Trip Notes for February 1-2, 2020: Holy Bull, Robert B. Lewis, Withers, and more

Feb. 1

Aqueduct
Withers (race 8)

COMMENT: Max Player, from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Honor Code, added blinkers and whipped maidens in his second start at Parx Dec. 17. Facing winners and racing at Aqueduct for the first time, the colt handled those hurdles with aplomb, finishing well for the win. He bided his time early a couple lanes off the rail after having to steady off heels as favorite Shotski set a modest pace under pressure from Prince of Pharoahs and Vanzzy, remained toward the back to the far turn, moved wider out for room on the turn as he progressed, pitched wider still into the lane and put in a solid sustained run while very wide to overhaul the leaders and draw clear, though the final furlong was accomplished in a lackluster 13.63 seconds. Trainer Linda Rice said she doesn’t want to cut him back to a mile for the Grade 3 Gotham March 7 so the 3-year-old will target the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at this same trip here April 4. Whether there’s race in between to bridge to the Wood is up in the air. Shotski, favored off a game win in the Grade 2 Remsen here Dec. 7, broke well only to find Prince of Pharoahs a tad quicker. He soon took over pacesetting duties from that rival, then was hounded by that foe and Vanzzy, both to his outside. He got the better of those two on the far turn only to be challenged by Monday Morning Qb into the lane, was getting the better of that rival only to have the winner sweep past, continuing on gamely to hold second. He’ll reportedly target the Wood as well, with the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Feb. 28 or Gotham as a bridge. Portos, the second choice off a romping maiden win in slop here Dec. 31 at this trip, was away slowly to be last early, remained toward the back while a few lanes off the rail, started to advance on the far turn while wide, pitched wider still into the lane and continued a steady rally though he was never a danger to the winner. Prince of Pharoahs, second to the highly promising Independence Hall in the Jerome here Jan. 1, broke sharply to go right to the lead, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Shotski, was content to stalk the rival thereafter, was asked to get more involved into the far turn but came up empty. He may shorten up for the Gotham.

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Gulfstream
Forward Gal (race 6)

COMMENT: Tonalist’s Shape came into this unbeaten and basically untested in three starts and that’s the way she left as the daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist proved an easy winner. As the heavy 3-10 favorite after a romping win in the Hut Hut here Nov. 30 she got a dream trip from her extreme outside post as she was away a bit slowly, bided her time in fourth while wide as Compensate set a solid pace under pressure from Street of Dreams, moved up nicely under her own power while remaining wide on the far turn, took over into the lane, drew off and was basically geared down. She certainly looks talented, though we’ll see if she’s up to the likes of Taraz, British Idiom, Bast and Donna Veloce. We’ll likely find out more later this month as she reportedly targets the Grade 2 Davona Dale here Feb. 29. Street of Dreams, a $150,000 daughter of 2-year-old male champ and multiple Grade 1 winner Street Sense who came into this off a smart maiden win in slop at Churchill Nov. 30, showed speed to dog early pacesetter Compensate from the start, pressed that foe to the top of the lane, had no answer when the winner stormed past to her outside but kept on well to be a decent second. Nikki and Papa, last from the start, remained there going to the far turn, was urged to get closer on the turn, came out into the lane and made some headway though she was no threat to the top two. Compensate, who set a solid pace under pressure from Street of Dreams, battled back when challenged into the lane but gave way once headed.

Gulfstream
Sweetest Chant (race 8)

COMMENT: Turf course was listed as “good.” Cheermeister was a smart winner of the Wait a While on this course Nov. 30 but threw a fit in the gate and broke through the barrier prior to the start of the Ginger Brew here Jan. 4. Once settled, she stalked but gave way readily to end up 10th. The daughter of Bodemeister was on much better behavior this time as she bounced back to form, notching her first graded stakes win. She broke alertly, went right to the lead, shot out to a big advantage while holding the fence, looked to possibly be in a bit of trouble when a few rivals came at her on the far turn but rebroke, opened up again and had enough of advantage to get to the line before a few hard-trying closers. The Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at 1 1/16 miles here Feb. 29 could be next. Micheline, a 13-1 outsider despite coming off a nice optional-claiming win at Tampa Dec. 20, was away slowly to be last early, was still last to the far turn, ran into traffic at that point, altered course and finished well for second. Ivyettsu, trying turf for the first time after giving way badly when rank and unmanageable when finishing last of eight in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill on Nov. 30, was away poorly as she veered out at the start, lagged toward the back ahead of only Micheline, made some progress into the far turn, continued on well while wide on the turn, pitched wider still into the lane and continued on decently to get third. Moral Reasoning, a $220,000 daughter of More Than Ready and 3-2 favorite off a sharp rallying second in the Ginger Punch here Jan. 4, stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane but flattened out. A few of these could knock heads again in the Herecomesthebride.

Gulfstream
Swale (race 9)

COMMENT: This was viewed as a summit of sorts between monster maiden winner Untitled and Grade 2 winner Green Light Go but no one told Mischevious Alex as the $140,000 son of Into Mischief dominated the proceedings. He added blinkers for the first time in a stakes at Parx Nov. 5 and romped by over nine lengths. From his rail draw, he showed again he’s a better horse with blinkers as he broke well, dueled inside fellow pacesetter Flash Pass, remained locked in battle with that foe to the far turn, got the better of that rival, blew the race open into the lane and drew off further while winning in hand. He’s routed decently before but looks like a sprinter. Trainer John Servis said he’d likely keep him around one turn and point to the Grade 3 Gotham at a mile at Aqueduct on March 7. Shivaree, coming into this off three straight wins, the last two being stakes, showed he isn’t out of his element vs. this caliber as he stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, proved no match but kept on gamely to beat the two favorites for second. The Hutcheson here Feb. 22 or Gotham would appear logical options for him as well. Green Light Go, the second choice while making his first start since finishing second to the highly talented Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Oct. 5, was away a bit slowly to be at the back early, bided his time a couple lanes off the rail, moved to the rail into the lane as he made some headway, continued to make progress but was never a threat to the big winner. Could be he’s more a Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens type than a Kentucky Derby horse at this stage of the game, though it’s still early. Untitled, smashing 11-length winner (for a 98 Beyer) in his sprint debut here Dec. 14, got bumped by Flash Pass to his outside at the start, got bounced around a bit between that rival and the eventual winner to his inside, made a threatening move on the far turn only to encounter traffic and was basically one-paced thereafter. He admittedly had a troubled trip but could be he’ll be better at the one-turn game rather than the classic distances.

Gulfstream
Holy Bull (race 11)

COMMENT: Tiz the Law again showed he’s pretty green but also proved again to have loads of talent as the $110,000 son of Grade 1 winner Constitution won nicely. He broke very sharply, held the early lead into the first turn while a few lanes off the rail, moved to the fence on the turn, was soon taken back along the inside as Ete Indien moved past to his outside to take over pacesetting duties, had to check along the rail down the backstretch when in tight as Clear Destination came over in front of him, moved off the fence heading to the far turn, moved out and around that foe on the far turn, took dead aim on Ete Indien turning for home, got the better of that rival to his inside, shifted ground to the rail in midstretch, though he was already clear of Ete Indien, and drew clear. This might not have been the strongest bunch but he did what he needed to do and this run sets him up for a possible go at the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds March 21 or they could stay here and await the Grade 1 Florida Derby a week later. Ete Indien, smart winner of an optional claimer in his first try on dirt here Dec. 20, broke well, went past Tiz the Law to his inside to take over pacesetting duties on the first run, set a solid pace as he moved to the rail down the backstretch, battled back when Tiz the Law challenged, continued to battle into the lane, came off the rail and shifted out a few lanes after Tiz the Law shifted over in front of him, but was never hindered and while no match for the winner finished far clear of the others. Toledo, second to Ete Indien in the aforementioned Dec. 20 race, broke well from his rail slot, was content to sit midpack on the first turn, came off the rail some into the backstretch, continued on decently between horses, made a mild move into the far turn as if poised to make a run but flattened out. The others were well behind him, too. Off this he doesn’t look quite ready to take on the division big boys.

Santa Anita
Robert B. Lewis (race 6)

COMMENT: Thousand Words, a $1 million son of Pioneerof the Nile, kept his record unblemished in three starts as he started his sophomore season. The colt didn’t dominate but again did what was necessary. Coming off a game win in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 7, the colt sat inside as stablemate High Velocity set a solid pace, remained inside behind that rival with Tizamagician and Royal Act to his outside, crept closer to be just behind his stablemate, seemed in a box turning for home, found a seam between High Velocity on the rail and Tizamagician to his outside, bulled his way through, was part of a four-horse phalanx in midstretch but kept on gamely to get the narrow decision. With trainer Bob Baffert’s wealth of riches in the division he’ll have some sorting out to do. The Grade 2 San Felipe on March 7 is the next big route for 3-year-old here, though Baffert has never been averse to shipping his Derby prospects out of town. He will have to do better as horses he only narrowly beat include a horse who’d never before run on dirt (Royal Act) and a stablemate who may have some distance limitations (High Velocity). Royal Act, a $500,000 son of Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah trying dirt for the first time after a fifth in a turf stakes here Dec. 29, showed ample tactical speed to stalk the pace while wide, remained wide throughout, came with a nice run on the far turn to challenge, was widest of the four battling for the lead into the lane and through the stretch and just couldn’t quite outdo the winner. Since he handles any footing that gives his connections all sorts of options. High Velocity, a $350,000 son of Quality Road who set the pace before ending up a well-beaten third to Thousand Words in the Los Alamitos Futurity, went right up to challenge for the lead with Tizamagician to his inside, was able to clear that rival into the first turn and grab a clear lead while moving to the rail, set a solid pace under pressure from Tizamagician, battled back gamely when hooked by that rival, Royal Act further out, and Thousand Words, who came up alongside into the lane, showed courage to stay on well but relented in the final half-furlong. Tizamagician, a $150,000 son of Horse of the Year Tiznow and a smart maiden winner here Jan. 1, broke very sharply to take the early lead while grabbing the fence, was outrun into the first turn by High Velocity to his outside, came off the rail when that rival moved over in front of him to take the rail, moved to High Velocity’s outside, applied pressure to the far turn, made a stronger challenge into the lane with Royal Act to his outside, was in the thick of it as Thousand Words came through to his inside but then couldn’t quite keep pace with the top three in the final half-furlong.

Santa Anita
San Marcos (race 7)

COMMENT: United ran the race of his life when a game second to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 2. He was a sharp second again in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar Dec. 1, this time narrowly beaten by Oscar Dominguez. The son of Giant’s Causeway (same sire as Bricks and Mortar) got his revenge while wearing a shadow roll for the first time. He showed a bit more speed to stalk as Brown Storm established a clear lead into the stretch for the first time while setting a modest pace, remained stalking a couple lengths off the lead while off the rail and in the clear, crept closer heading to the far turn with Multiplier to his inside, came with a smart run turning for home, was pushed wider still as the field fanned across the track but finished gallantly between horses for the win as the entire field was spread across the track, ending up separated by just 1 1/2 lengths. Something like the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at 1 1/2 miles here March 21 might be next, though it’s possible they get tempted by the Group 1 Dubai Sheema at 1 1/2 miles in Dubai on March 28. Cleopatra’s Strike, a sharp second in the Grade 2 San Gabriel here Jan. 4, bided his time from the start tracking the eventual winner, started to advance into the far turn just behind that foe, pitched wider into the lane following United, found clear sailing with the eventual winner to his inside and Oscar Dominguez to his outside, finished well but just wasn’t quite good enough. Oscar Dominguez, winner of the aforementioned Hollywood Turf Cup over United, sat well off the pace at the back of the pack, moved closer going to the far turn, started a nice run with Cleopatra’s Strike to his inside, pitched widest of all into the lane and finished well but couldn’t quite outdo the top two. Brown Storm, multiple Grade 1-placed in Chile but no factor in his first two starts in the U.S., moved forward nicely here as he went right out to a clear lead, moved to the rail, set a modest pace under pressure from Chosen Vessel to his outside, maintained a narrow lead into the far turn, was challenged by Chosen Vessel to his outside on the far turn, drifted off the rail considerably, got straightened in the lane and continued on gamely to rebuff Chosen Vessel while only just unable to counter the top three further outside. A number of these could return and knock heads in the San Luis Rey.

Santa Anita
San Pasqual (race 8)

COMMENT: Midcourt blew the start in the Grade 2 San Antonio here Dec. 28 and was never able to recover, ending up third far behind big winner Gift Box. That broke a streak of four straight wins. The son of Midnight Lute made no such miscue here as he broke alertly and led his rivals on a merry chase. He jumped out to a clear lead, remained a bit off the rail as he extended his advantage on the clubhouse turn, continued clear through modest splits, opened up further into the lane and never really had an anxious moment. This makes him one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap here March 7 when likely to get a rematch with Gift Box. Two Thirty Five, second to Midcourt in the Comma to the Top here Oct. 27 and third to Midcourt in the Grade 3 Native Diver at Del Mar on Nov. 23, played a supporting role to that rival again as the son of Stay Thirsty sat fourth from the start, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, proved no match but kept on well to be a clear second. Combatant sat well back from the start from his far outside post, remained there to the far turn, made progress while wide and while never a threat to the top two kept on well for third. Roadster, the favorite after running on for second in the Grade 1 Malibu here to Omaha Beach Jan. 28, was away slowly, made a bit of progress on the far turn between horses but was empty after that and was unable to make an impression in a disappointing run. While he’s won going even farther maybe now he’s better playing a long one-turn game instead.