Trip Notes for February 11-12: Gulfstream Park Handicap, Sam F. Davis

Feb. 11

Gulfstream

Suwannee River (race 9)

COMMENT: Dickinson was fourth behind today’s foes Sandiva and Sea Coast in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River here Jan. 14, her first race in three months. Having that race under her belt and a bit more ground this time helped her turn the tables and notch her first graded stakes win. She stalked in fourth as longshot Cali Thirty set a solid pace, remained in contention while a bit crowded and in tight between horses turning for home, angled inside to the rail for a clear lane, shot through, and opened up to win fairly easily. She looks like a comer for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and owner Godolphin. Elysea’s World, part of the Chad Brown turf distaff armada, sat well back to the far turn, swung very wide and finished well for second. Sandiva, the 3-2 favorite off a win in the Marshua’s, sat sixth to the far turn, came with a threatening run into the lane, and flattened out. Goldy Espony, another from the Chad Brown barn, was making her first start since winning the Grade 3 La Prevoyante here in December 2015. She stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but weakened, looking like a horse who needed the race.

Gulfstream

Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Chad Brown had the first two under the wire here, with Almanaar getting the job done over Beach Patrol, who was disqualified and placed fourth. A former French runner who was coming off a second to Flatlined in the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale here Jan. 14, Almanaar was toward the back early as Beach Patrol set a solid pace. Almanaar was a bit rank early and appeared to clip heels of Lukes Alley, causing him to stumble going to the clubhouse turn. He moved out on the far turn, was asked for run once straightened away in the lane, and finished strongly to catch his stablemate. All Included was last early while saving ground, remained well back to the far turn, came with a strong wide run in the lane, and finished well to be third. He was moved up to second on the disqualification of Beach Patrol, although he wasn’t involved in the incident. War Correspondent sat midpack, came with a nice run into the lane but got carried out and bumped by Beach Patrol. He was moved up from fourth to third. Beach Patrol, a Grade 1 winner last year at 3 and making his first start against elders, set the pace under pressure from Elrigh, dispatched with that foe, drifted out from left-handed whipping, bumping War Correspondent, and held on for second. Lukes Alley, who won this race last year, stalked the pace, stumbled a bit going to the first turn after Almanaar clipped his heels, got going again to sit midpack, but never mustered a run. Divisidero, the favorite after rallying well for third in the Ft. Lauderdale, his first start in five months, sat a bit closer than usual, loomed a big threat turning for home, but came up empty. Flatlined, winner of the Ft. Lauderdale, was flat throughout.

Gulfstream

Gulfstream Park Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: Sharp Azteca, second in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita Dec. 26, showed he will be a sprinter-miler with which to reckon this year as he easily captured this event. He broke sharply to be second off early pacesetter Blofeld, soon put his head in front of that rival, opened up on the far turn, and blew the race wide open into the lane. Awesome Slew, shortened up after a third in the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic here Jan. 29, lagged back early, started to advance while wide, and continued on with good energy to be well clear of the others. Tommy Macho, the favorite off a win in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope at this same trip here Jan. 14, sat fifth, made a decent run into the lane, and flattened out in the final furlong for third. Zulu bided his time while wide, seemed poised to make a run, but it never materialized.

Tampa

Tampa Bay (race 9)

COMMENT: Making his first start vs. elders and first since a troubled fifth in the Tropical Park Derby here Dec. 31, Inspector Lynley got a heady ride from John Velazquez that enabled him get the win. He sat fourth early while staying on the rail in the tightly bunched field as Turbo Street set a modest pace, remained trapped inside to the top of the lane, found a seam when Irish Strait took the lead into the lane, angled off the inside, and ran down Irish Strait while outkicking Kasaqui to the wire. Kasaqui, back on turf after fading badly to be eighth in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Fayette Oct. 29, bided his time well back early, angled out coming into the lane, and finished strongly for second. Irish Strait pressed the pace, took the lead into the lane, but couldn’t quite finish with the top two. Catapult, the 5-2 favorite coming off a stakes win on Aqueduct turf Nov. 24, was fading elders for the first time. He stalked in third just in front of the eventual winner, loomed a big threat into the lane, but couldn’t provide the needed punch. Kaigun, a Grade 2 winner making his first start since a fourth in the Grade 2 Nijinsky at Woodbine July 24, was well back early and never mustered a run.

Tampa

Sam F. Davis (race 10)

COMMENT: While consensus early Kentucky Derby favorite Classic Empire fizzled in his 3-year-old debut last week, McCraken, regarded by many as No. 2, held up his end. A son of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, McCraken pushed his record to 4 for 4 with an impressive tally over a nice bunch. Last seen winning the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs Nov. 26, he sat well back early as State of Honor set a solid pace, started his run on the far turn, stayed wide and clear, and finished strongly. This was a thoroughly professional win and he figures to be No. 1 on many a Derby list. His trainer, Ian Wilkes, was the main assistant to trainer Carl Nafzger when he won the Derby with Unbridled and Street Sense. Tapwrit, a $1.2 million son of Tapit who won the Pulpit at Gulfstream Dec. 2, sat midpack while saving ground, angled out to make his run once straightened away in the stretch, and finished well. State of Honor took pressure from Wild Shot on the far turn, had that foe edge past in midstretch, got past him again, but was unable to finish with the top two. Fact Finding, the second choice after winning his first three starts including the Smooth Air at Gulfstream Dec. 10, chased State of Honor, loomed a threat turning for home, but was unable to stay with the top finishers in the lane. No Dozing, making his first start since finishing second in Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Remsen Nov. 26, sat back early and never mustered a run.

Tampa

Endeavour (race 11)

COMMENT: With no Tepin to worry about, it was easy pickings for Isabella Sings. She set fast splits while opening up by over five lengths at one point, was still clear turning for home, rebuffed a bid from Light in Paris, and edged clear late. Light in Paris, a winner here Jan. 8 in her first start in 11 months, stalked the pace from the start, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and was able to close the gap some. Evidently was last early and came with a nice run for third.

Santa Anita

Santa Maria (race 4)

COMMENT: Vale Dori, sent off at 3-10 odds, did the expected by winning, though not without a few anxious moments prior to the start. She unseated rider Mike Smith and nearly flipped over in the gate. After getting settled, she got back to work, going right out to dog early pacesetter Midnight Toast. Vale Dori pressed her through modest splits on a track listed as wet-fast, opened up into the lane, held off Show Stealer. This gives her three straight Grade 2 wins. Show Stealer, second to Vale Dori in the La Canada, was last early, started to advance on the turn, and finished well to close the gap on the winner and finish far clear of the others. Autumn Flower, third in the La Canada, made this a repeat of the La Canada trifecta. She stalked the pace, got shuffled back turning for home, but got going again.

Santa Anita

Arcadia (race 5)

COMMENT: Bolo won this race for the second straight year, despite the fact this was his first start in almost seven months after having throat surgery to repair a breathing issue. He was pulling early and had to steady when in tight behind pacesetter What a View, was still pulling into the backstretch, finally relaxed some, came out into the lane, and finished well to win a close finish. What a View, coming back quickly after running second in the California Cup Turf Classic here Jan. 28, set a brisk pace, looked in trouble when Conquest Enforcer appeared to put his head in front in midstretch, but got the better of that foe only to end up a head shy of the winner. Conquest Enforcer, winner of the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile here Dec. 26, dogged What a View, moved up to engage him coming into the lane, looked as though he might go on to victory, but couldn’t sustain his run in the final 70 yards. Ring Weekend, winner of the 2015 Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, was away slowly and in last until turning for home, kept on grinding, and came up a nose shy of third.

Feb. 12

Santa Anita

San Vicente (race 4)

COMMENT: Iliad looked super blasting maidens at Los Alamitos when racing for Bob Baffert. Now with Doug O’Neill, he didn’t miss a beat as he easily won a fast renewal of this race. Iliad pressed the pace early of longshot Blabimir from his outside post, running three wide when Law Abidin Citizen joined the duel. Iliad took command entering the lane and drew off to win comfortably. Law Abidin Citizen, romping winner over maidens here Jan. 29, was last early after breaking a bit slowly from his rail slot, moved up eagerly to press Blabimir going to the far turn, tried to go with Iliad into the lane, and stayed on well to be a clear second. Battle of Midway, the 4-5 favorite off his big debut win here Jan. 21, sat back early, was in a bit tight going to the far turn, then couldn’t get involved. Aquamarine, easy winner of his debut in the mud here Jan. 13, pressed the pace and tired in the lane.