Trip Notes for February 15-16: Mac Diarmida, El Camino Real Derby, Santa Maria, San Vicente and more...

Feb. 15 - Gulfstream Park

The Very One (race 8)

COMMENT: Inimitable Romanee, making her first start since posting a wire-to-wire 28-1 upset in the Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct on Nov. 9, showed she may well have found her niche as a stayer as she posted another upset here, this time at 10-1. This time she staked the pace of Viva Rafaela, moved to the lead into the lane, and was edging away in the final half-furlong. Off this, the Grade 3 Orchid here at 1 1/2 miles on March 29 seems logical. Aigue Marine raced in tandem with the eventual winner, though just behind, didn’t accelerate as quickly, but closed well in the final furlong. The Orchid figures next for her as well. Viva Rafaela went right to the lead, was able to set a dawdling pace that left her with gas in the tank for the stretch run, though she couldn’t quite fend off the top two. Preferential, favored in her first start since winning the 1 1/2-mile Dowager at Keeneland on Oct. 20, lagged back and never really mustered a run. Of course, the race shape played against her, but she was just behind Aigue Marine early and that gal managed to close well despite the snail-like pace. The Orchid figures next for her as well. Anjaz threw a fit in the gate prior to the start and had to be scratched.

Gulfstream Park - Mac Diarmida (race 10)

COMMENT: Twilight Eclipse was only fourth in this last year, but he looks like a better horse these days as he had no trouble beating this bunch. Coming off a romping seven-length win in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight on dirt at Calder on Dec. 28, he showed he’s probably even better on turf as he sat third while Alpha ran off to a clear lead. He bided his time there, commenced his run into the lane, surged to the lead, and was edging away in the final yards. Last year, he went from this to the Grade 2 Pan American at 1 1/2 miles, which he won while setting a new world record, but this year he will instead point to the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic on March 29. Sharp as he is, that’s a tall, tall order. Amen Kitten, facing elders after a fine third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, lagged back, came with a threatening wide run into the lane, but couldn’t quite sustain it enough to get to the winner. The Pan American here March 29 figures next, especially if Twilight Eclipse is headed overseas. Slumber moved back to this longer trip and showed he prefers this type of game as he stalked in fourth, just behind the eventual winner, ran into traffic issues turning for home, had to wait for room, found a seam and came through to finish well, but the damage was done. He was unlucky not to do better. His sharp fourth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont on Sept. 28 (got a 102 Beyer) shows he can do some big things when in the mood. Alpha, a two-time Grade 1 winner on dirt trying turf for the first time, rushed out to a clear early lead, though the splits weren’t all that fast. He held the lead turning for home but weakened once headed. It also was his first start in nearly three months, so you can be a bit forgiving, though this may not be his game.

Golden Gate - El Camino Real Derby (race 8)

COMMENT: A pair of Southern California raiders who have been knocking heads with the best of their division came north and dominated the proceedings here, with Tamarando proving best. He was proven class, having won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on synthetic at Del Mar and running third to champion Shared Belief and big-time 3-year-old Candy Boy in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on synthetic footing at Hollywood Park. He broke slowly to be last early as I’ll Wrap It Up set a slow pace. He was content to remain last and was still there turning for home when he commenced a powerful wide run that saw him circle the field. He gamely persevered to nudge past a stubborn Dance With Fate. He loves synthetic, which may be an issue come Kentucky Derby time, but for now that works, so trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway on March 22 may be next. Dance With Fate, likewise proven, (two-time Grade 1 placed) stalked the pace while wide on the first turn, came with a nice run into the lane, grabbed the lead in midstretch, but couldn’t quite fend off the winner while clear of the rest in another good outing. Enterprising, the favorite off a fine second in the Cal Derby here last month, dogged pacesetter I’ll Wrap It Up early, moved with Dance With Fate to challenge for the lead into the lane, but couldn’t finish with the top two in the final furlong.

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Santa Anita - Santa Maria (race 8)

COMMENT: The race complexion changed when likely favorite Fiftyshadesofhay scratched (foot abscess; will instead target the Grade 1 Santa Margarita here March 15). Iotapa, coming off a sharp second in the Grade 2 Santa Monica here Jan. 25, her first start in five months, used her speed to utilize her rail draw to her best advantage as she went right out to the lead, was able to set modest splits despite some early pressure from outsider Yahilwa, dispatched with that foe turning for home, and kept to her task well to keep hard-trying runner-up Let Faith Arise at bay through the lane. The Santa Margarita is likely next, according to her trainer. With Eblouissante losing here Friday and Beholder not yet back on the work tab it’s a mish-mash at the top of this division out West – at least until champ Beholder gets back. Let Faith Arise, a game second (beaten just a neck) in the Grade 2 La Canada here Jan. 19 (her first route), showed that run no fluke as she stalked the pace, doggedly kept after the winner through the lane, but just couldn’t get to her. The Santa Margarita figures next for her, too. Stanwyck was last early, still well back turning for home, and finished well, though she was no threat to the top two. Ondine, the favorite, stalked the pace but gave way in the lane in a disappointing run.

Sunday, February 16

Gulfstream Park - Sabin (race 10)

COMMENT: Devil’s Cave again showed the danger of letting a speed horse dictate things as she dominated the proceedings from start to finish, setting a track mark in the process. She set the pace but was unable to fend off Sweet N Discreet in the Sunshine Millions Distaff at 1 1/8 miles here Jan. 18. She went right to the lead again here and set faster splits than in the Sunshine Millions Distaff and just kept going. She held a slim lead from the start to the far turn, then opened up into the lane and didn’t really have a nervous moment thereafter as she set a new mark for the distance. It looks as though she’s found her niche so long as they just let her roll early, and off this there’s no reason she shouldn’t eye the Grade 3 Rampart here March 29. Sweet N Discreet sat back while Devil’s Cave set the brisk pace, came with a nice run, but was never really a threat to catch the winner. Triple Arch stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner on the turn and into the lane, but couldn’t get to her and tired some in the final furlong, though she finished third, well clear of the rest. Rose to Gold, the favorite off a smart stakes win and Sam Houston on Jan. 25, stalked the pace while inside but was done by the far turn and faded.

Santa Anita - San Vicente (race 5)

COMMENT: Kobe’s Back was agitated and behaving badly in the paddock – but it didn’t matter. The $480,000 son of Flatter was coming off a nightmarish trip in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity when 10th. He’d worked lights-out since and in his first dirt try bided his time as Cherubim and Papa Turf dueled through hot splits. He was content to sit last to the far turn, swung out for clear sailing, powered past his rivals, and drew off to win in a romp. He was geared down in the final half-furlong, too. He’s fully on the Derby trail now and the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park on March 15 may be next (Sadler already has Kristo for the Grade 2 San Felipe here March 8 and Candy Boy for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby here April 5). This was also a big step as it proved he could be as good – and in fact may actually be better – on dirt. Next big hurdle: Can he be as effective routing? Cherubim, coming off a big maiden win here Dec. 28 where he got a 90 Beyer, dueled early with Papa Turf, put that rival away into the lane to take a clear lead, but was no match for the winner’s powerful stretch run. Rprettyboyfloyd, a maiden who had shown ample talent in his first two starts here in January (ran second in each, earning Beyers of 85 and 82), sat back not far in front of the eventual winner and finished decently. He figures a short price back in versus maidens. Papa Turf was inside dueling with Cherubim early and weakened from those efforts.

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