Trip Notes for February 22-23: Fountain of Youth, Risen Star, Barbara Fritchie, Rachel Alexandra and more...

Saturday, February 22

Gulfstream Park - Davona Dale (race 9)

COMMENT: Now a perfect 4 for 4, Onlyforyou stamped herself the top 3-year-old filly in Florida. Using her speed she spurted out of the gate to grab the early lead, was then able to set slow splits (24.12, 47.23) considering the track played very fast. She rebuffed a challenge from House Rules turning for home and edged clear to win fairly comfortably as the favorite. She’s by Malibu Moon, sire of last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Orb so you’d expect she’ll enjoy more ground, meaning the Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks here March 29 figures next. House Rules was fifth early but moved to second going into the backstretch. From there she stalked the winner, moved closer as if ready to challenge on the far turn but then couldn’t keep pace with the winner through the lane. Still, a very nice first try vs. winners. Aurelia’s Belle, 2nd to Onlyforyou in the Grade 2 Forward Gal here Jan. 25, again found that gal too tough as she stalked the winner early while just behind House Rules, but was basically one-paced the rest of the way. Stopchargingmaria, coming off wins in the Grade 3 Frizette and Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct in November, was midpack early but never really mustered a run. Could be she needed that race as it was her first start in nearly three months – or maybe those New York fields weren’t that hot.

Gulfstream Park - Canadian Turf (race 10)

COMMENT: Reload stalked the pace of Mr. Online, moved closer to that rival turning for home, came up the rail to challenge and was able to edge past that stubborn foe. The Grade 3 Appleton, also at a mile on the turf, here March 29 could be next. Mr. Online did nothing wrong in defeat. He outran the fast Rydilluc for the early lead, set fast splits, dispatched with that rival into the lane, fought back gamely when hooked by Reload but just couldn’t quite fend him off. The Appleton may be next for him, too. Salto sat midpack and finished well, though he never really appeared a threat to get to the top two. Rydilluc, making his first start since Aug. 17 when 11th in the Grade 1 Secretariat, dogged Mr. Online from the start, tried to challenge that guy on the turn but then weakened. Could be he needed the race.

Gulfstream Park - Fountain of Youth (race 11)

COMMENT: Wildcat Red, a sharp 2nd to General a Rod (beaten a head) in the mile Gulfstream Park Derby here Jan. 1 and big winner of the Grade 3 Hutcheson here Feb. 1, showed he’s the real deal as he gamely got his revenge on General a Rod and beat some other highly touted sophomores. He went right into a duel with General a Rod from the start and those two simply went toe-to-toe all the way around with Wildcat Red narrowly prevailing. Surely the Grade 1 Florida Derby here March 29 is next. He is by sprinter D’wildcat but has Grade 1 route winner Miner’s Mark on the bottom side to help with the stamina. Of course, those waters will be deeper what with Cairo Prince, Conquest Titan and Constitution eyeing the Florida Derby. General a Rod really ran too good to lose. He engaged Wildcat Red from the start and the two battled through hot splits but General a Rod came up just a head short. His next is undecided. Top Billing, the favorite, was very slow into stride as he was last early. He saved ground, commenced a run going to the far turn and finished with good energy, though he never once really appeared a threat to get the top two. Still, a very nice effort. Commissioner sat midpack but never mustered a run. Todd Pletcher said he ship him for his next start to get him away from this track as it doesn’t suit his style. We Miss Artie was well back, made a nice midrace move to loom a threat, but then gave way.

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Laurel Park - Barbara Fritchie Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: My Wandy’s Girl was a monster in Puerto Rico, rattling off win after win, and she showed here she can be a factor at high level in the U.S. as well. Second in this race last year and also Grade 1-placed routing, she was sidelined eight months before a dull stakes try on Aqueduct’s big track in the mud Dec. 7. That poor outing is obviously behind her as here she dogged pacesetter La Verdad from the start, moved up to challenge that rival into the lane, and was edging away late. The Grade 2 Gazelle at Aqueduct April 5 at 1 1/8 miles could be next. La Verdad went right to the lead, took heavy pressure from My Wandy’s Girl, gamely rebuffed that rival long as she could but finally succumbed in the final half-furlong. Still, a very nice try. Centrique, favored after winning 3 of her last 4, stalked in third, didn’t accelerate as quickly as those two rivals on the far turn but found her best stride in the lane.

Fair Grounds - Rachel Alexandra (race 9)

COMMENT: Untapable took what seemed a competitive renewal and made some promising gals look downright ordinary. Winner of Churchill’s Grade 2 Pocahontas Sept. 7 but a dismal 8th (beaten 68 1/2 lengths) in the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Nov. 2 and 3rd in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Dec. 7, she looked like a brand new girl here. She sat midpack early, steadily advanced while wide to reach contention on the far turn, grabbed command and drew off to win in a romp geared down. The Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks here March 29 will reportedly be next. Got Lucky was last early, remained there to the far turn, then came with a nice run, though she wasn’t really even on the winner’s radar. Ria Antonia, winner of the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies after the DQ of She’s a Tiger, lagged back and made only modest headway. Streaming was the big disappointment. Favored off a big win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet and sharp 2nd in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita Feb. 1, Streaming set the early pace but got into a duel with 85-1 longshot Army. She still had the lead turning for home but then gave way readily. She was later diagnosed with a knee chip, perhaps explaining her fade, and will required surgery.

Fair Grounds - Fair Grounds Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Potomac River posted a 45-1 upset in Churchill’s Grade 3 River City Handicap Nov. 23 but was then no factor when 8th in the Grade 3 Col. Bradley here Jan. 18, won by Daddy Nose Best. Well, the ‘good’ Potomac River showed up today as the son of grass champ English Channel sat back early, remained there turning for home but came with a strong run through the lane (though his rider lost the whip inside the final sixteenth to just get up. The Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Jr. March 29 figures next. Skyring grabbed the early lead, relinquished it to Gentleman’s Kitten, who ran off to a long lead going down the backstretch, had no trouble reeling in that tiring runner into the lane, looked like the winner when still well ahead at the furlong pole but just couldn’t quite fend off Potomac River. Daddy Nose Best was fourth early. He bided his time and came with a smart run in the lane but the winner outfinished him. Gentleman’s Kitten ran off to a big lead going down the backstretch and weakened.

Fair Grounds - Risen Star (race 11)

COMMENT: Intense Holiday flattered Cairo Prince, who beat him in the Holy Bull. A son of Harlan’s Holiday, Intense Holiday showed some courage here. First, he was fractious in the paddock. When the gates opened he bided his time toward the back, steadily moved closer while staying wide, commenced a smart run turning for home, and continued it to the wire to just get up for the win. The Grade 2 Louisiana Derby here March 29 figures next. Albano, a non-threatening second to Vicar’s in Trouble in the Grade 3 LeComte here Jan. 18, set the pace under pressure from other speed, dispatched with the other speed, looked as though he might hold on and win but just got nipped on the wire while far clear of the others. This brother to graded stakes winner Mark Valeski is also on target for the Louisiana Derby. Vicar’s in Trouble sat back just in front of the eventual winner early, made a smart run into the lane to loom ominously, but flattened out. Could it be he’s a miler? Hoppertunity, much ballyhooed off a big maiden win at Santa Anita Jan. 30, broke slowly to be far back, was very wide throughout and finished well. Gold Hawk, highly regarded off a big optional claiming win here Dec. 27 and a non-threatening third in the Lecomte, was difficult to load, seemed in a good spot stalking in fourth, made a threatening move into the lane but flattened out. He will reportedly still target the Louisiana Derby. Rise Up, romping winner of his last two including the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot, broke poorly, rushed up to pressure Albano but gave way in the lane.

Fair Grounds - Mineshaft Handicap (race 12)

COMMENT: Bradester flashed talent last fall when second in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby to the talented Bob Baffert 3-year-old Power Broker and he moved back into graded stakes ranks here off a big win at Gulfstream Jan. 17. He stalked in third while Grand Contender set a modest pace. He moved up to challenge Grand Contender into the lane, edged past that rival and pushed clear. The Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap here March 29 may be next. Grand Contender set the modest pace, battled back when hooked by Bradester into the lane, but couldn’t quite finish with that rival. He figures to go for the rematch in the New Orleans as well. Fordubai lagged back and finished decently for third, though he was never really a threat to the top two. Prayer for Relief, the favorite, stalked in the fourth but never mustered a run. Micromanage, fourth not far behind Bradester in the Indiana Derby, was well back throughout.