Trip Notes for February 24-25: Hal's Hope, Daytona

Feb. 24

Gulfstream
Hal’s Hope (race 12)

COMMENT: Economic Model showed Grade 1 ability in 2016 but things didn’t go so well in 2017 as he won just 1 of 4, that win coming in an optional claimer at Belmont last time out Oct. 12. He was tossed back into graded stakes waters by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown and validated that confidence with a smart win in a race marred by a fatal injury to veteran Send It In. Economic Model stalked in fourth early as Malagacy set a solid pace under some pressure from Send It In and Irish War Cry, crept closer going the far turn, challenged Malagacy for the lead into the lane, rebuffed a challenge from favorite Irish War Cry while holding the fence, and edged away in the final furlong to win fairly comfortably. Off this, the Grade 2 Hardacre Mile here March 31 could be next. Irish War Cry, the 9-5 favorite making his first start since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 23, chased pacesetting Malagacy through solid splits, moved up with the eventual winner to challenge for the lead turning for home, kept after that rival to the sixteenth pole and couldn’t keep up. The Hardacre Mile may be on his radar as well. Tower of Texas, making his first start on dirt after being Grade 1 placed on turf, was last going to the far turn, started to advance on the turn, and finished strongly to be third. He handles any footing and that gives him options. Malagacy, romping winner of his first two starts here a year ago and coming off a second in an optional claimer here Jan. 18, his first start in nine months, went right to the lead, took immediate pressure from Irish War Cry and Send It In, and gave way once headed on the far turn. Send It In dogged Malagacy from the start, was still in hot pursuit of that rival to the far turn when he suffered a catastrophic injury and had to be euthanized.

Santa Anita
Daytona (race 4)

COMMENT: This was the Peter Miller show as he saddled the first three finishers, with the longest-priced of the trio, Conquest Tsunami, leading his foes on a merry chase. Coming off a dazzling front-running win in his first try on the hillside course in an optional claimer here Jan. 20, Conquest Tsunami shot right out to the early lead, took some pressure from stablemate Calculator, kept that foe at arm’s length to the dirt crossing, expanded his lead from there, and was actually edging away from stablemate Stormy Liberal in the final furlong without being asked. There may be a new king of the hill. Owner Gary Barber said he’s hoping Conquest Tsunami might get an invitation to the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint at six furlongs on turf in Dubai on March 31. If not, the next big event on this hillside course for open combatants is the Grade 3 San Simeon April 29. Stormy Liberal, 30-1 winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 4 and then 11th in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 10, bided his time early, moved closer into a threatening position coming out from behind the trees before the dirt crossing, went after the eventual winner, and stayed on to be a clear second. Dubai could be an option for him as well, though he hasn’t been as productive away from home, so the San Simeon figures on his radar as well. Calculator, favored after being a perfect 3 for 3 on this hillside course including a win last time out in the Clockers’ Corner Jan. 28, chased the eventual winner, tried to make a run at that foe coming over the dirt crossing, was unable to threaten that rival and tired a bit in the final furlong to end up third best of the three Miller trainees. What a View, a Grade 1 winner going a mile on turf but trying this hillside course for the first time and making his first start in nearly nine months, stalked in third, lost position into the lane, had to check in midstretch to lose momentum, but was already a beaten horse by that point. He surely needed this race and the sprint distance may have been too short for him.