Trip Notes for January 12-13, 2019: Tropical Turf and more
Jan. 12
Gulfstream
Tropical Turf (race 9)
COMMENT: After some good work at Laurel, including a Grade 3 win Sept. 29, Doctor Mounty came here for the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 15 but was a non-factor eighth. His connections did not give up on him, however, and their confidence was rewarded when he bounced back to win this Grade 3. The son of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner and 2-year-old male champion Street Sense sat last early as White Flag set a smart pace, remained toward the back to the top of the lane, pitched widest of all into the stretch and blasted past heavy favorite Heart to Heart and edge clear late. Off this a race such as the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at this same mile trip here March 2 figures on his radar. Your Only Man, claimed for $25,000 at Saratoga last summer and stepping well up in class after a string of good efforts, sat back just in front of the eventual winner while saving ground, angled out into the lane, tried to rally inside the eventual winner, couldn’t keep pace but kept on to get second in the final stride. Heart to Heart, the multiple Grade 1 winner and heavy favorite, had a tough trip. Freshened since dueling and fading to ninth in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 6, he’d worked smartly for this return to a course he loves (5 for 7 here). He didn’t break all that sharply, got bumped and jostled around between horses so was thus unable to use his customary speed. After the start he was fifth, was a bit eager and pulling early while inside, steadily improved his position, came off the inside to make his run turning for home, grabbed the lead from pacesetter White Flag inside the eighth pole but then couldn’t withstand the winner’s charge and just got nailed late for second. Considering the trouble, this was a good run and shows there’s still gas in the tank even at age 8. White Flag, the 2-1 favorite off a turf sprint stakes win at Aqueduct on Nov. 24, went right to the lead, set a solid pace, opened up some into the lane to look very dangerous only to falter in the final furlong. He’d run decently before over a route of ground but could be he’s better playing a shorter game.
Gulfstream
Marshua’s River (race 11)
COMMENT: Bellavais, a decent fourth in the Grade 3 My Charmer here Dec. 15, picked up her game and proved a smart winner here. The daughter of Tapit stalked while saving ground as I’m Betty G moved out to a clear lead while setting a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, was asked for run while staying inside, advanced but found herself boxed in, found a seam along the rail, burst through to grab the lead and draw off for the easy win. The Grade 3 Suwannee River here Feb. 9 could be next. I’m Betty G went right out to a clear lead, took pressure from 2-1 favorite La Signare on the turn and into the lane, rebuffed La Signare but had no answer when the winner surged through to her inside. Valedictorian stalked the pace, loomed a threat while wide into the lane, kept to her task well and while no match for the winner was only a head shy of the runner-up. La Signare, a slight favorite over the winner who was making her first start since setting the pace and tiring to 10th in the Grade 1 Belmont Oakson July 7, sat just off I’m Betty G from the start, moved closer I’m Betty G going to the far turn, moved up to challenge on the turn, kept after that rival to midstretch before tiring in the final furlong.
Santa Anita
La Canada (race 8)
COMMENT: Main track listed as ‘wet fast (sealed)’ after steady rains much of the day. The wet footing played right into the hands of favorite Escape Clause, not that she needed any more of an edge. A romping 10 3/4-length winner of her only prior wet track start, the mare stalked in third as Stradella Road set a solid pace, moved up nicely outside the early leaders going to the far turn, took the lead without too much trouble and opened up from there to win easily. She runs on anything, so they have lots of options. She’ll reportedly return to trainer Don Schnell’s Turf Paradise stable but he added she could very well return here, maybe the Grade 2 Buena Vista at a mile on turf here Feb. 23 or the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on dirt here March 16. K P Wildcat, a sharp invader from New Mexico, bided her time early in fifth, was still only fourth when the eventual winner took the lead on the far turn, got going into the lane and finished decently to be a clear second, though she was never a threat to the big winner. Lemoona stalked in fourth while inside, advanced between horses on the far turn, picked a bit wider into the lane which cost her position but got going once straightened away to get third. True Royalty, the second choice, dogged early pacesetter Stradella Road while to her outside, but came under a ride on the far turn before giving way and being pulled up.