Trip Notes for February 10-11: Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Sam F. Davis, and more

Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: It was a long time coming, but 7-year-old Heart to Heart finally got his first Grade 1 win and he showed heart in doing it. He came into this off a disappointing run in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale here Jan. 13, when he reared at the start to get away poorly, stalked the pace but gave way to finish seventh. He had no such issues here as from his rail slot he broke alertly, went right to the lead, set modest splits while under pressure from One Go All Go, maintained a narrow lead to the far turn, had that rival fall away, opened up some into the lane and then had to dig deep to get to the line before hard-charging rival Kurilov, prevailing by a neck. He figures to target the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark 46 Mile at Keeneland on April 13. Kurilov, a bigshot in Chile the past couple seasons and moving to turf after a good third in a dirt stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 23 (beaten just a neck), stalked in fourth while saving ground, remained inside to the top of the lane, pitched out and finished smartly only to come up a neck short. Hi Happy stalked in third, remained there to the top of the lane and kept on decently but just wasn’t good enough. Money Multiplier, a Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 2-placed, bided his time early but never made a move. This makes for a third straight not-so-hot effort, so you wonder if the 6-year-old has seen better days. March, a smart optional-claiming winner here Dec. 29, sat midpack early but never got involved thereafter, eventually fading to last in a disappointing effort.

Gulfstream
Suwannee River (race 10)

COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown won last year’s Eclipse as top trainer, much of his success coming from top turf females such as Lady Eli, Sea Calisi, Dacita, Roca Rojo, Grand Jete, Rainha Da Bateria, Rubilinda, Off Limits, Antonoe, New Money Honey, Uni, etc. While some of those may not be around any longer he’s still got plenty of power in that division, evidenced by a one-two run here led by tough veteran Elysea’s World. The daughter of Champs Elysees who was last seen finishing second in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel at Santa Anita on Dec. 30, she bided her time early as Midnight Crossing (who won the Frankel) set a modest pace. She remained toward the back to the far turn, swung out coming into the lane and finished resolutely to edge past stablemate Dream Awhile for the win. Dream Awhile, winner of the Tropical Park Oaks here Dec. 30, sat second behind pacesetting Midnight Crossing, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, looked like the winner inside the eighth pole but just couldn’t quite fend off her stablemate in the final strides. Ultra Brat, winner of the Grade 3 Marshua’s River here Jan. 13, sat just behind Dream Awhile from the start while inside, was trapped behind horses going into the far turn, found a lane inside on the turn, came through nicely but was then in tight again on the inside in the final furlong and unable to really extend. She was certainly unlucky. Kitten’s Roar, the favorite off a big win in the Grade 2 Goldikova at Del Mar on Nov. 4 and an eighth in the very tough Grade 1 Matriarch there Nov. 26, stalked in fourth, loomed a threat into the lane but then finished one-paced, unable to really threaten in the final furlong. Dream Dancing, second to Ultra Brat in the Tropical Park Oaks and with proven quality (won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 19), was slow into stride to be well back early, remained well back to the far turn, pitched out very wide into the lane but failed to make significant headway.

Tampa Bay
Endeavour (race 9)

COMMENT: Multiple Grade 2 wins last year and a big second in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington last summer showed what Dona Bruja was capable of. The Argentine mare, making her first start of the year, looked even better as she dominated a strong bunch here, stamping herself a major player in the turf female division. From her rail slot she took control from the start, breaking alertly to bounce out to a clear early lead. She was able to set modest splits, had rival Viva Vegas come close to her turning for home but easily swatted away that gal, opening up again into the lane and continuing on nicely to win without a nervous moment in the lane. The Grade 2 Hillsborough here March 10 figures next. La Coronel, the favorite as she was making her first start since she won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland on Oct. 14, bided her time early while saving ground, came with a run on the far turn and into the lane and while no match for the winner kept on well for second. The Hillsborough could be on her radar as well. Truly Together was last early after slow start, remained there to the far turn, pitched wide and finished well, though she was never really a danger to the winner. Viva Vegas, a smart allowance winner in her last two here Dec. 1 and Jan. 5, stalked the pace, made a run at the winner on the far turn but then couldn’t keep up when it mattered and gave way in the lane.

Tampa Bay
Sam F. Davis (race 10)

COMMENT: Flameaway had done his best work on turf, in mud and on synthetic, but the $400,000 son of Scat Daddy showed he can handle fast dirt, putting himself on the Triple Crown trail with a game win over a promising bunch. Coming off a game win in a turf stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 6, he went right to the lead from his inside post, set a modest pace under constant pressure, first from Vino Rosso and then from Septimius Severus, looked in trouble when heavy favorite Catholic Boy came to him into the lane as Septimius Severus fell away, but gamely rebuffed that rival to the line. Off this the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby here figures next, according to trainer Mark Casse, and should all go well there, then the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 7. Oddly enough he wasn’t yet nominated to the Triple Crown. Casse said that would quickly be remedied. Catholic Boy, the heavy favorite off a smashing win in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct on Dec. 2, bided his time early, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a strong run into the lane, looked as though he would blow past leader Flameaway and go on to victory but couldn’t outfinish that foe. Maybe having a couple months off got to him in the final furlong. He still belongs on your short list of Triple Crown protagonists. Trainer Jonathan Thomas said the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream on March 31 is likely next, though the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds March 24 is an option. Vino Rosso, a $410,000 son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin who was stepping up off two big wins to start his career, pressed the early pace between horses, sucked back some going down the backstretch, came with a decent run in the lane to close the gap but wasn’t really a danger to the winner in the final half-furlong. Hollywood Star, last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 4, was away slowly to be last early. The $550,000 son of Malibu Moon remained well back and could manage to make only modest headway in the lane.

:: The Road to the Kentucky Derby Player's Package

Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay (race 11)

COMMENT: On paper champion World Approval dominated this, and while he didn’t really dominate the 6-year-old gelded son of Northern Afleet still won fairly comfortably and now eyes the Group 1 Dubai Turf on March 31. Winner of three straight Grade 1’s including the championship-clinching Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar, World Approval broke well to sit third as Western Reserve and Le Ken dueled through strong splits, remained there to the far turn, eased out for room into the lane, moved up to take the lead while travelling comfortably and maintained a narrow advantage to the line while never really being asked. Forge, who stalked the pace before fading to seventh in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker at Belmont on Oct. 9 last time out, stalked while sitting just behind the eventual winner, moved up behind that foe coming into the lane, doggedly kept to his task and while unable to outdo the winner finished far clear of the rest. Fire Away, stepping up off a big win in the Artie Schiller at Aqueduct on Nov. 18, lagged back early, swung very wide into the lane and finished decently, though he was never really a danger to the top two. The race was marred by a spill turning for home. Doctor Mounty stalked the pace, appeared to clip a rival’s heels on the far turn, stumbled and fell. Cheyenne’s Colonel lagged back and then fell over his fallen rival. Fortunately it was reported the horses and riders appeared to escape serious injury.

Santa Anita
Santa Maria (race 4)

COMMENT: Unique Bella made her bid to be the top distaffer in the lane as the $400,000 daughter of Tapit, fresh off being named champion sprinting distaffer and gamely taking the Grade 1 La Brea (over no less a rival than top-class Paradise Woods), had no trouble here, dominating the proceedings. Her natural speed carried her out to a clear early lead. She set solid splits while remaining clear and just off the rail, blew the race open into the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. The Grade 1 Santa Margarita here March 17 is reportedly next and should all go well there, then the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 13. Dominant as she was, remember there is considerable other power in this division including champion Forever Unbridled, champion Abel Tasman, and multiple Grade 1 winners Paradise Woods, Elate, and multiple graded stakes winner Vale Dori. Mopotism, a solid third to Unique Bella in the La Brea and then game winner of the Grade 2 La Canada here Jan. 13, stalked in third, kept to her task nicely but was no danger to the winner. She can surely do some damage in the right spots, though those would figure to be spots without Unique Bella, Forever Unbridled, Abel Tasman, Paradise Woods, Elate, and Vale Dori. Majestic Heat chased the winner from the start, tried to make a run at her turning for home, proved no match and was outrun for second in the final half-furlong.

Santa Anita
Thunder Road (race 5)

COMMENT: Om hadn’t won in some time (2015) but was multiple Grade 1-2-placed in the interim. He moved back to a mile, got a change of riders and change of tactics and it added up to a smart win. Instead of lagging back, as had been his custom, he was sent out to the lead. It wasn’t just a narrow lead, either, as instead he shot out to an overwhelming advantage. He remained well clear going into the backstretch, appeared to be in trouble when the field came to him going to the far turn, but showed heart to gamely battle the rest of the way keeping his rivals at bay to the line. Off this the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile here March 10 figures next. Bowies Hero, facing elders for the first time after a smart win in the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile here Dec. 26, bided his time early as the eventual winner opened a long lead, quickly moved in behind that rival going to the far turn, loomed a big threat turning for home but just couldn’t quite get past the winner. Next Shares sat last early after breaking a bit slowly from his rail slot, remained there to the far turn, swung out into the lane and finished well. The top three could knock heads again in the Kilroe Mile. Blackjackcat, the heavy favorite off a sharp third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 4, chased the eventual winner from the start, was still in the mix turning for home but then came up empty in a disappointing effort. Could be he needed this outing after more than three months off.

Santa Anita
San Vicente (race 6)

COMMENT: Some inexperienced but promising 3-year-olds looked to get onto the Kentucky Derby trail here, but it was longshot Kanthaka who proved easily best. By the talented sprinter-miler Jimmy Creed, Kanthaka bided his time early as Mr. Jagermeister and heavy 2-5 favorite Ax Man set strong splits, remained toward the back going to the far turn, swung wide to make his run into the lane, powered home to inhale the tiring leaders, drawing off for the easy win. While his pedigree says sprinter-miler, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Kanthaka’s next start would be around two turns. Nero, a $950,000 son of Pioneerof the Nile, coming off a game maiden win here Jan. 13, stalked in third, moved up to challenge into the lane, couldn’t finish with the winner but kept on well to finish far clear of the others (12 lengths). All Out Blitz stalked in fourth, came wide into the lane and ran on for third, though he was never a factor. Ax Man, the heavy favorite off a monstrous debut win here Jan. 1, dueled with Mr. Jagermeister from the start while inside, setting strong splits, but paid the price for that as he gave way in the lane. It’s far too early to give up on this guy but it seems a reach after this to believe he’s a Derby horse. He may be best suited for one-turn races at this stage of the game.