Trip Notes for February 8-9: Suwannee, San Antonio, Robert B. Lewis, Hurricane Bertie, Donn Handicap and more....

Saturday, February 8

Gulfstream Park - Suwannee River (race 10)

COMMENT: Parranda made it 4 wins in her last 5 starts and showed her versatility and love of this course yet again. Six of her 8 wins have come on this turf course and she had previously won from well off the pace, just off the pace and pressing the pace. Well, this time the daughter of grass champ English Channel took the early lead out of the gate when no one else wanted it, was able to set a snail-like pace leaving her more than enough fuel in the tank to blast home through the lane when the field closed in on her turning for home. Considering she’s run well at up to 1 3/8 miles, the Grade 2 Orchid at 1 1/2 miles here March 29 could be next. Riposte, a highly regarded Euro making her first U.S. start, lagged back and finished strongly for 2nd. Her run looks that much better when you consider the pace picture. The Orchid seems a logical spot for her as well. Abaco, the favorite, stalked in 3rd, made a run at the winner turning for home but couldn’t get to her and then couldn’t fend off Riposte for 2nd. Carolina Thomas lagged back and could make only mild headway while wide.

Gulfstream Park - Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (race 11)

COMMENT: Falling Sky was on the Triple Crown trail last winter/spring and while that didn’t go so well could be he’s found his niche as a sprinter/miler. Coming off a fine 2nd to Ky. Derby 3rd Revolutionary here Jan. 11 at a mile, he set a brisk pace under pressure and kicked away in the lane to win easily, setting a stakes record and nearly setting a track record. The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap at a mile here March 8 could be next. Narvaez, a huge longshot at 139-1, broke slowly, was last going into the far turn but put in a strong sustained run to get 2nd, though he was never on the winner’s radar. Brujo de Olleros, last seen running 3rd in the Grade 1 BC Dirt Mile Nov. 1, likewise sat well back and finished smartly through the lane. Catron, getting his acid test after 2 romping wins to start his career, stalked the pace but was never able to get close enough to pressure the winner. Laugh Track, 2nd in the Grade 1 BC Sprint Nov. 2 but then only 9th in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Nov. 30, lagged back and never made a run. Jackson Bend, winner of the Grade 1 Carter in April 2012 but winless since, sat midpack after a poor start but lost ground from there. You have to wonder if time and all those furlongs are starting to take a toll on this gallant old warrior.

Santa Anita - San Antonio (race 5)

COMMENT: Blingo posted a big upset as heavy fave and 2-time defending champ Game on Dude fizzled after dueling for the lead. Blingo, meanwhile, loved the pace scenario. He won a stakes at Belmont in the fall when he got a hot pace to chase, but was no factor in the Grade 2 San Pasqual here when he threw a fit in the paddock and Blueskiesnrainbows was allowed to dawdle up front. Blueskiesnrainbows had no such luxury today, not with top-class speed type Game on Dude signed up as the 2 went at it hot and heavy early. Blingo bided his time, powered into contention into the lane with a strong wide run to sweep past the tiring speedsters and outkicked fellow longshot closer Imperative. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 8 figures next. Imperative, seemingly outclassed here, benefitted from the pace duel as well as he sat a couple lengths off the dueling leaders, moved to the lead turning for home as those guys fell away, battled back gamely when taken on by Blingo, couldn’t quite finish with that foe but stayed on well to be much the best of the rest. American Blend, another longshot, likewise benefitted from the pace duel/collapse as he was behind Blingo from the start, didn’t accelerate as quickly but ran on well for 3rd. He’ll have some appeal in the Big ‘Cap as a price play exotics-wise as he loves this place. Game on Dude dogged Blueskiesnrainbows from the start, moved closer to challenge turning for home but then faltered. Bob Baffert said he exited the race fine and will still point for a Big Cap defense. Blueskiesnrainbows went right to the lead and wilted turning for home.

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Santa Anita - San Marcos (race 7)

COMMENT: Vagabond Shoes validated his strong 5th in the Grade 1 BC Turf here Nov. 2 (beaten just 2 1/4 lengths) as he was freshened, dropped and proved best. He bided his time early, moved closer going to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and came home strongly. The logical next step is the Grade 2 San Luis Rey at 1 1/2 miles here March 22. Si Sage stalked in 4th early moved closer turning for home, ran on doggedly but couldn’t finish with the impressive winner. Lucayan, coming off a smart win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Dec. 14, broke slowly to be well back, remained there going to the far turn, was still well back coming into the lane but finished smartly, though he wasn’t really a threat to the winner. Segway dogged pacesetter Slim Shadey from the start, took the lead into the lane but drifted out, bumped rival Power Foot and tired just a bit late to finish 4th. He was DQ’d to 10th for the bump, and oddly enough, the horse he bumped and forced to steady (Power Foot), is a stablemate. Jeranimo was very slow into stride, as is his custom, to be last. He remained there to the top of the lane, was still last at the stretch call before finishing well to split the field. His burst may play better at a shorter trip than this.

Santa Anita - Robert B. Lewis (race 8)

COMMENT: Candy Boy flattered the form of undefeated 2-year-old champ Shared Belief, who beat him in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity Dec. 14. He stalked the pace while staying in the clear, went after the leaders into the lane and got the better of impressive maiden winner Chitu and was drawing clear late. Trainer John Sadler said he might wait for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 5. Chitu dogged pacesetter Diamond Bachelor from the start, got the better of that foe turning for home, rebuffed a challenge from favored stablemate Midnight Hawk but couldn’t fend off the winner. Midnight Hawk was a bit rank early, was able to settle in 3rd, moved up eagerly to challenge into the lane but couldn’t sustain his bid. Far too early to give up on this guy but could be he was a bit overrated after his perfect-trip win in the Grade 3 Sham here Jan. 11.

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Sunday, February 9

Gulfstream Park - Hurricane Bertie (race 4)

COMMENT: The champ went out a winner as 2-time distaff sprint champion Groupie Doll had no trouble dominating the proceedings. From her rail draw she was away very slowly, sitting last. She remained there to the far turn, swung out for clear sailing and roared past her rivals to take command and continued her strong run to the wire to win for fun. Five Star Momma dogged pacesetter Jamaican Smoke, moved up to challenge into the lane just as Groupie Doll was powering past on the outside, and while no match for that foe she stayed on well to be a clear 2nd. Wildcat Lily stalked the pace and kept to her task decently. Heart Stealer, the 2nd choice, lagged back and never really mustered a run.

Gulfstream Park - Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: Lochte appears to have put it all together as the son of Medaglia d’Oro posted a big 39-1 upset here in his first stakes try. He stalked the pace from his rail draw, moved closer in behind the leaders into the lane, stayed inside, found a seam, burst through and drew off to win pretty comfortably in the end. The Grade 2 Pan American at 1 1/2 miles here March 29 could be next. Imaging, making his first start since a nice win in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct Nov. 16, was last early, remained well back to the far turn, swung very wide into the and finished smartly. The Pan American could be on his radar as well. Amira’s Prince, unbeaten in 4 U.S. starts and making his first start since winning the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Jr. at Fair Grounds last March 30, chased pacesetter Tetradrachm, moved closer into the lane, couldn’t match the acceleration of the top 2 but stayed on well for 3rd. Considering the layoff this wasn’t a bad run at all. Summer Front, the favorite off a strong win over some of these in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale here last month, lagged back and never made a move in a disappointing run.

Gulfstream Park - Donn Handicap (race 12)

COMMENT: Lea may be a brand new horse as he beat some top company here in track record time. Coming off a smashing win in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope here Jan. 11, he showed he could even improve on that run as he dogged early pacesetter Uncaptured, moved up to challenge that foes going down the backstretch, put that rival away on the far turn, opened up a clear lead which gave him enough of a buffer to keep heavy fave Will Take Charge at bay. He was actually geared down in the final yards. Will Take Charge, the reigning champion 3-year-old making his first start of the year, sat midpack while inside. He shifted out for room and commenced with a run into the lane but the winner had already spurted clear and while able to close the gap never really looked a threat to catch him. Viramundo, 3rd to Revolutionary here Jan. 11, turned the tables on that foe as he lagged back and came with a smart run along the rail going into the far turn to reach contention, finishing well behind the runner-up. Revolutionary, smart winner of his comeback here last month, broke very slowly, sat back while saving ground, swung very wide on the far turn to seemingly start a run – but it never came. Romansh, smashing 9 1/4 -length winner of the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct Nov. 2 when last seen, stalked the pace while very wide and gave way badly (was basically eased) to finish last.