Trip Notes for February 6-7: Donn Handicap, San Antonio, Palos Verdes, and more...

Saturday, February 6

Gulfstream - Fred W. Hooper Handicap (race 5)

COMMENT: Trainer Todd Pletcher said he very much considered Tommy Macho for the Grade 1 Donn, but with three runners already going there and the notion that Tommy Macho would benefit from an easier spot, he went here instead, and the decision paid off, as Tommy Macho proved an impressive winner. He bided his time early as Wildcat Red set a strong pace under pressure from Stanford and Just Call Kenny, came with a strong run on the far turn and into the lane, grabbed the lead, and drew off to win easily, missing the track mark for the mile by just 0.40 seconds. He might now well deserve a move into deeper waters, and Pletcher said a race like the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 5 could be next. Stanford gave Pletcher the exacta as the $550,000 son of Malibu Moon, making his first start since dueling and fading to fifth in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga last July, dogged pacesetter Wildcat Red from the start, moved up with Just Call Kenny to challenge for the lead coming into the lane, tried to rally with Tommy Macho, was no match for that runner, but kept on well to finish far clear of the others in a most encouraging return run. Grande Shores, a game second in this race last year (beaten just a neck by Valid) and coming off a solid third in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope (behind Mshawish and Valid), sat in midpack and came with a steady run to just get third, though he was no threat to the top two. Ami’s Flatter, favored off an explosive sprint win in his return here last month after six months off, stalked the pace but never mustered a run. He might simply be better sprinting as his two wins came the only two times he sprinted, while his seven losses were all routes.

Gulfstream - Suwannee River (race 6)

COMMENT: Tammy the Torpedo, fresh off a win over her own age group in the Tropical Park Oaks on Dec. 19, showed that she could handle older stakes gals as well, proving a prompt favorite. From the ever-potent Chad Brown barn, she used her speed, bouncing out to a clear lead, took some pressure from Uchenna, but maintained the lead through modest splits, dispatched with that rival turning for home, had Rainha Da Bateria pose a threat into the lane, but kept on gamely to hold a clear lead and was edging away a bit at the wire. Brown figures to have a huge say in the turf-distaff ranks again this year, and this gal may only be his third- or fourth-best (he’s also the trainer of Grade 1 winners Lady Eli and Dacita). Rainha Da Bateria, making her first start since she was a strong second at 44-1 in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere at Churchill on Nov. 14, lagged back, came with a threatening move into the lane to get close to the winner by midstretch, but then could do no better and only just held second. Habibi, fourth in the much longer (1 1/2-mile) Grade 3 La Prevoyante here Dec. 26, rebounded with the distance cutback as she sat back behind Rainha Da Bateria, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that gal, but got going well late and just missed getting second. Light In Paris, a stablemate of the winner who was a sharp third behind her in the Tropical Park Oaks, sat in midpack, loomed a threat into the lane, but had to check in the final half-furlong and couldn’t sustain her run, finishing in a dead heat for fourth with Sweetie Girl. Sweetie Girl, a highly regarded Argentine import who was a two-time Grade 1 winner there last spring, stalked the pace inside, got shuffled back into the lane, but kept to her task decently to get a share of fourth. This was not only her first start in the U.S. but her first action of any kind in more than seven months, so she can benefit from this outing.

Gulfstream - Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (race 12)

COMMENT: Lukes Alley continued his excellent form (12 first- and second-place finishes in his last 13 starts) and picked the right day for his best effort yet, as he notched his first Grade 1 win here. From his rail slot, he got a great trip stalking in fourth, got off the fence, took dead aim at pacesetter Shining Copper in the lane, and ran him down. This gives them options as this was just his fourth turf start (has two wins), as the bulk of his work had come on Woodbine’s synthetic main track. Shining Copper, a confirmed speedster last seen opening up a huge 19-length lead in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf before fading to 11th, did his norm, blasting out to a clear early lead again (this time just four lengths). This time, he was able to set modest splits at what is likely a better, shorter distance, was still clear by midstretch, and stayed on gamely to just miss. All Included, who was third, just behind Lukes Alley in second, when they both chased Heart to Heart home in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale here last month, was just in front of Lukes Alley, loomed a big threat with that foe in the lane, but couldn’t quite finish with the winner and couldn’t get to Shining Copper. He figures to break through one of these days and get a graded win. Takeover Target continued to flatter the Fort Lauderdale (he ran fifth) as he sat in second from the start, loomed a threat with Lukes Alley and All Included into the lane, but weakened in the final half-furlong. The Pizza Man was disappointing, as the Grade 1 winner lagged well back, as is his custom, but didn’t produce the strong late run that netted him four wins in six starts last year. This was his first start in a couple months, so maybe he needed it, though he’d run big before off the bench.

Gulfstream - Donn Handicap (race 13)

COMMENT: In many respects, this was a reprise of the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope, as it was again Mshawish gamely coming home to edge an equally game Valid, who again had to settle for second. Mshawish, now a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt, has the tactical speed to always get a good trip. He sat in third here while saving ground, just behind Valid, as Financial Modeling went out to a clear lead, crept closer, staying just behind Valid while still on the rail, angled out for room coming into the lane, accelerated quickly to challenge Valid for the lead, got the better of him and drew away late. He’s reportedly off to Dubai next, but for what race – the Group 1 Dubai World Cup or the Group 1 Dubai Turf on March 26? It’s a nice problem to have, and Pletcher has said the World Cup is what he would prefer. Valid did everything right but just couldn’t quite outfinish his nemesis and get his first Grade 1 win. He sat in second, just behind pacesetter Financial Modeling, who set slowish splits, and just in front of Mshawish, tried to get first run on Mshawish on the turn, got bumped and jostled by a tiring Financial Modeling coming into the lane, still was there to challenge Mshawish, but couldn’t stay with that foe in the final furlong. Mexikoma may have figured things out. Coming off a career-best run when winning the Sunshine Millions Classic here Jan. 16, he ran well again here, stalking in fourth and coming with a steady run in the lane to finish not far behind Valid. Itsaknockout, the super comeback winner here Dec. 31 after last running ninth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, sat back, just in front of the favored Keen Ice while wide, stayed wide and finished decently, though he was no threat. Keen Ice, prepping for the Dubai World Cup but who had reportedly been working well, lagged well back, as is his custom, got going well in the lane, but was left with too much to do and was never a factor. Both Itsaknockout and Keen Ice were trying to catch horses who are not only classy but who were fresh after stalking the slow splits.

Santa Anita - Robert B. Lewis (race 4)

COMMENT: Mor Spirit continued to trend the right way and affirmed his status near the top of any Kentucky Derby watch list with another professional win. Coming off a smart tally in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity, he sat third as I Will Score set a modest pace, remained there to the top of the lane, still had work to do by midstretch, but found his best stride, took over and drew off. The most obvious path for him is the Grade 2 San Felipe here March 12 and then the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby here April 9, but trainer Bob Baffert isn’t averse to shipping his 3-year-olds for spots on the Derby trail, so there are all sorts of options for him. Uncle Lino sat in second from the start, moved up to challenge I Will Score into the lane, got the better of that rival by midstretch, but then couldn’t finish with the winner. Despite being a maiden, he’s shown ample talent, and his trainer said his main goal is the Santa Anita Derby. I Will Score, who had sizzled early in his two prior starts, both sprints, showed that his speed was manageable as he went out to the lead but wasn’t speed-crazy, set modest splits and kept to this task gamely, though he couldn’t quite stay with the top two in the final furlong. That he got his pace and still faltered a bit late might prove that he doesn’t want more than a mile, at least at this level. Dressed in Hermes, coming off a turf stakes win, lagged back, made a mild move into the lane, but then had nothing else to offer. It’s likely back to turf for him.

Santa Anita - Las Virgenes (race 5)

COMMENT: Songbird left no doubt – as if there was any – as to who’s queen of the 3-year-old filly hill, as last year’s 2-year-old filly champ again had her way with her rivals. She went right to the front, as her natural speed gives her such a high cruising speed, then extended her advantage from there. Rider Mike Smith never budged on her save for gearing her down some in the final furlong when the issue was put to rest. Her half-mile and six-furlong fractions were markedly faster than what the boys did in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes about 20 minutes earlier (47.01 seconds vs. 47.78 and 1:10.99 vs. 1:12.34). This was little more than a paid workout and served warning to the others in the division that she has, if anything, gotten better. Land Over Sea, who chased Songbird in three Grade 1 races last year, did so again here but showed that she’s got some talent as she sat back and still had just one horse beat on the far turn before finishing well, though she was never on the winner’s radar screen. If she can get away from the big girl, she might be able to do some damage. She’s a Warrior, a maiden facing winners, showed that she has ability as she stayed close early, got shuffled back, was last coming into the lane, but got going again to get third. Street Fancy, the winner of the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12, had a miserable time of it. She got hot before the race, threw a fit in the gate, banging against the sides, then got away slowly, as usual, lagged back, as expected, started to advance going into the far turn, but then backed out of it and was eased, so something may have gone amiss.

Santa Anita - San Antonio (race 7)

COMMENT: Hoppertunity was a well-beaten third in this race last year but was chasing champions Shared Belief and California Chrome that day. He faced no such opposition here and showed again that when things break his way, he can do some damage in the right spot – but he had to work awfully hard to come up on the right end of the photo with Imperative for his first win in 13 months. Coming off a third in the Grade 2 San Pasqual (behind California Chrome and Imperative), he lagged well back early as Cat Burglar set a solid pace under pressure from Donworth, swung wide turning for home to start his run, finished strongly and in tandem with Imperative, and surged late to just get to the wire a nose in front. Trainer Bob Baffert said the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 26 might be next, giving him another meeting with California Chrome, not to mention Mshawish, Frosted, and Keen Ice. Imperative, a nice second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual last month to 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, ran splendidly but just came up a bit short, as he sat back with Hoppertunity, was just behind that foe on the far turn, had to wait briefly for room to get out, then swung widest of all into the lane and finished strongly alongside that foe, only to come up narrowly on the wrong side of the photo. He continues his good form, though it’s worth noting that he hasn’t won since the spring of 2014. Donworth, making his first start for trainer Doug O’Neill after being purchased for $550,000 at a sale in the fall, and making his first start since romping by 11 lengths in a stakes at Delaware last June, dogged pacesetter Cat Burglar through solid splits, got the better of that foe by midstretch to grab the lead, fought on gamely, but just couldn’t withstand the surge of the top two in the final few strides to be beaten just a nose and a half-length. This was an encouraging return run, and he could certainly move forward with this race under his belt, though they’re reportedly thinking about the Dubai World Cup for him as well, which could be asking an awful lot for just his second start back. El Kabier, a potential Derby horse last year and stretching back out after running fourth in the Grade 1 Malibu, stalked the pace in third, was still there to the top of the lane, but couldn’t keep up in the final furlong. He may be better suited to the seven-furlong/one-mile game.

Santa Anita - San Marcos (race 8)

COMMENT: Flamboyant apparently has a new lease on life. After dull form from the summer of 2014 to the summer of 2015, he was a strong third here Oct. 22 and then did even better, finishing full of run to win the Grade 2 San Gabriel here Jan. 2 at 46-1. He was no such price here as he validated that form with another fine outing. He was toward the back as the favored Hay Dude ran off to a clear lead, steadily improved his position, made his bid outside the leaders coming into the lane, got the better of a stubborn runner-up, and edged away at the line. Gaga A, a Uruguayan-bred mare who raced in France before coming to the U.S., showed again that distance is her game as she ran well here against males. She stalked in third, made her run into contention into the lane, battled back when confronted by Flamboyant, but couldn’t quite stay with him late. This was a nice step forward after she dueled and faded to fifth against distaffers in the Astra here Jan. 17, though that was her first start in six months, and it apparently set her up well for this. Quick Casablanca, who had been a player in graded distance stakes here in 2014 but fell on hard times last year, rebounded with a nice effort as he sat in midpack and came with a steady run in the lane. Hay Dude, coming off a monster win going a mile here Jan. 14, inexplicably shot off to a long early lead that left him empty when it mattered. This run didn’t really prove whether or not he can handle this longer game – well, he can’t handle it if he’s ridden that way. Chiropractor was well back from the start and never made a move. After a promising win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, he’s now failed to threaten in two straight, so it may be back to the drawing board.

Sunday, February 7

Santa Anita - Palos Verdes (race 6)

COMMENT: Kobe’s Back got blinkers here, presumably to get him a bit more involved early on. Well, they didn’t, but the result was still better, as he used his patented late run to get the win. He sat last early as Rocket Heat set a strong pace under pressure from Cautious Giant, was still last turning for home, but swung wide and finished strongly to get up in the final few strides. This surely was nice and was his first win at six furlongs, though it’s worth noting that likely the best Southern California sprinters weren’t here (Wild Dude, Big Macher, San Onofre). Salutos Amigos, favored off a smart second in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute here Jan. 2, sat back early as well, made an early move to get involved coming into the lane, finished well, but couldn’t quite outdo Kobe’s Back. Cautious Giant pressed Rocket Heat through hot splits, took the lead by midstretch, but then had no answer when the top two came storming onto the scene. Rocket Heat set a brisk pace but faltered in the lane. He might be better on turf.