Trip Notes for February 4-5: Holy Bull, Robert B. Lewis, Withers, and more

Feb. 4

Aqueduct
Withers (race 8)
COMMENT: El Areeb has blossomed into a legitimate Triple Crown candidate as he romped again here, making it four straight easy wins. He started his streak by blitzing maidens by 8 3/4 lengths sprinting at Laurel, then won a sprint stakes there by 5 1/4. He came here to route for the first time in the Grade 3 Jerome Jan. 2, won by 11 1/4 over a sloppy track, and had no trouble beating many of those same rivals again here. At the same 1 1/16-mile trip as the Jerome but this time on dry land, El Areeb stalked in third as True Timber held the lead through dawdling splits, moved closer to threaten along with Jaime’s Angel, came with his run into the lane, and drew off to win easily again. True Timber, third in the Jerome, stumbled at the start to be just behind Jaime’s Angel early, but quickly took over pacesetting duties. He appeared in deep water turning for home when surrounded by rivals but kept to his task and held second. J Boys Echo, fourth in the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot Nov. 19, sat midpack and came with a run, nearly catching True Timber. Bonus Points, second in the Jerome, sat midpack early, just in front of J Boys Echo, and got going well enough to get fourth.

Gulfstream
Swale (race 5)
COMMENT: Favorable Outcome won his debut at Saratoga last summer like a real comer, then wasn’t disgraced when third in the Grade 1 Champagne. However, he flopped when trying turf for the first time in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Trainer Chad Brown moved him back to dirt and was rewarded with a win here. He bided his time early, though he was never too far away from the front, and actually dropped back to last on the far turn as the leaders bunched. Favorable Outcome stayed wide and clear, tackled leader Three Rules in the lane, and edged away in the final half-furlong. Three Rules, who suffered his first defeat when sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after five romping wins on this track, pressed the pace, made his move to challenge leader Sonic Mule turning for home, put away that foe inside the final furlong, but couldn’t keep pace with Favorable Outcome. Sonic Mule, winner of his last three races, including two stakes over this track, dogged early pacesetter Derek’s Smile, moved up with Three Rules to challenge leader Vanish, battled with Three Rules coming into the lane but couldn’t keep pace. Derek’s Smile broke sharply to be on the early lead but took heavy pressure, particularly from Vanish, who came up the rail going to the far turn. Derek’s Smile gave way once headed and ended up being eased.

Gulfstream
Forward Gal (race 6)
COMMENT: Tequilita, from the same trainer who brought us Barbaro years ago, continued her ascent with another nice performance. After breaking her maiden at Keeneland Oct. 22, the daughter of Union Rags rallied to win a stakes at Laurel Nov. 19. Today, she stalked in fourth as Ms Locust Point set the pace. Tequilita remained wide and in the clear, came with her run turning for home, took the lead by midstretch, and showed some heart to rebuff the challenge of Pretty City Dancer. Pretty City Dancer, making her first start since she dead-heated for the win in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Spinaway Sept. 3, ran quite well off the layoff. She sat midpack early, came with a threatening run in the lane, but could never catch Tequilita. Brahms Cat, third to Bode’s Dream and Wildcat Kate in the House Party here Dec. 10 and then an optional-claiming winner here Jan. 20, lagged well back early, steadily improved her position, swung wide turning for home, and finished decently for third. Ms Locust Point, romping winner over maidens at Parx Nov. 27 and then in a stakes at Laurel Dec. 31, somewhat surprisingly shot out to a clear lead, battled back when hooked by Tequilita into the lane, but tired to fifth. Wildcat Kate, coming off a win in the Old Hat, chased Ms Locust Point, was still there on turning for home, but weakened. She may be better playing a shorter game. Bode’s Dream, winner of 3 of 4 with her lone loss a neck defeat at the hands of Wildcat Kate in the Old Hat here Jan. 7, stalked the pace instead of going to the lead as expected. She moved closer going to the far turn but then fell apart.

Gulfstream
Sweetest Chant (race 11)
COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance in this race, taking it for the sixth straight time, this time with the highly promising former French runner Rymska. After winning 2 of 3 in France last summer, she came to the U.S. and ran second in Belmont’s Grade 3 Miss Grillo and fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, both won by the Brown-trained New Money Honey. Off since the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup, Rymska sat well back early, moved closer going to the far turn, still had lots of ground to make up once straightened away in the lane, but finished full of run down the center of the track to get up for the win. Compelled, winner over maidens on Laurel turf and then by 6 1/2 lengths in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Gulfstream Park West Nov. 12, stalked the pace, surged into contention into the lane, looked as though she might go on to win, but then had no answer to Rymska’s big charge. Fifty Five, winner of her last two including a victory here Jan. 1, was last early. She still was well back turning for home, just behind the eventual winner, pitched very wide into the lane, tried to accelerate with Rymska, and finished strongly to just miss getting up for second. Tamit, second to Fifty Five on Jan. 1, bided her time in sixth while saving ground, shifted out for room coming into the lane, finished decently, but wasn’t good enough. Okinawa, another Brown traineeset modest splits, responded when challenged into the lane, still had the lead at the eighth pole, but then caved in.

Gulfstream
Holy Bull (race 12)
COMMENT: This was to be the 2017 coming-out party for last year’s juvenile champ, Classic Empire, but instead Maryland invader Irish War Cry made it three wins in as many starts. He rallied from far back to win his Laurel sprint debut Nov. 11, then won a sprint stakes there Dec. 31. This was his first route and first time away from Laurel. Irish War Cry was able to set modest splits, started to open up on the far turn, and blew the race wide open in the lane, winning while geared down. Gunnevara, romping winner of the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot last time out Nov. 19, was fifth early, moved closer while saving ground, had to steady when trying to move inside a tiring Talk Logistics going into the far turn, altered course to the outside, made a run at the winner into the lane and ran on well to be a clear second. Classic Empire, last year’s juvenile champ on the strength of four wins in five starts, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was noticeably sweaty in the paddock, in the post parade, and prior to the start, and then balked before finally going in the gate. He broke decently to sit third early, moved closer on the far turn as if ready to launch a bid, but it never came and he was basically one-paced to the wire to finish a well-beaten third. Trainer Mark Casse reported he didn’t seem happy shipping to the track from his training base at Palm Meadows but said the horse seemed to be doing great the next day.

Santa Anita
Robert B. Lewis (race 2)
COMMENT: Royal Mo, a son of 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo (who sired 2015 juvenile champ and 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist), used his speed to win. Coming off a wire-to-wire win over maidens in his first route at Del Mar Nov. 27, went right out from his rail slot to set a modest pace, and took some pressure from Irap as those two opened up on the others. He rebuffed Irap turning for home and drew away to win easily. Irap, a maiden who had shown quality when second to the West’s top Derby hope, Mastery, in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity, dogged Royal Mo, moved up to challenge turning for home, and weakened to finish second. Sheer Flattery, a maiden winner in the mud here Dec. 31, bided his time, came with a decent run in the lane, and just failed to catch Irap for second.

Santa Anita
Palos Verdes (race 3)
COMMENT: The region’s top sprinters (Drefong, Masochistic, Wild Dude, Kobe’s Back) weren’t in here, but that’s not the fault of St. Joe Bay, who beat those who did show up. The 3-5 favorite after an optional claiming win at Del Mar Dec. 4 and a dead-heat win in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute here Dec. 31, St. Joe bay went right to the lead. He was immediately joined by Ocho Ocho Ocho, dueled with that rival to the far turn, had little trouble dispatching with him, was immediately challenged by Moe Candy into the lane, but was able to rebuff that foe and draw clear. Moe Candy, making his first stakes appearance after winning three straight sprints, stalked in third, came with a threatening run into the lane but was unable to keep pace with the winner. Ike Walker, sprinting for the first time in a long time after being claimed for $50,000 when third in a route here Jan. 1, got away slowly to be last, remained there to midstretch, and was able to catch a stopping Ocho Ocho Ocho to get third.

Santa Anita
San Antonio (race 8)
COMMENT: Hoppertunity won this race last year when it was 1 1/8 miles and he finished strongly to successfully defend his title going 1 1/16 miles. He sat last early as El Huerfano set a decent pace, remained well back to the far turn, came wide into the lane with still plenty of work to do, but finished strongly to rally past favored stablemate Mor Spirit and get the win. Mor Spirit, 10th in last year’s Kentucky Derby and then fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu, a sprint here Dec. 26 and his first start in 7 1/2 months, was favored as he moved back to a route. He stalked in third, crept closer on the far turn, grabbed the lead from El Huerfano by midstretch, but couldn’t fend off his stablemate. Accelerate, second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual here Jan. 1, sat fourth, a few lengths behind Mor Spirit, made his run into the lane, and closed the gap on Mor Spirit.

Santa Anita
San Marcos (race 9)
COMMENT: Isotherm was coming off a modest fourth in the Grade 2 Mathis Bros. Mile here Dec. 26, and successfully handled the longer trip here. He steadied when in tight coming over the dirt crossing onto the main turf course, then bided his time midpack as A Red Tie Day set a modest pace under pressure from Itsinthepost. Isotherm remained midpack to the far turn, came out for room in the lane, and finished resolutely to edge a stubborn Itsinthepost. Itsinthepost continued his fine form with his seventh top-two finish in his last eight starts. Coming off a second in the Grade 3 San Gabriel on a sloppy track here Jan. 7, he dogged A Red Tie Day, finally got the better of that foe by midstretch, but was immediately confronted by Isotherm to his outside. Itsinthepost fought back but couldn’t keep pace. Flamboyant, winner of this race last year and coming off a third to Texas Ryano in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar Nov. 25, lagged well back coming to midstretch before finding top gear to rally for third, though he was no danger to the top pair. Hi Happy, an Argentine import who was seventh in Del Mar’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit in his U.S. debut, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane, just lost third in the final strides. Texas Ryano, the favorite after a sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf here Nov. 5 and an easy win in the Hollywood Turf Cup, sat well back, pitched wide turning for home, but never made a run.

Feb. 5
Santa Anita
Las Virgenes (race 6)

COMMENT: Could it be we have Songbird 2.0? Unique Bella posted a third straight romping win, including a 7 ½-length score in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez here Jan. 8. Routing for the first time here, the daughter of Tapit was third early, just behind early pacesetter Mopotism and champion Champage Room, took command early down the backstretch, and then extended her advantage while never being asked by her rider. Mopotism ran third in the Los Alamitos Starlet and beat maidens here Dec. 30. She went right to the lead from her rail slot, set a solid early pace, fell behind Unique Bella and Champagne Room, and came back to beat Champagne Room for second. Champagne Room, freshened since her win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here Nov. 5, sat second as Unique Bella assumed command going down the backstretch, was never able to mount a challenge to that foe, and then couldn’t outduel Mopotism for second. She may have needed this but will need a huge move forward if she’s to compete with Unique Bella come the Santa Anita Oaks. Miss Southern Miss, coming off a turf win, sat last early and never made a move.