Trip Notes for January 11: Fort Lauderdale, Hal's Hope, Sham, San Pasqual

Saturday, January 11

Gulfstream - Fort Lauderdale (race 9)

COMMENT: Summer Front just missed when second (beaten a scant nose) in the Grade 2 Citation on Nov. 29 at Betfair Hollywood Park, and he backed up that form with a smart performance here to get the win. He sat midpack stalking the snail-like pace of Tetradrachm while saving ground, had to wait for room on the far turn while staying on the rail, found a seam into the lane, surged through to launch his bid, and was able to overhaul that rival in the final yards. Considering the pace, it was most impressive he got the job done. Most likely the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap here Feb. 9 is next, according to trainer Christophe Clement, though he added that they could wait for the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita March 8. The way he’s going, he’d be a factor either way. Tetradrachm, coming off a nice second in Calder’s Grade 3 Tropical Park Handicap, was able to get away with murder up front (25.19, 49 seconds), then battled back gamely when hooked by the winner in midstretch but couldn’t quite finish with that foe. Nikki’s Sandcastle lagged back and finished decently, though he was never really a threat in what was basically a two-horse race in the lane. Slumber lagged back and made only modest headway. Howe Great chased Tetradrachm through the slow early splits but had nothing left for the stretch run.

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Gulfstream - Hal’s Hope (race 10)

COMMENT: Lea, whose only prior dirt experience was two wet-track races (won one of those), took to the footing just fine here and may have earned a shot at the Grade 1 Donn Handicap here Feb. 9, though that spot figures to be much tougher as the likes of Revolutionary (solid comeback winner earlier on this card and ran 0.23 seconds faster for the same distance) is pointing for that as well. He stalked the pace of defending race winner Csaba, moved up to wrest the lead from that foe into the lane, then opened up a big lead and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Jackson Bend, the former Grade 1 winner, bided his time and finished well for second. Neck ‘n Neck sat farther back off the pace, had to steady and alter course on the far turn, but got going again well enough to get third. Uncaptured was even farther back early, still well back into the lane, swung very wide into the lane, and made decent headway but was never really a threat. Csaba, the tepid 3-1 favorite, set the pace but gave way once headed.

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Santa Anita - Sham (race 5)

COMMENT: Race’s impact may have been reduced some as two scratches (Top Fortitude, one of the favorites, had a hind foot issue) reduced it to a field of four, but the two favorites dominated as expected with big Hollywood maiden winner Midnight Hawk prevailing. Off that big maiden win, Baffert opted to remove blinkers to try and get him to relax more, and it worked. He dueled early with Kristo while outside that rival, continued to duel with Kristo, got the better of that foe going to the far turn, had to continue to battle to rebuff that foe, shifted inward in the lane (though he was clear), and in the end edged clear late for the win. Baffert wasn’t sure about his next start, though it could be the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis here Feb. 8. The bad news there is that may be the stepping-off point for 2014 for top-rated 3-year-old Shared Belief, not to mention that Kristo could show up there as well. Kristo did nothing wrong. He broke alertly, bounced right out to take the lead (trainer John Sadler said this was not the style he wanted to have employed), dueled with the winner through brisk splits (46.33 seconds), battled back when that rival took the lead turning for home, doggedly continued after him, but couldn’t quite keep pace in the final furlong. Still, it was a fine run and he finished well clear of the other two, and also not bad considering it was his first run in almost three months. Ontology stalked in third and plugged along to hold that spot while no threat to the top two.

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Santa Anita - San Pasqual (race 8)

COMMENT: Blueskiesnrainbows continued his good form and helped cap a big day for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer (three wins). Coming off a wire-to-wire win in Hollywood’s Grade 3 Native Diver last month, despite the presence of other ample speed, Blueskiesnrainbows proved quickest, bouncing out of the gate to go straight to the lead. He was able to dictate things through modest splits, too (47.91 seconds, 1:12.20), remaining clear throughout keeping his foes at bay. A foe like Game On Dude may be too much for him, but his sharp current form, his speed, and his class mean he can do some damage in the right spot. Hollendorfer still said afterward that a race like the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 8 is something they “should be thinking about” as a long-range goal. Majestic Harbor, an outsider who invaded from the Midwest, sat fourth and finished decently to be a clear second, though he didn’t really scare the winner. Drill earned yet another graded stakes placing as he lagged back early and made steady late progress. Majestic City, smart wire-to-wire winner of the Big Bear here Oct. 31, stalked in the third but never made a run. This distance may be beyond his best, at least at this level. Blingo, coming off a big dirt win at Belmont Oct. 14, sat fifth, then appeared to start a run turning for home as if he might be a threat but just as quickly backed out of it.

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