derby races, San Pasqual, and more

Feb. 2

Aqueduct

Withers (race 9)

COMMENT: Tax, a son of Arch claimed by trainer Danny Gargan for $50,000 in October, stayed on to be a solid third in the Grade 2 Remsen behind talented rivals Maximus Mischief and Network Effect on Dec. 1. In his first start of this year the gelding validated that run with a game tally here as he stumbled at the start from his rail slot as the 2-1 favorite, quickly recovered, took the early lead going into the clubhouse turn, was content to pull back a bit as Not That Brady took the lead to his outside, stalked along the inside as Not That Brady set a modest pace, crept closer coming into the lane while on the rail inside Our Braintrust, doggedly went after that foe in the stretch, had to steady when in a bit tight as Not That Brady came in some, but gamely persevered and prevailed over that rival to his immediate right and Our Braintrust who was widest of the three in the blanket finish. Gargan said he might await the Grade 2 Wood Memorial here April 6 but if the horse needs another start prior the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby on Turfway Park’s synthetic main track March 9 could be it. Not That Brady, front-running winner of his last two including the Damon Runyon over New York-breds here Dec. 31, was a bit slow into stride, came with a strong wide run on the clubhouse turn from his far outside post to grab the lead, set a modest pace a few lanes off the rail under minimal early pressure, moved toward the inside turning for home, was confronted by Our Braintrust to his outside and Tax to his inside into the lane, drifted in some forcing Tax to steady briefly, fought on gamely and while unable to quite fend off Tax kept Our Braintrust at bay to his outside for second. He exited the race with a slight cut on a hind leg but it was nothing serious. The Grade 3 Gotham at a shorter mile trip here March 9 may be next. Our Braintrust, second in the Jerome here Jan. 1, stalked the pace, moved up easily early to dog pacesetter Not That Brady while on his hip, crept closer going to the far turn, loomed a big threat into the lane to the outside of Not That Brady, bumped with ‘Brady into the lane, kept to his task but couldn’t quite finish with the top two. Trainer Mark Casse said the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 16 could be next. Moretti, the second choice off a big maiden win at this trip here Dec. 20 and racing with blinkers for the first time, bided his time early in fifth, made a mild move into the far turn but flattened out and was no factor thereafter.

Gulfstream

Forward Gal (race 9)

COMMENT: Feedback was a dazzling winner of her debut (by eight lengths) at Saratoga on Aug. 12 but an illness subsequently sidelined her. Off some solid work, the daughter of Violence came back here and showed no negative effects from that illness, proving a winner despite a long layoff, despite facing winners for the first time and racing here for the first time. She broke on top but quickly surrendered pacesetting duties to Fashion Faux Pas, who rushed up to her inside to take the early lead, stalked comfortably in second, surged to the lead going to the far turn without being asked, was quickly confronted by Bye Bye J to her outside and rebuffed that foe to the wire. Considering the hurdles (layoff, first time vs. winners) this was a super comeback run and stamps her a potential big player in the division. She ran only .08 slower than smart winning male Call Paul did in the Grade 3 Swale 30 minutes later. Trainer Chad Brown said she was a couple works short as well. He’s already thinking Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks – he said he’d like to run her twice before that, presumably next being the Grade 2 Davona Dale at a mile here March 2, though that’s also the purported comeback spot for reigning division champion Jaywalk. Bye Bye J, smart winner of the House Party here Dec. 8, stalked in fourth to the outside of the eventual winner, went after that foe on the turn when that gal surged to the lead, came up alongside into the lane to loom a big threat to her outside but just couldn’t get past in a fine try. Champagne Anyone, fourth in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill last time out Nov. 24, was a bit sluggish early from her rail slot, bided her time inside, commenced with a nice run into the lane while holding the fence, remained on the rail and finished well to just miss getting second. Fashion Faux Pas, the second choice off a big maiden win at Laurel and big win in the Sandpiper at Tampa Bay last time out Dec. 15, broke a bit slowly but rushed up inside to grab the early lead from Feedback, set a solid pace but was overwhelmed by the winner going to the far turn and gave way.

Gulfstream

Swale (race 10)

COMMENT: Call Paul showed ample promise last year, winning the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, being Grade 1- and Grade 3-placed and romping in a stakes at Parx when last seen Dec. 1, so it was no surprise he fared well here. The $210,000 son of Friesan Fire and the 3-2 favorite bounced off the side of the gate at the start to get away poorly, was able to establish position midpack as Country Singer went a strong pace, bided his time to the far turn, came with a smart wide run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch and edged clear. He doesn’t really profile like a Kentucky Derby type but there are plenty of good sprint/mile races for 3-year-olds that would figure to have his name on them. Zenden, winner of his first two starts including the Buffalo Man here Dec. 8, stalked in third while outside, remained there to the far turn, gamely tried to accelerate with the winner into the lane, couldn’t keep pace with that foe but kept to his task well to be a clear second. Topper T broke awkwardly and bumped hard with Jackson to his inside and then had to steady behind Frosted Grace, ending up toward the back, though he wasn’t that far off the pace, remained inside as he lagged back, came off the inside on the turn, made some headway and kept to his task nicely, though he was never a danger to the top two. High Crime, a romping maiden winner here Jan. 12, dogged pacesetter Country Singer from the start to that foe’s outside, tried to challenge on the turn and into the lane, was unable to do so and tired a bit to end up fourth.

Gulfstream

Holy Bull (race 11)

COMMENT: In what was supposed to be confirmation that Maximus Mischief, Mihos, and a couple others are legitimate Grade 1 Kentucky Derby candidates, it was instead an upset special as two longshots led by 29-1 Harvey Wallbanger proved best. Harvey Wallbanger, a son of Congrats who broke his maiden last time out Nov. 17 at Churchill Downs, was slow into stride, saved ground toward the back as Epic Dreamer set a solid pace, came with his run on the turn into the lane while cutting the corner, kicked on to grab the lead inside the eighth pole while staying on the fence to get the win. Off this there’s no reason not to think about the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here March 2, though trainer Kenny McPeek also has Signalman targeting that race, meaning Harvey Wallbanger could skip that and go straight to the Grade 1 Florida Derby here March 30. Everfast, no factor in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club, and an optional claimer here last time out Jan. 18, perked up to run the race of his life at 128-1 as the son of Take Charge Indy was midpack early, moved closer going to the far turn, came out some into the lane, raced with the eventual winner turning for home while wide, stayed on well but couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Maximus Mischief, the heavy 9-10 favorite after romping in his first three starts including the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct last time out Dec. 1, showed his customary speed to sit second behind pacesetting Epic Dreamer, was asked to go after that foe in earnest on the turn, moved up alongside that rival into the lane but was one-paced from there and unable to finish with the top two. There are two ways to take this – one, he needed the race, or, two, that lack of a final furlong by this $340,000 son of Into Mischief hints he’s suspect going longer, even if he did win the Remsen at 1 1/8 miles. The Fountain of Youth is reportedly still very much the planned next step. Mihos, the second choice off two smart wins including the Mucho Macho Man here Jan. 5, stalked the early leaders, pulled back a bit going down the backstretch, was still well within striking distance but raced evenly only thereafter and was never a threat. This could be a sign he may be better at one turn, at least at this stage of the game.

Santa Anita

Robert B. Lewis (race 6)

COMMENT: Rain continued and the main track was listed as ‘sloppy (sealed).’ Nolo Contesto, a smart maiden winner last time out, was scratched due to the track condition as trainer John Sadler said he’d await another spot. Mucho Gusto, a $625,000 son of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, won his first two starts including the Grade 3 Bob Hope before being a non-threatening second to powerhouse stablemate Improbable in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8 (beaten by five lengths). With no one like that rival of champion stablemate Game Winner lined up against him the colt showed he can surely do damage in the right spot as he bided his time early in third as big maiden winner Magnificant McCool set the pace, came with a smart run into the lane, overwhelmed that foe and drew off to win easily. Bob Baffert has a bevy of 3-year-olds (Game Winner, Improbable, Coliseum, Kingly, etc.) so where this guy shows up next will be determined by Baffert’s juggling. Gunmetal Gray, rallying winner of the Grade 3 Sham here Jan. 5, was again devoid of speed as in the Sham to be at the back of the pack from the start, commenced his run on the turn and into the lane, briefly looked a danger in the lane but was unable to threaten the winner thereafter. Easy Shot, fifth in the Sham, was fourth a couple lengths behind the eventual winner, was third but still well behind Mucho Gusto going to the far turn, made some headway in the lane to close the gap but was then one-paced and unable to threaten in the final furlong. Kid Cantina was pulled up on the backstretch with an apparent injury to his left fore and vanned off.

Santa Anita

San Pasqual (race 9)

COMMENT: Rain continued and the main track was listed as ‘sloppy (sealed)’. Dabster, Shivermetimbers and Sonneteer scratched due to the track condition. Battle of Midway, a sharp second in the Grade 2 San Antonio here Dec. 26, skipped the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup to instead stay home and go for this. The plan worked as the 5-year-old son of Smart Strike won a strong renewal. From his outside post he was last early as Giant Expectations went right to the lead, but was never far away. He remained widest of all as he stalked the pace, with favored McKinzie to his inside, moved with that foe to challenge for the lead into the lane and got the better of him in the final furlong. McKinzie, the 1-2 favorite off a dazzling win in the Grade 1 Malibu here Dec. 26, pressed the issue while between pacesetter Giant Expectations on the rail and Battle of Midway to his outside, engaged then-leader Giant Expectations turning for home, was getting the better of that rival into the lane only to be immediately confronted by Battle of Midway to his outside, kept on gamely but couldn’t quite finish with that rival while finishing far clear of the rest. Giant Expectations, making his first start since finishing fifth in the very strong Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Nov. 3, went right to the lead and to the rail, took pressure from McKinzie to his outside throughout, battled back when hooked by that foe and the eventual winner into the lane but then couldn’t keep pace in the final half-furlong while ending up well clear of the rest. Pavel, winner of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill last June 16 and back home after two dull runs (10th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, 15th in the Grade 1 Champions Cup in Japan), lagged back early while saving ground, moved off the rail going down the backstretch and into the far turn, came wider out into the lane but never mustered a run. He doesn’t look like the same horse who won the Foster, so could be it’s time to go back to the drawing board and freshen him.

Feb. 3

Gulfstream

Sweetest Chant (race 11)

COMMENT: A Bit Special continued her superb work, winning for the fourth time in five starts (was second beaten a neck in her only loss) as she notched her first graded stakes win. The daughter of Mukhadram, the favorite, showed speed to stalk/press pacesetter Eyeinthesky, moved closer to that foe turning for home, had no trouble wresting command from that rival into the lane, opened up and won geared down. All her work has come here so she obviously likes this place. The Grade 3 Herecomesthebride here March 2 figures next. Regal Glory, winner of her first two starts in the fall in New York, stalked the pace racing with the eventual winner, tried to rally with that foe into the lane, couldn’t keep pace with her but stayed on well for second. She’s a promising filly from the Chad Brown barn (Brown won six of the previous seven runnings of this). Another Brown inmate, La Feve, an import from France where she was Group 3 placed, ran well in her U.S. debut to get third as from her rail slot she sat midpack early, was a bit rank while inside into the first turn, settled decently midpack down the backstretch while toward the inside, came out into the lane and finished decently, though she was no threat to the top two. Both Brown fillies could return in the Herecomesthebride as well. Hard Legacy, winner of her first two starts on turf at Keeneland and here, lagged back while wide, made some progress going into the far turn but was unable to do any damage thereafter.