Trip Notes for February 16-17, 2019: Risen Star, General George, Barbara Fritchie, and more

Feb. 16

Gulfstream
Royal Delta (race 11)

COMMENT: Blamed dueled and fizzled to fifth in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie here Jan. 26 as the 2-1 favorite. However, that was her first race in a couple of months and maybe that time off, along with the duel, did her in. Well, she bounced back as the heavy favorite here to get back to the winner’s circle. From her outside post she went right out to a clear lead, set a strong pace under some modest pressure from longshot Silver Bay and 8-5 second choice Tequilita but opened up some into the lane and kept Jala Jala and Tequilita at bay to the line. Off this something like the Grade 2 Inside Information here March 16 at the slightly shorter 7-furlong trip could be next. Jala Jala, a beast in Mexico who easily won her U.S. debut here Dec. 8 going a hefty 1 1/4 miles, showed she could handle this shorter trip as well as she stalked in fourth, came with a wide run on the turn and into the lane, doggedly chased the winner, closed the gap some but was never really a danger. The Inside Information could be next for her as well, though her distance versatility gives her all sorts of options. Tequilita, smart winner of the Grade 3 Rampart here Dec. 15, chased the winner from the start while hemmed in along the inside, was asked for run in the lane, ran on willingly while still on the fence but was unable to get to the winner or fend off Jala Jala for the place. She is booked to be bred to Street Sense but could go in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs on May 4 before that date. Another Broad, freshened since a sharp second in a stakes at Laurel on Nov. 24 and making her first start for new trainer Todd Pletcher, was a bit slow into stride and basically one-paced throughout.

Laurel
General George (race 8)

COMMENT: Uncontested may be a new horse. The son of Tiz Wonderful showed talent in 2017 (won Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones) but was unable to beat non-stakes foes in three starts early in 2018. After a nine-month layoff he came back here Dec. 23 to blast optional claimers and showed that run no fluke as he backed it up here with another big performance to get his first graded stakes win. Despite stumbling at the start he had the speed to take a narrow early lead as he was dogged by longshot Long May You Run, soon opened up a clear lead going down the backstretch, then blew the race open into the lane when opening up a bigger lead and giving him more than a enough of a buffer to withstand Majestic Dunhill’s rally, which narrowed the gap but didn’t really threaten. This doesn’t mean he’s ready to take on the sprinting elite but shows he can surely do damage in the right spot. Majestic Dunhill, winner of the City of Laurel here Nov. 10 before being overmatched in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 (ran 10th) appreciated the return to this place as he was away slowly (last), sat well back while saving ground, started to advance between rivals on the turn and into the lane and finished well to close the gap on the winner even if it never looked as though he was going to catch him. This was just his third start on dirt so now that he’s proven on this and turf (he’s a stakes winner on turf) he has all sorts of options. Laki, a close-up third in the Dave’s Friend here Dec. 29, was midpack early, moved closer going to the far turn, went after the leader into the lane but couldn’t get to him and then couldn’t finish with the runner-up. Do Share, second to Uncontested in that Dec. 23 optional claimer here, albeit well beaten (five lengths), got squeezed back at the start to be well back early, bided his time, pitched very wide turning for home, wider still into the lane and finished decently. Still Having Fun, who posted three of his four wins over this track and back here after finishing a solid third in the Malibu Stakes, was unsettled in the gate, was a bit slow into stride when the gates opened, made some headway on far turn between horses but was unable to sustain his run.

Laurel
Barbara Fritchie (race 9)

COMMENT: Late Night Pow Wow continued her torrid streak as the 4-year-old filly won for the 11th time in 12 career starts, though unlike her recent easy wins this was hard-earned. She broke well to sit second as Ms Locust Point shot out to a clear early lead, came with a smart run up the fence inside ‘Point to grab the lead into the lane and then battled to the line to edge a hard-trying Spiced Perfection. Considering how strong she’s going she may well deserve a crack at deeper waters. Spiced Perfection, a scary Southern California raider coming off a win in the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, stalked while saving ground in her first start for trainer Peter Miller after being privately purchased, came with a run on the turn into the lane, doggedly kept after the eventual winner but just couldn’t quite get to her while well clear of the rest. Dawn the Destroyer, coming off two straight wins including the Interborough at Aqueduct last time out Jan. 25, was slow into stride, saved ground while remaining toward the back, remained inside as she launched her run on the turn and into the lane, finished well but was no real danger to the top two. Ms Locust Point, romping winner of this last year and coming into this off an easy allowance win at Parx on Jan. 1, shot out to a clear early lead while setting a solid pace, was passed to her inside by the eventual winner into the lane and tired a bit thereafter. Your Love, fourth to ‘Destroyer in the Interborough, was pretty much one-paced throughout and unable to threaten.

Fair Grounds
Mineshaft Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Quip, who would have been one of the favorites, scratched to instead go in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream on Feb. 23. Silver Dust couldn’t quite outduel Harlan Punch when second to Harlan Punch in the Louisiana here Jan. 19, but a few weeks later the son of Tapit turned the tables, notching his first graded stakes win. The 5-year-old gelding was a bit fractious in the gate, but once away was midpack early as Flameaway set a slow pace, moved closer going down the backstretch, came with a strong wide run into the lane, took command and drew off while drifting out in the final half-furlong. Off this a shot at the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap here March 23 may be in the cards. Harlan Punch had an eventful trip as he was rank early and taken up when on rivals’ heels, swerved to the outside on the first turn to be very wide, finally settled going into the backstretch while remaining wide, came with a smart wide run on the turn, finished decently but was no threat to the winner. He had to be vanned off after the race with an injury to his left fore. Flameaway, making his first start since fading to seventh in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx last Aug. 25, went right to the lead while saving ground, set a modest pace under some pressure from Phat Man, battled back when hooked into the lane, proved no match for the winner but held third. The $400,000 son of Scat Daddy may have needed this race and the New Orleans figures on his radar as well. Lone Sailor, the 2-1 favorite off a respectable sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Nov. 3 when last seen, was away slowly to be last early, was still last while saving ground along the backstretch, remained inside on the turn, made some headway in the lane but was never a factor. He’s another who could eye the New Orleans with this run under his belt but his lack of speed often puts him behind the eight ball tactically and means he needs all the breaks in terms of pace and traffic.

Fair Grounds
Fair Grounds Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Synchrony shipped west to Del Mar on Nov. 24 and was an unlucky third in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit when he had significant traffic issues. However, he was back to a course he loves (now 4 for 4 here) to defend his title and had little trouble doing so as the favorite. The 6-year-old son of Tapit bided his time early while saving ground as Great Wide Open set a solid pace, crept a bit closer going to the far turn, had to steady when in tight, got going again a quarter-mile out, pitched very wide into the lane and powered home to win going away. The Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Memorial here March 23, a race he won last year, figures next and then maybe a shot at the Grade 1 Old Forrester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby on May 4, a race in which he ran third last year. Bandua, making his first start since setting the pace and fading to eighth in the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbineon Oct. 13, was reluctant to load but broke well once in and settled, stalked the pace to the far turn, moved wide on the turn, came with a smart run to grab the lead by midstretch but was no match for the winner thereafter. Markitoff, fourth in the Grade 3 John Connally at Sam Houston on Jan. 27, lagged well back from the start, was still well back turning for home, came out into the lane and finished with good energy, though he was no danger to the top two. Great Wide Open, 12th in this last year but in much better form this year (third last time out in the Col. Bradley here Jan. 19), went right out to the lead, came under pressure on the far turn when challenged by First Premio and then was no match for the top three thereafter. First Premio, romping winner of the Col. Bradley, chased pacesetter Great Wide Open from the start, moved up to challenge on the turn, was still in the thick of it into the lane but flattened out. Combatant, a sharp rallying third in the Grade 2 Mathis Bros. Mile at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, sat well back while very wide on the first turn, settled toward the back while toward the outside, remained wide on the far turn and came up empty.

Fair Grounds
Rachel Alexandra (race 11)

COMMENT: Top Southern California 3-year-old filly Chasing Yesterday, a half to Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and who would almost certainly been favored here, scratched earlier in the week after getting a far outside draw. Serengeti Empress has shown she can be freaky big when in the mood (won the Ellis Park Debutante by 13 1/2 lengths, won the Grade 2 Pocahontas by 19 1/2 lengths). She came up with another good one here as the daughter of Alienation went right to the lead, set modest splits while under some early pressure from Liora, maintained a narrow lead while inside on the far turn, then blew the race open into the lane as she surged to a big lead, then won geared down. Surely off this a shot at the Grade 2 Fair Ground Oaks on March 23 figures next. Liora, winner of the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill on Nov. 24 but a well-beaten fourth by Needs Supervision in the Silverbulletday here Jan. 19, stalked the pace while a few lanes off the rail, remained wide as she stalked, tried to make a run at the winner on the far turn, proved no match but kept on well for second. Eres Tu, second in the Silverbulletday, was away slowly to be last early, was still last on the far turn, pitched wide into the lane and made some headway though she was never a threat. Molto Bella, smashing winner of the Gasparilla at Tampa Bay on Jan. 19, chased the pace from the start, was still within reach on the far turn but then gave way. Needs Supervision, winner of her last three including the Silverbulletday over a few of these here Jan. 19, was very wide on the first turn, settled toward the back while remaining wide down the backstretch as she moved closer, continued wide going into the far turn and on the turn when asked to make a run but was unable to get involved. Positive Spirit, making her first start since romping by 10 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct on Dec. 1, was a bit fractious in the gate, bided her time early toward the back, moved toward the inside on the far turn but never mustered a run. Could be she needed this race but you would have liked to have seen a bit more fire from her, even after over two months off. A number of the also-rans could point for a rematch with the winner in the Fair Ground Oaks.

Fair Grounds
Risen Star (race 12)

COMMENT: Kingly, a promising Bob Baffert SoCal runner, scratched earlier in the week after getting a difficult outside draw and went in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate instead earlier this day (ran second). After two romping wins in his first two dirt tries, including easily taking the Grade 3 LeComte here Jan. 19 last time out, a difficult outside post and tougher rivals posed big hurdles for War of Will, a son of War Front. Well, those obstacles didn’t matter in the least as he again was a clear winner and made it clear he belongs on any short list of Kentucky Derby contenders. From his wide post he broke well, as is his custom, quickly moved up and over to the left to avoid getting hung out to dry on the first turn, dogging early pacesetter Dumph to his inside, seemed to be pulling some but relinquished pacesetting duties to Gun It to his outside who was pushed to make the lead while wide, sat second behind that foe while continuing to pull staying a couple lanes off the rail, settled down the backstretch behind that foe to his outside through modest splits, moved up easily to get alongside that rival into the far turn to take the lead, opened up into the lane without being asked, opened up farther into the lane, moved toward the rail and remained clear of hard-trying closer Country House. The gap was still significant, he galloped out strongly and looms a huge threat to keep this run doing in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Derby here March 23, his reported next stop. He’s bred to run on farther, too. His run looks even better and his margin of victory even more impressive when you note he was the only horse on/near the pace to be around at the finish as the two-five finishers came from 12th, 14th, 13th and 11th. Country House, who whipped maidens despite a disastrous start last time out at Gulfstream on Jan. 17, showed he’s the real deal as the son of juvenile champ Lookin at Lucky was again slow into stride, came with a strong run into the lane, raced greenly, weaving while chasing the winner, but kept to his task well to be a clear second. Off this there’s every reason to believe he can move forward, though his habit of sluggish starts is disconcerting. Roiland, seventh in the Lecomte behind War of Will Jan. 19, was last early after a slow start, saved ground, remained well back to the far turn and finished well, though he was never a danger to the winner. Hog Creek Hustle, second to ‘Will in the Lecomte, was likewise far back early after a sluggish start, had to steady turning for home when making a run but got going again and finished decently while very wide to get fourth. Owendale, a $200,000 son of Into Mischief who was a smart optional claiming winner here Jan. 17, sat back early, lost position on the far when shifting out very wide to make a run, got going in the lane to pass a few but was no real threat. Plus Que Parfait, fifth in the Lecomte after a sharp rallying second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill on Nov. 24, was disappointing as he was slow into stride from his rail slot as the 6-1 second choice and never mustered a run, ending up a well-beaten 13th.

Santa Anita
Santa Monica (race 9)

COMMENT: Field was reduced to five with the scratches of Grade 1 winner Dream Tree and Amuse (re-entered in an optional-claiming turf sprint here Feb. 18). Marley’s Freedom was almost champion distaff sprinter for 2018 after three straight graded wins but got foiled when a close-up fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November (beaten just a half-length). Freshened since a win in the Grade 3 Go for Wand at Aqueduct on Dec. 1, the 5-year-old daughter of Blame was second in this race last year to Selcourt but got her revenge as she won for the sixth time in her last seven starts. She showed enough speed to stalk as the 7-10 favorite as Selcourt shot out to a clear early lead, remained in second to the top of the lane, doggedly went after Selcourt, got to her inside the eighth pole, took over and edged clear. The Grade 1 Beholder Mile here March 16 is reportedly next. Selcourt, the defending champ and coming off a so-so second in the Kalookan Queen here Jan. 13 as the 3-10 favorite, bounced back to form as she went right out to a clear lead through solid splits, fought back along the inside when confronted by Marley’s Freedom, battled on but couldn’t finish with that rival. The Beholder figures on her radar as well. Mopotism sat fourth, made some headway on the turn and in the lane while a few lanes off the fence but was no real danger to the top two. Escape Clause, coming off a romping win in the Grade 3 La Canada here Jan. 12, cut back in distance for this, got away slowly to be last early, raced wide but never offered a rally in one of her rare dull performances. Maybe this trip is just a bit too sharp for her, at least at this level. The longer Beholder could be in her plans as well. Paradise Woods, the former multiple Grade 1 winner making her first start for new trainer John Shirreffs, went after Selcourt out of the gate, couldn’t keep pace and gave way in the lane. She’s obviously not the gal she once was.