Trip Notes for February 29-March 1, 2020: Fountain of Youth and more

Feb. 29

Gulfstream
Palm Beach (race 4)

COMMENT: Vitalogy finished like gangbusters to be a sharp second in the Grade 3 Bourbon at Keeneland Oct. 6 but missed the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 1 when scratched by the vets. Given time since he came back sharp, notching his first graded stakes win. From a tough far outside post (No. 11) he broke well to sit third as longshot Allgorilla shot out to a clear lead, sat second behind that rival down the backstretch, easily took over as that overmatched foe on the far turn, opened up into the lead and gamely held off a hard-trying Tiesto to his outside. Something like the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland April 3 could be on tap. Tiesto, a $600,000 son of HOY Tiznow making his first start since a sixth in a turf stakes at Belmont Oct. 26, broke midpack from his rail slot, bided his time there to the far turn, pitched very wide on the turn to make a run, loomed a big threat into the lane while outside the eventual winner, finished well but couldn’t quite get to Vitalogy. South Bend, a sharp third beaten just a neck in a turf stakes here Feb. 1, got bumped at the start to get away slowly to be at the back of the pack early, remained there down the backstretch, started to advance with a nice wide run on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished with interest. Famished sat midpack early , moved up to duel with Vitalogy for the lead on the far turn, continued after that rival into the lane but tired in the final furlong.

Gulfstream
Honey Fox (race 5)

COMMENT: Getmotherarose couldn’t handle Atomic Blond (first) and La Feve (third) when fourth in the South Beach here Jan. 25 but stepped up her game to get her revenge here. She got bumped and jostled at the start to be toward the back, remained there as Silver Kitten set a solid pace under pressure from Valedictorian, came through between horses on the tar turn to get into the mix, pitched wider still into the lane and finished well to reel in leader Silver Kitten and draw clear in the final furlong. She may not be ready for the likes of Uni, Rushing Fall, Concrete Rose, Got Stormy, Juliet Foxtrot and the other mile distaff heavyweights but this shows she can do damage in the right spot. Silver Kitten, winner of her last two, went right to the lead from her rail slot, set a brisk under modest pressure, looked in trouble when Valedictorian came at her on the far turn but rebuffed that foe, opened up again into the lane only to be overwhelmed late by the winner to her outside. Sister Hanan, second to Silver Kitten here Jan. 25, set well back from the start, moved out for room on the far turn and ran on well for third. La Feve sat midpack from the start while saving ground, remained inside to the far turn, found herself in a box, remained in trouble behind some rivals, finally got clear in deep stretch but then didn’t have the needed oomph. Atomic Blonde, the 2-1 favorite off that aforementioned win in the South Beach, her third win in her last four starts, seemed to have a great trip as she stalked the pace, was still there turning for home only to come up empty in the lane.

Gulfstream
The Very One (race 7)

COMMENT: Elizabeth Way had only a maiden win to her credit, that in her first U.S. start here Jan. 19, but she handled the added ground and class hike well to post the upset. The daughter of superstar racehorse and sire Frankel went right to the lead from her outside slot, set a modest pace under pressure from English Affair to her outside, dispatched with that foe turning for home only to be immediately confronted by Romantic Pursuit to her outside into the lane but found another gear, drawing away late. This could lead to a shot at the Grade 3 Orchid going longer (1 3/8 miles) here March 28. Romantic Pursuit, making her first start since running ninth in the Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Nov. 30, got a nice trip stalking in fourth, crept closer turning for home, made a smart run at the winner to loom a big threat into the lane but couldn’t keep pace with that rival in the final furlong. La Signare sat just behind Romantic Pursuit from the start, came with a nice run in the lane but was unable to get to the winner and couldn’t quite finish with the runner-up. Touriga sat midpack while saving ground throughout, finished decently in the lane but couldn’t catch the winner while ending up just behind the second and third finishers. Cap de Creus, the 5-2 favorite off a sharp allowance second despite trying stakes company for the first time, got banged around at the start to get away poorly, seemed uncomfortable while jostled between horses at the back of the pack into the first turn, remained toward the back to the far turn, pitched very wide turning for home but was unable to get involved.

Gulfstream
Herecomesthebride (race 9)

COMMENT: Cheermeister, a daughter of multiple Grade 1-placed Bodemeister has proved a huge bargain as she cost $20,000 and notched her fourth win in five starts here. That includes three of the four races for the 3-year-old filly turf division. She again used her speed, going right to the lead, set a decent pace under pressure from 5-2 favorite Abscond, looked in trouble when that rival came to her on the far turn but rebuffed that run, opened up into the lane and had enough of a buffer to withstand another run by that rival to her outside. Maybe a shot at the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland April 5 is next. Abscond, favored off a rallying third in a stakes here Jan. 4, dogged the eventual winner from the start, loomed ominously turning for home as she came up to Cheermeister’s saddle cloth on the turn, couldn’t accelerate with that rival as she lost ground to midstretch but kept to her task gamely to close the gap. Declarationwarrior stalked the pace while saving ground, kept to her task along the inside chasing the top pair but wasn’t quite good enough. Stunning Sky, the 9-2 second choice off two straight wins including a big turf win over optional claimers here Jan. 9, broke slowly, had to steady between rivals to lose position, ending up at the back of the pack, made mild headway into the far turn but then came up empty.

Gulfstream
Davona Dale (race 10)

COMMENT: Tonalist’s Shape made it five wins in as many starts, showing she is the real deal. The daughter of multiple Grade 1 winner Tonalist, coming off a workmanlike win in the Grade 3 Forward Gal here Feb. 1, broke alertly to go right to the lead, dueled with 7-10 favorite Spice Is Nice to her inside, got the better of that rival turning for home, opened up a big lead into the lane and held sway as Spice Is Nice tried to make another run at her in the final furlong. The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks here March 28 figures next. Spice Is Nice, a $1,050,000 daughter of two-time HOY Curlin making her first start vs. winners after a monster 12-length debut win here Jan. 12, broke well, showed the speed to duel inside the eventual winner from the start, challenge that foe on the turf, got rebuffed, looked dead in the water by midstretch but kept to her task well to close the gap, even if the issue had already been put to bed. The Gulfstream Park Oaks figures on her radar as well. Dream Marie, stepping into stakes ranks for the first time after three straight wins, was away a bit slowly, lagged toward the back early while wide, made a smart wide run on the far turn and continued it into the lane to finish well, though she was never really a threat to the top pair. Bayerness, a $350,000 daughter of Grade 1 winner Bayern and winner of her first two starts in Kentucky in the fall and making her first start in almost three months, showed speed to press the early pace, couldn’t quite keep up going to the far turn and wasn’t heard from thereafter.

Gulfstream
Canadian Turf (race 11)

COMMENT: Sombeyay came into this winless in three turf starts but that didn’t matter as the $230,000 son of Into Mischief, who was Grade 2-placed on turf last summer at Saratoga and then a sharp second vs. optional claimers here Jan. 26 after nearly six months off, showed the footing and level suit as he posted the victory. Sent off the tepid 7-2 favorite despite no turf wins, he stalked early as Gidu moved out to a big early lead, bided his time sitting third then second as that rival had a big advantage while setting sizzling splits, made his run at that rival into the lane, caught him inside the eighth pole and stayed on gamely to edge hard-charging English Bee and Hay Dakota. This doesn’t mean he’s ready for the division elite but showed he can do damage in the right spot. Another such spot could be the Grade 3 Appleton at a mile here March 27. English Bee, facing elders for the first time as he made his first start since finishing fifth in the Tropical Park Derby here Dec. 28, bided his time early, crept closer by the far turn to be midpack, still had work to do into the lane, came through gamely between horses but just couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Hay Dakota, an old veteran (7-year-old) coming off a rallying course-record-setting win here Jan. 26 over Sombeyay, lagged back while saving ground, moved closer into the far turn, was boxed in some on the turn and remained in tight through the lane while finishing well. With clear sailing he likely could have been even closer. Mr. Dumas, winner of two straight on Churchill turf last fall before finishing tenth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar Nov. 30, sat midpack from the start a few lanes off the rail, made a nice move on the far turn as if ready to get involved but then came up empty.

Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park Mile (race 12)

COMMENT: Mr Freeze was second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, though he was no danger to big winner Mucho Gusto. Moved back to a mile here the son of Grade 1 winner To Honor and Serve flourished, beating a nice bunch in handy fashion. He showed speed to stalk in third as Bodexpress set a strong pace under pressure from Rare Form, had little trouble overtaking those two rivals to his inside on the far turn, opened up into the lane and didn’t really have a nervous moment thereafter. The Group 1 Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup undercard March 28 might be next. Phat Man, smart rallying winner of the Grade 3 Fred Hooper at this trip here Jan. 25, lagged well back from the start while well off the rail, was asked to pick it up into the far turn, started to advance on the turn, made a mile run at the winner into the lane, proved no match for that foe but kept on decently to finish far clear of the rest. The Grade 3 Hal’s Hope here March 27 would certainly figure on his radar. Hog Creek Hustle, second in a sprint stakes at the Fair Grounds Jan. 18, his first start in two and a half months, sat midpack while widest in the field, moved inward some on the far turn as he made some headway, looked briefly threatening turning for home but was then one-paced in the lane and unable to be a threat while running on for third. Bodexpress, third in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday here Dec. 15 but then a well-beaten fifth in the Pegasus World Cup, showed good speed from the start to set the early pace from his rail slot, was headed on the far turn and gave way readily thereafter, fading to last. Could be it’s back to the drawing board.

Gulfstream
Mac Diarmida (race 13)

COMMENT: Zulu Alpha always had ability but he really put it all together to beat a top field in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf here Jan. 25. He showed that same verve here as he successfully defended his title, biding his time early as longshot Morocco ran out to a big early lead while setting a solid pace, remained midpack to the far turn, moved up nicely without being asked into the far turn, pitched widest of all into the lane, doggedly went after leader Admission Office to his outside, engaged that foe once straightened away, got the better of him by midstetch before edging clear to be a handy winner. His next target is reportedly the shorter Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic (1 1/8 miles) at Churchill May 2 on the Kentucky Derby undercard and going here gives him ample time to recover and crank up for that. Admission Office, a troubled eighth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, sat midpack just outside Sadler’s Joy and just ahead of Zulu Alpha, remained there to the far turn, came with a smart wide run on the turn, took the lead into the lane with Zulu Alpha on his hip to his outside, held a narrow lead as he battled back when engaged by that foe in the stretch, couldn’t keep pace with that rival in the final furlong but finished well clear of the rest. The Old Forester could be on his radar as well, though that caliber of foe at this trip may be a tad beyond him. Maybe trying something longer like the Grade 2 Pan American at 1 1/2 miles here March 28, where he won’t face the division elite, is an option. Sadler’s Joy, the terrific old warrior who ran on for sixth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, showed more speed than usual to sit midpack, just inside Admission Office and just ahead of Zulu Alpha, moved with Admission Office into the far turn, challenged for the lead turning for home with Admission Office to his outside and Zulu Alpha further out, couldn’t accelerate with those two into the lane, pitched out wider to be outside those two in the stretch and stayed on decently for third, though he was never a threat to the top pair in the final furlong. The Pan American may be on his radar as well. Channel Maker, making his first start since fading to 12th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2, sat fourth while saving ground, crept closer down the backstretch to be just behind pacesetter Morocco going to the far turn, remained just behind the leaders on the turn, had the top three swoop past him to his outside while still stuck behind rivals, moved out from behind the tiring leaders, found clear sailing into the lane and ran on well to just miss third, though he was never a danger to the top two.

Gulfstream

Fountain of Youth (race 14)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed some when Chance It, the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, scratched due to drawing the disadvantageous far-outside post 12. He’ll reportedly instead go in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 7. This was considered a way for Dennis’ Moment to confirm his status as a top Kentucky Derby contender. However, he ran poorly and his Derby bubble may have burst. Instead it was Ete Indien who dominated. After dueling and ending up a well-beaten second to top-rated Tiz the Law in the Grade 3 Holy Bull here Feb. 1, Ete Indien again used his speed, going right to the lead. He set a solid pace under pressure from longshot Gear Jockey, dispatched with that rival and the other speed on the far turn, opened up a bigger edge turning for home while well off the rail, extending his margin into the lane to win in a romp. He ran super and deserves a ton of credit, but he got some help when Chance It scratched and big favorite Dennis’s Moment didn’t show up. Remember, it was a recent maiden winner who ran second. This does set up an intriguing Grade 1 Florida Derby renewal as not only is the winner targeting that, so too is Tiz the Law, the brilliant Independence Hall and potentially a scary Bob Baffert runner from SoCal. Candy Tycoon, a big maiden winner here Jan. 25, stepped way up in class for this and ran well as he lagged well back from the start while saving ground, started to advance as he came off the inside on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished decently to win a four-horse photo for second, though he was never a danger to the winner. The Florida Derby figures on his radar as well. As Seen On Tv, a sharp second to Chance It in the Mucho Macho Man at a mile (beaten just a head) here Jan. 4, veered out at the start but established a nice position stalking in fourth while saving ground, was urged to get going into the far turn, was asked for even more on the turn as the winner started to get away, kept to his task while shifting out in the lane and didn’t miss second by much, though he was no threat to the winner. He ran decently but was no threat in the lane. Could be he’s better going shorter, at least at this stage of the game, though they might be tempted by the Florida Derby. Shotski, winner of the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct Dec. 7 and second in the Grade 3 Withers there Feb. 1, raced very wide while midpack early, remained there to the far turn, continued wide in the lane and plugged along to at least be in the photo for second, though he was never a danger to the winner. He could return to Aqueduct for the Grade 2 Wood Memorial April 4. Country Grammer, a $450,000 son of Tonalist and a big winner over maidens going 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Nov. 11, stumbled at the start to end up well back early, remained there while wide and kept to his task well to pass a few for fifth while in the photo for second. While he was no threat this was an encouraging effort. The Wood Memorial could be next for him as well. Dennis’ Moment, the heavy favorite, was a huge disappointment. Making his first start since a disastrous run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Nov. 1 when he stumbled terribly at the start to lose all chance, he broke decently, established position midpack between horses, was urged to get going heading to the far turn but came up empty, giving way to end up last of the 10. Trainer Dale Romans reported he couldn’t find anything physically wrong and was “puzzled” by the outing. Maybe they give another Kentucky Derby prep a shot but it’s hard to consider him a Derby contender off this.