Trip Notes for February 3-4: Holy Bull, Robert B. Lewis, Withers, and more

Feb. 3

Aqueduct
Withers (race 8)

COMMENT: Avery Island was no match for the promising Catholic Boy when second to that foe in the Grade 2 Remsen here Dec. 2, but after some time off the son of 2-year-old champ and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense came back firing to gamely prevail here and entrench himself on the Kentucky Derby trail. He broke alertly, got a forward position stalking longshot Coltandmississippi through solid splits, easily took over from that tiring rival turning for home, opened up into the lane and kept to his task nicely to keep hard-trying second-choice Firenze Fire at bay through the final half-furlong. The Grade 3 Gotham is the next 3-year-old graded stakes on the New York circuit here Mar. 10, but that would require cutting back a furlong to a mile, something they might not want to do. If that’s the case he’ll have to ship for his next start or await the Grade 2 Wood at this same 1 1/8-mile trip here April 7, something they probably don’t want to do. Firenze Fire, game winner of the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont on Oct. 7 and game winner of the Jerome at a mile in the mud here on Jan. 13, bided his time from his rail slot, steadily advanced to the far turn, pitched out into the lane, tried to make a run at the winner, couldn’t close the gap significantly but kept on gamely to outdo Marconi for second. The latter, a $2 million son of Tapit who was facing winners for the first time after easily beating maidens at this distance here Dec. 15, was slow into stride, as has been his wont, to be last early, started a run going into the far turn, made some headway into the lane to briefly look threatening but was unable to get to the runner-up much less threaten the winner while finishing far clear of the other two.

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Gulfstream
Swale (race 4)

COMMENT: Strike Power, a son of champion sprinter Speightstown, dazzled in his debut here Dec.23, blasting maidens by eight lengths and posting one of the biggest debut Beyers seen in the last 20 years (102). He was stepping way up in class and moving to a new distance but it didn’t matter, as the speedy colt proved more than up to the task with an easy win. As the heavy 4-5 favorite he broke well, bounced right out to a clear lead, saw second choice Tricks to Doo move closer going to the far turn but rebroke, opened up again to put the race away while holding the rail and kept on well to keep his rivals at bay in the final half-furlong. He’s obviously quick and has ability and trainer Mark Hennig said a two-turn start could be next for him, which could mean the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here March 3. Then we’ll find out whether he’s a potential Triple Crown horse, or a Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens type. Gotta Go was slow into stride, sitting last early, remained there to the far turn, came with a nice run along in the inside and while unable to threaten the winner kept on gamely to get second. Diamond King broke a bit slowly and had to steady early but got into stride, stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane along the inside, proved no match for that foe and then got outfinished by Gotta Go for second. Tricks to Doo, the second choice off a bit stakes win at Tampa Bay on Dec. 16, broke well to chase the winner from the start, moved closer to threaten that foe turning for home but couldn’t sustain his bid and tired a bit in the lane to end up fourth.

Gulfstream
Sweetest Chant (race 6)

COMMENT: Thewayiam rallied gamely to win the Ginger Brew on turf here Jan. 6 and she backed up that effort with another smart rallying effort here to capture this and stamp herself a potential Grade 1 Belmont Oaks-type. The daughter of Thewayyouare broke decently, was content to take back early while saving ground, remained inside to the far turn, came out a bit for room when asked for run and finished well to grab the lead late and hold sway from a hard-trying Salsa Bella. Off this a race like the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride here March 3 may be next. Salsa Bella, making her first start in the U.S. after winning her debut on turf in France last Sept. 26, was slow into stride to be last early, was still well back turning for home, came with a smart run in the lane, was just behind the eventual winner at the eighth pole and stayed on well to finish on the winner’s hip. Andina Del Sur stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane when challenging then-leader My Favorite Gift but then couldn’t finish with the top two. Data Dependent, the favorite off a freshening after finishing a good second in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante at Del Mar on Nov. 25, was well back early while wide, got carried out very wide on the far turn and was unable to muster a run.

Gulfstream
Forward Gal (race 10)

COMMENT: Take Charge Paula made it three straight wins and her first graded stakes win as the daughter of Take Charge Indy again used her speed to get a dream trip. She broke alertly to dog early pacesetter Heavenhasmynikki, moved closer to challenge that foe on the turn, got the better of her coming into the lane, quickly opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Daddy was a Grade 1 route winner on dirt so a stretch-out for something like the Grade 2 Davona Dale at a mile here March 3 may be next, but her connections don’t necessarily see her as a Kentucky Oaks filly. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said her main goal is the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga this summer, and that he’d work backward from there to plan her campaign. Sultry, freshened since finishing a dull sixth in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill on Nov. 25, broke slowly from her rail slot, bided her time toward the back, came with a nice run in the lane and while unable to scare the winner the $400,000 daughter of Malibu Moon finished well. My Miss Lilly stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane with a wide run but was then one-paced in the lane. Miss Mo Mentum, romping winner of a stakes in slop here Dec. 9, sat mid-pack early, crept closer going to the far turn but then failed to muster a run. Two of her three wins have come on tracks with some moisture in them (the other came on turf) so could it be this daughter of Uncle Mo is better on non-dry land?

Gulfstream
Dania Beach (race 11)

COMMENT: Speedy Franco romped in the Pulpit on this course Dec. 9 and while then sixth in the Kitten’s Joy here Jan. 6 still ran well (beaten just a length). He moved back to this slightly longer trip and got back on track, posting a game win. He broke alertly from his rail slot, sat second while Gidu went out to a clear early lead, gradually cut into that rival’s lead, came up alongside into the lane and battled hard with that rival to narrowly prevail. The Grade 3 Palm Beach here March 3 could be next. Gidu shot right out to a clear lead, had that margin diminish as Speedy Franco crept closer, battled back when hooked by that foe into the lane while holding the fence, staying on gamely to the line to just miss in a fine try. The Palm Beach would figure on his radar as well. Untamed Domain, freshened since a nice rallying second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3, lagged back from the start, had to steady some on the first turn, got back into stride while remaining toward the back, started to advance on the far turn, came with a run but was never really a danger to the top two. Channel Cat, a rallying third in an optional claimer here Jan. 13, was away slowly to be last from the start, remained well back to the far turn, made some headway in the lane to pass a few rivals but was never really a factor.

Gulfstream
Holy Bull (race 12)

COMMENT: Audible, a $500,000 son of Grade 1 winner Into Mischief, appears to have turned the corner. He rallied to beat maidens at Aqueduct on Nov. 15 and then blasted optional claimers by 9 3/4 lengths there Dec. 6. Stepping up further he proved more than up to the task as he broke well to stalk the pace set by longshot Master Manipulator, took over from that rival on the far turn, dispatched then-challenger Free Drop Willy, opened up into the lane and drew off to win as much the best. He looks like the real deal. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt might just train up to the Grade 1 Florida Derby here March 31. Free Drop Willy, a disappointing ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after a big second in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga on Sept. 4 and an easy win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 7, bounced back to form as the $200,000 son of Union Rags settled just behind the eventual winner while wide, moved with that rival on the turn to contend, came up to Audible’s hip turning for home, was no match for that foe thereafter but kept on well to finish far clear of the others (7 3/4 lengths). The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here March 3 could be next. Tiz Mischief, a game second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill on Nov. 25 when beaten just a head by Enticed, lagged back early, came with a run in the lane and while able to pass a few and get third was never a danger to the top two. Enticed, winner of the aforementioned Kentucky Jockey Club, sat mid-pack while saving ground, moved closer going to the far turn but was unable to make the necessary rally in the lane.

Santa Anita
Palos Verdes (race 3)

COMMENT: On paper Roy H, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and just last week named champion sprinter for 2017, dominated the proceeding. Well, that’s how it worked out on the track as the champ was a bit slow into stride from his rail slot to be last early in the small field, remained inside as he moved closer, came off the rail on the far turn, grabbed the lead under his own energy and drew off to win without really being asked. This was an ideal prep as they consider the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai March 31 as his possible next step. The water there will be much deeper as it could include defending champ Mind Your Biscuits and other top-flight sprinters. Americanize dueled from the start with Red Lightning while holding the fence, was getting the better of that foe into the lane only to be confronted by the eventual winner, proved no match for that foe but stayed on well for second. He may not be up to beating the game’s best but can surely do damage in the right spots. Red Lightning broke sharply from his outside posted, dueled with Americanize through solid splits but couldn’t keep pace with that rival, much less the winner, in the lane.

Santa Anita
Robert B. Lewis (race 5)

COMMENT: West Coast heavies McKinzie, Instilled Regard and Solomini likely aren’t quaking in their 3-year-old shoes as favorites Shivermetimbers and Peace were non-factors here while Lombo moved up from a smart maiden win here Jan. 20 to capture this. The son of Graydar went right to the lead, and was able to set modest splits under only modest pressure, had rival Dark Vader move closer going down the backstretch, opened up again on the far turn while holding the fence, then blew the race open with a strong run into the lane to open up a commanding lead before going on to victory. Ayacara closed the gap in the final furlong but the issue had already been put to bed. Off this a shot at the Grade 2 San Felipe here March 10 could be next, though the water there will be quite a bit deeper. Ayacara, back to dirt after running sixth in the Eddie Logan on turf here Dec. 29, lagged back early after a slow start from his rail slot, steadily advanced while saving ground, came with a nice run from the far turn through the lane to close the gap but was never really a danger to the winner while finishing well clear of the rest. Dark Vader prompted the pace, moved closer to the eventual winner going to the far turn, couldn’t keep pace with him or finish with the runner-up but stayed on decently to be a clear third. Peace, the second choice off a smart maiden win here Dec. 30, sat mid-pack from the start while saving ground and was basically one-paced throughout, unable to threaten. Shivermetimbers, the favorite off a fourth to highly rated McKinzie in the Grade 3 Sham here Jan. 6, stalked while between, seemed in a good spot but came up empty when it mattered.

Santa Anita
San Marcos (race 7)

COMMENT: Itsinthepost confirmed he’s the best middle-distance/long-distance turf horse out West – but it wasn’t easy. The 6-year-old son of American Post gamely won the Grade 2 John Henry here Oct. 1, found the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf waters a tad too deep (ran seventh), then won the Grade 2 San Gabriel here Jan. 6 and had to rely on all his heart to prevail here. Second in this last year, he returned to what figures a better distance as he sat fourth early just off the rail as Mr. Roary set the pace, pressured first by Free Rose and then by defending champ Isotherm. He came with a smart run on the far turn to grab the lead, opened up into the lane as if ready to go on to an easy win but had to stay on gamely on the fence to just get to the line before a hard-charging Hayabusa One. Last year, after running second in this, he went on to win the Grade 2 San Luis Rey here. He figures to go after that race again, this year slated for March 24. Hayabusa One, smart winner of an optional claimer here Jan. 13, his first start in almost 11 months, sat just behind the eventual winner while wide, angled toward the inside going down the backstretch, came off the inside again on the far turn to take up the chase, doggedly went after the eventual winner in the lane, his rider losing his whip at the sixteenth pole but finished gamely to just miss. Editore, third to Itsinthepost in the San Gabriel, sat sixth from the start, though well behind the eventual one-two finishers, came with a run in the lane to loom a threat by midstretch but couldn’t sustain his rally. Isotherm, winner of this race last year and fifth in the San Gabriel, his first start in 10 months, didn’t move forward as expected as he instead stalked the pace, loomed a big threat turning for home only to give way, ending up last.

Santa Anita
San Pasqual (race 8)

COMMENT: Accelerate was a dull ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 3 but rebounded to be second to big winner Giant Expectations in the Grade 2 San Antonio here Dec. 26. Despite being 0 for 8 here he stepped up his game further to post the win despite some trouble. The 5-year-old son of champion Lookin at Lucky got knocked around at the start to get away poorly, found his stride, sat midpack while saving ground as Mubtaahij, Top of the Game and Irish Freedom dueled early through slow splits, remained there as Top of the Game and Irish Freedom continued to duel, came with a nice run along the inside seemingly going for the lead, had that door closed by Mubtaahij, had to steady and lost position (he appeared to hit into the rail a couple times), got going again, came with another strong run inside to establish a clear lead by midstretch and stayed on well to keep hard-trying longshot Prime Attraction at bay in the final furlong. He showed plenty of heart to get the job done, but nice as this win was, you get the feeling that unless West Coast comes back to the West Coast and with no Arrogate around that these guys could take turns. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap here March 10 figures next. Prime Attraction, fifth in the San Antonio, sat back not far behind the eventual winner, pitched wide to make his run into the lane, closed well and while unable to really put a scare into the winner finished well clear of the rest. The Santa Anita Handicap figures on his radar as well. Mubtaahij, third in the Grade 3 Native Diver at Del Mar o Nov. 25, broke sharply to go right to the lead, took immediate pressure from Top of the Game and Irish Freedom, pulled back just a bit going down the backstretch, came again turning for home but couldn’t finish with the top two. He’s reportedly targeting the Group 1 Dubai World Cup March 31. Pavel, stretching back out to a route after running fourth in the 7-furlong Grade 1 Malibu here Dec. 26, was a bit unlucky. He sat midpack from the start, tried to make a run into the lane but was blocked in traffic, remained blocked to midstretch and was unable to get involved with the top two once he swung out and found clear sailing in the final furlong. The Santa Anita Handicap figures in his plans. Top of the Game, back to dirt after fading to 10th in the Grade 2 San Gabriel on turf here Jan. 6 and a perfect 4 for 4 on this main track going into this, dueled from the start between horses through solid splits but paid the price as he weakened some in the lane.

Feb. 4

Santa Anita
Las Virgenes (race 4)

COMMENT: Dream Tree kept her record unblemished in four starts with another handy win here, showing the $750,000 daughter of champion Uncle Mo can surely route (she easily won the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos in her prior start). She broke well and got a nice trip stalking in third as Thirteen Squared set a decent pace from her rail slot, crept closer going to the far turn, went past the tiring pacesetter turning for home, opened up and didn’t really have a nervous moment thereafter. But before getting too carried away she beat a suspect bunch as other top SoCal fillies such as Midnight Bisou and Moonshine Memories were not here and the final time was very slow. Of course, the absence of other top fillies isn’t her fault and she certainly won the way you’d like to see. She’ll reportedly stay here and point to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 7 – and surely that will be a much tougher spot. It’s interesting she’s now a Kentucky Oaks filly as when she won her first two starts, both sprints, her trainer Bob Baffert said he’d likely keep her at the shorter distances, that she struck him more as a Grade 1 Test type. Exuberance, fourth to Dream Tree in the Starlet, chased that gal home again as she was slow away from the gate to be last early, remained there going down the backstretch, began to advance on the turn and ran on decently to get second, though she was never a danger to the winner. Steph Being Steph, second to big winner Midnight Bisou in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez here Jan. 7, sat just behind the eventual winner while wide on the first turn, moved to the inside on the far turn as if ready to make a run but was then one-paced in the lane, losing second in the final strides. Thirteen Squared, a daughter of Liaison who was a romping maiden winner last time out at Los Alamitos Dec. 7 and like the winner is trained by Baffert, went right to the lead while holding the fence, set a brisk half-mile split (:46.68), slowed things down going to the far turn, couldn’t stay with her winning stablemate when that gal moved past coming into the lane and then couldn’t finish with the eventual second- and third-place finishers. This might have been biting off a bit too much too soon.