Trip Notes for Feb. 21-22: Fountain of Youth, Rachel Alexandra, Southwest, and more...

Saturday, February 21

Gulfstream - Rampart (race 4)

COMMENT: House Rules, twice Grade 2 placed, showed her affinity for this place continues as she notched her first graded stakes win, but she had to withstand an inquiry and was the beneficiary of a questionable call. Coming off a 9 1/4-length win in the Bal Harbour here Jan. 2, she bided her time early as Flutterby set a decent pace under pressure from 4-5 favorite Wedding Toast and 22-1 outsider Sheer Drama. House Rules came with a smart wide run turning for home, and was going to the lead as she drifted in, forcing the inside two horses to steady. The result was allowed to stand, and while she was best she did interfere with the second and third runners so she could easily have been taken down. The stewards reasoned her antics did not alter the order of finish. The Grade 2 Inside Information at seven furlongs here March 21 figures next. Three of her four wins have now come here, as did those two Grade 2 seconds. Sheer Drama dogged Flutterby from the start, moved with House Rules into the lane to battle for the lead, had to steady when that foe shift inward but stayed on to keep second. Wedding Toast got bumped at the start, still had the speed to press the issue, saved ground, was still in the mix into the lane, had to steady when the winner shifted in and couldn’t keep pace in the final half-furlong.

Gulfstream - The Very One (race 5)

COMMENT: Irish Mission, a 6-year-old mare, was to be retired after winning the Grade 3 La Prevoyante here Dec. 27. Her connections opted to give her another go here and she put up another fine performance to get the win. She sat second as 9-5 favorite Riposte set a dawdling pace, went after her into the lane, reeled her in and edged away late. Riposte, making her first start since winning back-to-back Grade 2’s at Belmont last May and June, got away with murder up front. She tried to battle back when hooked by the winner in the final furlong but just couldn’t keep up. Still, it wasn’t a bad return effort. Tabreed, second to Irish Mission in the La Prevoyante, lagged back and came with a steady run, nearly catching Riposte. Considering the pace scenario this was a nice effort. Kitten’s Point was last until the stretch and unable to make a dent. Surely the race shape played against her.

Gulfstream - Gulfstream Park Sprint (race 6)

COMMENT: C. Gee continued his love affair with this track as all four of his wins have come here, including this race, his first graded stakes win. He dogged early pacesetter Happy My Way, was content to remain in stalking mode as Mean Seasons took the lead. Happy My Way opened up into the lane, but C. Gee angled out and surged to win going away. Happy My Way relinquished pacesetting duties to Mean Season, retook the lead into the lane, opened up as if he might win but then had no answer for when the winner burst onto the scene. Speechify stumbled at the start but recovered quickly to press the pace from the outside, loomed a big threat turning for home but finished evenly. This run looks better after it was learned he grabbed a quarter and suffered a gash on his leg from that stumble. Weekend Hideaway, the 8-5 favorite off a win in the Sunshine Million Sprint here Jan. 17, lagged back, pitched very wide on the far turn, and never mustered a run. Mean Season, making his first start in nearly a year, gave way once headed.

Gulfstream - Davona Dale (race 8)

COMMENT: On paper there appeared to be a ton of speed in here but Ekati’s Phaeton proved the speed of the speed and posted the 26-1 upset. Winner of the Grade 3 Old Hat here Jan. 3 but fourth in the Grade 2 Forward Gal here Jan. 24, she broke very sharply from her outside post and established a clear lead. She looked in trouble into the lane when her lead shrank and a couple closers came to her, but she rebuffed their challenge. The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles here March 28 may be next. Birdatthewire, winner of the Forward Gal from well off the pace, sat well back early, made an early run to get into stalking position by the far turn, loomed ominously into the lane while wide, and came on well but just couldn’t get past the winner. The Gulfstream Park Oaks figures next. Eskenformoney, the 7-2 favorite off two big wins this meet, got a dream trip stalking the pace, and looked very dangerous into the lane moving with Birdatthewire while between horses. The two of them had the length of the stretch to get to Ekati’s Phaeton but couldn’t do it. Puca, making her first start since running fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 1, was well back early, and while she passed a number of rivals she was never a factor. Cavorting, making her first start since fading to seventh in the slop in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Oct. 4, seemed in a good position early a few lengths off the pace but steadily went backward. She could have needed this race. Enchantress stalked the pace but bid a hasty retreat.

Gulfstream - Mac Diarmida (race 9)

COMMENT: Main Sequence, last year’s champion turf horse and champion older horse, was his workmanlike self in his first start of 2015. He was farther back than usual early as Change of Command set the pace. Main Sequence steadily advanced, pitched very wide on the far turn to get into position, and surged late to get up for the win. The Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic March 28 is reportedly next, and any big Euros or Japanese better show up with their running shoes. Twilight Eclipse will sure be glad to see Main Sequence leave. He ran very well again but has now suffered five straight defeats at the hand of that rival. He dogged pacesetter Change of Command from the start, and was getting the better of that rival in the final furlong only to see Main Sequence blow past late. He did nothing wrong, he just got beat by seemingly one of the best American grass runners in recent times. Change of Command, a big longshot, went right out to the lead, still led at the eighth pole, but then succumbed to two top-class animals. Divine Oath stalked the pace while wide, was still a threat on the far turn, but flattened out in the lane.

Gulfstream - Canadian Turf (race 10)

COMMENT: Long on Value was 11-1 when he won the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita Oct. 31. Here, at 10-1, he popped up again with a top effort to post the upset. He lagged well back early as Silvers Freak set the pace, made an early run to reach contention by the far turn, grabbed the lead by midstretch and edged away. Grand Tito was fractious in the gate, got away poorly and was well back going to the far turn, but put in a strong run to get second. Aripeka, freshened since an optional-claiming win here Dec. 18, sat midpack, angled out into the lane and finished decently. Jack Milton, the 9-5 favorite in his first start since running ninth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Sept. 14, broke slowly and was well back early, made an early wide run to reach contention, was still in the mix to midstretch, but then weakened. Mutin, an impressive optional-claiming winner at Aqueduct Nov. 9, got pinched back at the start and never got involved.

Gulfstream - Fountain of Youth (race 11)

COMMENT: Upstart, winner of the Grade 2 Holy Bull here Jan. 24, did what bettors and many observers thought he’d do here, that is storm home impressively again. What nobody expected was that he failed to keep a straight path and it cost him the victory as he was disqualified to second with the win going to Itsaknockout. Itsaknockout, a son of Lemon Drop Kid coming off an optional-claiming win here Jan. 4, stalked the pace, was making a bid into the lane when he first bumped Upstart, then got bumped by that rival, forcing him to check. The Grade 1 Florida Derby March 28 is likely next. It seems like the stewards showed some inconsistency by leaving House Rules up earlier on the card because, they said, her antics did not change the result. Well, the same could have been said here, as despite bearing out Upstart seemed clearly best. Upstart lagged back, moved closer by the far turn, came with a strong run into the lane but bore out to interfere with Itsaknockout while going on past. The Grade 1 Wood at Aqueduct April 3 may be next. Frammento added blinkers and bounced back from a dull sixth in the Holy Bull. He lagged back and ran on for third. Frosted, second in the Holy Bull, dogged pacesetter Bluegrass Singer early, took over from that foe turning for home, seemed to be traveling wonderfully as he still had the lead by midstretch, but then suddenly hit the brakes in the final furlong. Gorgeous Bird, much ballyhooed off a smashing optional-claiming win here Jan. 24, lagged back and never mustered a run. This may have been a tad too much too soon.

Fair Grounds - Mineshaft Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Street Babe, a son of champion 2-year-old Street Sense, was making his third start and stepping well up in class but he passed the test nicely. He stalked the pace as West Coast shipper Mystery Train set a brisk pace, moved closer turning for home, grabbed the lead by midstretch and stay on for the win. Mystery Train tried runaway tactics in three Southern California races, but found a better situation here and almost took advantage at 17-1. He bounced right out to a clear lead, was still clear turning for home, and made Street Babe work all the way to the line. Red Rifle, the 8-5 favorite making his first start since easily winning the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup Nov. 29, usually uses speed as his main weapon. He sat fourth early, and was never a danger to the top two in the final furlong. Majestic Harbor, shipping in from Southern California after facing the best and finding them too tough, was well back early and never mustered a run.

Fair Grounds - Fair Grounds Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Chocolate Ride, coming off a big win over allowance foes here Feb. 7, handled the step up in class. He went right out to the lead, was able to set modest splits, and put the race on ice with a strong move into the lane to open up a big lead and hold off hard-charging Glenard. There’s no reason the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Jr. March 28 shouldn’t be on his radar. Glenard, making his first start in the U.S. after campaigning in England, bided his time early and came home with gusto. He may eye the Muniz as well. Pyrite Mountain was last until turning for home and finished well, though he was never really a danger. Skyring, a sharp second in this a year ago and the favorite this time, stalked the pace while wide but fell apart in the lane.

Fair Grounds - Rachel Alexandra (race 10)

COMMENT: I’m a Chatterbox showed talent last year, but nothing to really get the pulse racing. When she returned in the Silverbulletday here Jan. 17 she looked like a new filly, blasting her rivals. Well, she validated that run and then some with another smashing performance. She ran away from them in the Silverbulletday but here, from an outside post, she was forced to take back and stalk. Far back early, she circled the field turning for home and drew off. Her development here this meet is reminiscent of the way Untapable surged to the top of the division here a year ago. Lovely Maria, a front-running winner of an optional claimer here Jan. 26, ran well again as she was part of a strong pace picture and kept going while the other speed types gave way. She held second. Forever Unbridled, second to the winner in the Silverbulletday, sat midpack, made a threatening move into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Shook Up, much ballyhooed off a 13 /2-length maiden win here Jan. 3 (in the mud) and then second to Lovely Maria in that Jan. 26 optional claimer, stalked the pace in fourth but never mustered a run. She’s been overrated, or needs wet going for her best. Angela Renee, a Grade 1 winner at Santa Anita last fall, was away slowly, saved ground, pitched out wide on the far turn and closed decently. This run was better than it looks on paper. West Coast Belle was so impressive winning two stakes at Churchill in the fall, including the Grade 2 Golden Rod, before finishing a non-factor fourth to I’m a Chatterbox in the Silverbulletday. She vsat back and never really mustered a run. Either she’s not that fond of this place or she hasn’t progressed as a 3-year-old – or both.

Fair Grounds - Risen Star (race 11)

COMMENT: International Star, so impressive winning the Grade 3 Lecomte here Jan. 17, proved victorious again here. It was a reprise of the Lecomte as he bided his time and got to the inside, came up the rail on the far turn, squeezed past tiring pacesetter St. Joe Bay in the upper stretch and edged clear. The Grade 2 Louisiana Derby here March 28 figures next. War Story was second in the Lecomte and filled that spot again as he raced inside early just behind the eventual winner, had to steady just a bit behind that foe on the first turn, came off the fence for the stretch run, and finished well. His rider claimed foul against the winner for being in a bit tight on the first turn but it was not allowed. The difference here may well have been that International Star managed to save ground while War Story had to go around. A rematch in the Louisiana Derby figures on tap. Keen Ice, who was getting away from the Florida horses and moving to a track that may play a bit better for his closing style, settled toward the back, as is his custom, though he wasn’t far behind the top two finishers. He didn’t accelerate as quickly but plugged along willingly to get third. Imperia, favored in his first start of the year, settled well back early and never mustered a run. His rider said the horse seemed to flounder when asked for run. It wasn’t a stirring return but it was a race he likely needed and he can move forward next time.

Sunday, February 22

Oaklawn Park - Southwest (race 8)

COMMENT: This race was rescheduled after being part of a canceled Feb. 16 card. Far Right used a strong late run to beat many of these in the Smarty Jones here Jan. 19 and he did so again here to established himself the top local 3-year-old male. He settled well back as favored Mr. Z set the pace, came with his run going to the far turn while taying inside, angled off the rail turning for home, and moved back to the rail as Mr. Z drifted out into the lane. This showed he can handle off going. The Grade 2 Rebel here March 14 may be next. The Truth Or Else, making his first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct Nov. 29, was far back early, came with a strong wide run to reach contention on the far turn, took the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t outfinish the winner. The difference here may have been that the winner saved some ground, and The Truth Or Else didn’t. Mr. Z, third as the favorite to Far Right in the Smarty Jones, dueled early with Hillbilly Royalty, took a clear lead, battled back when challenged on the far turn, drifted out into the lane, and stayed on gamely. Bold Conquest, making his first start since being a well-beaten third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 4, lagged well back and finished well. Hillbilly Royalty, a romping winner of his two starts, including one here Feb. 6, dueled early with Mr. Z, was then content to sit just off that foe. He went after him again going to the far turn but couldn’t keep up. Bayerd, second in the Smarty Jones, sat midpack while saving ground, seemed in a good spot turning for home but came up empty.