Trip Notes for February 18: Barbara Fritchie, General George, El Camino Real Derby

Feb. 18

Laurel
Barbara Fritchie (race 9)
COMMENT: High Ridge Road continued her love affair with this track, making it four wins in as many starts over it while notching the biggest win over her career. Also, her best Beyers have come on this track. She bided her time early toward the back as Wonder Gal and Rowd E Allie set a solid pace, moved off the rail for room going to the far turn, was asked for run coming into the lane, pushed wider still to make her charge, and rallied to just get up in the final strides. By the Moon, the 7-5 favorite who was coming off a second to High Ridge Road in the Thirty Eight Go Go, stumbled at the start but had the speed to be prominent early. She stalked the pace, moved closer going to the far turn, took command into the lane, looked like the winner by midstretch, but couldn’t fend off High Ridge Road. Clothes Fall Off stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, but was then one-paced to the line. Wonder Gal shot out to the early lead and was joined by Rowd E Allie, dueled with that foe, and weakened a bit in the lane.

Laurel
General George (race 10)

COMMENT: Imperial Hint hinted at bit ability early last year with a monster maiden win and then a romping stakes win at Tampa. But then he dueled and fizzled in a couple graded stakes at Churchill and Belmont. He really seems to have put it all together now as this marks his third straight win and, as in the other two, he did it easily. Imperial Hint went right to the lead and took pressure from Afleet Willy, who pushed him through brisk splits. Imperial Hint got the better of Afleet Willy turning for home, opened up into the lane while holding the fence, and had no worries in the final furlong. Stallwalkin’ Dude, the even-money favorite off a third in the Grade 3 Toboggan at Aqueduct Jan. 15, stalked in third, loomed a threat turning for home, and finished willingly. Never Gone South, a 37-1 longshot, bided his time early while saving ground, remained midpack to the top of the lane, and finished well for third. Heaven’s Runway, well backed off two straight wins in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct Nov. 24 (with Stallwalkin’ Dude in second) and the Dave’s Friend here Dec. 31, was slow into stride, saved ground, and never mustered a run.

Gulfstream
Royal Delta (race 4)
COMMENT: Owner Happy Alter has said Curlin’s Approval is going to make some noise in the distaff division this year and it looks as though he’s right. In her only prior route she had finished second to Eskenformoney in the Grade 3 Rampart here Dec. 17, and then bounced back with an easy win in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at seven furlongs here Jan. 28. Moved back to a route here, she was much the best. She broke sharply to be on top out of the gate, but soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Verve’s Tale to her inside going into the first turn. Curlin’s Approval stalked Verve’s Tale through slow splits, responded to take over when Luis Saez shook the reins on the far turn, opened up, and won under wraps. Mo’ Green, winner of an optional claimer here Jan. 19, sat third just off the pace, tried to go with the winner on the turn, and stayed on for second, well clear of the others. Eskenformoney sat back a bit, started to advance going to the far turn, but was then one-paced to the wire to get third.

Oaklawn
Bayakoa (race 9)
COMMENT: Terra Promessa apparently thinks she owns Oaklawn Park. The daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin pushed her mark here to a perfect 5 for 5. While there was other speed in here, she proved quickest early, going right out to a clear lead. Terra Promessa kept a clear advantage through modest splits, started to extend her edge going to the far turn, and opened up under some pressure from her rider to win easily. Power of Snunner, second in the Pan Zareta at the Fair Grounds Dec. 31, her first start in nearly 17 months, sat midpack early, came with a nice run in the lane while staying on the rail, and but kept on to be a clear second. Streamline, a sharp second in this race last year and third last time out to Terra Promessa in the Pippin here Jan. 14, stalked in fourth and tried to make a run at the winner into the lane. Ready to Confess, second to Terra Promessa in the Pippin, was last early, saved ground, and could make only modest headway in the lane. Impasse, romping winner over allowance foes here Feb. 2 in her first start in almost 10 months, was well back early, got fanned out very wide turning for home, and never mustered a run.

Golden Gate
El Camino Real Derby (race 7)
COMMENT: Zakaroff was the longest-priced horse in the race (48-1) by virtue of his fifth-place finish in the California Derby here Jan. 21, finishing behind a few of Saturday’s rivals. But he was a different horse today. He bided his time early just behind the front-runners while saving ground, eased out for clear sailing into the lane, and wore down stubborn even-money favorite Ann Arbor Eddie. Ann Arbor Eddie, heavily favored after winning 3 of 4, all in Southern California, grabbed the early lead, volleyed up front with Tribal Storm and Kona Dreams, and got the better of those rivals into the lane. But he lugged out late as he tired, forcing Tribal Storm to steady and just couldn’t fend off Zakaroff. He was disqualified to fourth for interfering with Tribal Storm. More Power to Him was last to the far turn, swung wide to launch his run, and finished resolutely in a good try to get third. He was awarded second via disqualification of Ann Arbor Eddie. Tribal Storm volleyed up front with Ann Arbor Eddie, looked done into the lane, but got going again only to have to steady when Ann Arbor Eddie lugged out in front of him, ending up fourth. He was awarded third via disqualification. Sheer Flattery, well regarded after a maiden win at Santa Anita Dec. 31 and then a third in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis there Feb. 4, settled toward the back, moved closer going to the far turn, but then faded to last.

Santa Anita
Buena Vista (race 7)

COMMENT: Originally a Grade 2, it was washed off the turf by heavy rain and was accorded Grade 3 status. The surface switch resulted in numerous scratches, but Wild At Heart handled the track fine and notched her first graded stakes win. She ran second to Vale Dori in Del Mar’s Grade 2 Bayakoa Dec. 3 and then fourth to her in the Grade 2 La Canada here Jan. 14. Wild At Heart faced no one like that here. She bided her time in third behind dueling leaders Hillhouse High and Lily Pod, moved closer going to the far turn, got the better of Lily Pod into the lane, and drew off to win easily. Lily Pod dueled with Hillhouse High from the start, battled back briefly when taken on by Wild At Heart, and stayed on decently to finish far clear of the rest. Hillhouse High dueled with Lily Pod and then couldn’t keep up when the real racing began. Mokat, Grade 1-placed on a sloppy track here 10 months ago, she bobbled at the start to get away last and never made a move.