Trip Notes for January 24: Holy Bull, Hutcheson, Forward Gal...

Gulfstream Park

Hutcheson (race 7)

COMMENT: Barbados, a $340,000 son of champion sprinter Speightstown, showed again he has a very bright future as a top sprinter. Coming off an easy win in the Spectacular Bid Jan. 3, he stalked in third as X Y jet set a solid pace. He moved up to challenge that rival into the lane, got the better of him and was edging away at the line. X Y Jet, coming off a second in a stakes at Tampa, ran very well in defeat. He set a solid pace, battled back gamely when hooked by the winner, and only relented late. He finished 7 ½ lengths clear of the others. The Swale may be next for the top two. Big Family was beaten 17 3/4 lengths by Barbados when seventh in the Spectacular Bid, but performed much better here. He was to the top of the lane when he put in a decent run to get third.

Gulfstream Park

Sweetest Chant (race 8)

COMMENT: Consumer Credit had been freshened since two romping turf wins, first at Belmont and then in the Wait a While at Gulfstream Park West, and she came back firing. She got a great trip stalking in fourth as Quality Rocks and Miss Temple City volleyed for the lead. Consumer Credit angled out into the lane and burst through when she found room to surge past those two. The Grade 3 Herecomesthebride here Feb. 28 figures next. Quality Rocks, 10th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, dueled with Miss Temple City from the start, and stayed on gamely to edge Miss Temple City for second. Miss Temple City, winner of her first two starts, including an easy tally here Dec. 17, dueled while inside and stayed on well for third. Ol’ Fashion Gal, an invader who won the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante on the turf at Del Mar Nov. 29, stalked the early pace, got shuffled back some to lose position, then got hung out very wide turning for home and was unable to muster a run.

Gulfstream Park

Holy Bull (race 9)

COMMENT: Upstart thoroughly flattered the form of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with an easy win here. He was third to Texas Red and Carpe Diem in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Nov. 1 and had worked well for his 3-year-old bow. He was third early as Bluegrass Singer set the pace, but he moved closer going down the backstretch. Upstart took command into the lane while staying wide and in the clear and drew off to win as much the best. The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream or Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct may be next. Frosted, the favorite, stalked the pace not far behind Upstart. He held his head a bit high coming into the lane as if the kickback bothered him some, came with a nice run when straightened away, and was a clear second. The Fountain of Youth figures on his radar as well. Bluegrass Singer set a modest pace under pressure, and had little trouble holding third. Keen Ice seemed a bit more aggressive early than in his previous races. He seemed done on the far turn only to get going again in the lane. There still seems to be an upside here as he seems a legitimate distance horse (no surprise as he is by Curlin out of an Awesome Again mare) who doesn’t seem to have big acceleration but can grind out the furlongs.[bc_video_id:346863:]

Gulfstream Park

Forward Gal (race 10)

COMMENT: Longshots finished one-two, fueling the notion that after 2-year-old filly champ Take Charge Brandi there’s a vacuum at the top of the 3-year-old filly division. Birdatthewire, coming off a nice maiden win over Lassofthemohicans at Churchill Nov. 29, couldn’t have scripted a better setup. She sat far back as Enchantress, Ekati’s Phaeton and Seduire dueled through fast splits, and came with a wide run to sweep past the leaders and win going away. The Grade 2 Davona Dale here Feb. 21 figures next. Lassofthemohicans, who beat maidens here after her second to Birdatthewire, likewise sat well back. She was still well back coming into the lane but rallied well to just get up for second. Taylor S., romping winner of an optional claimer at Churchill Nov. 29, sat a bit off the speed. She kept on decently to just miss second. Sprinting figures to be her game as she’s now run well in her three sprints and not nearly as well in her two routes. By the Moon, winner of the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont and eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, lagged back, came with a smart run into the lane to loom a threat but couldn’t sustain it. Seduire, the blazingly fast California raider who just won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita, dueled with Enchantress and faded in the lane. Enchantress, a $950,000 daughter of Malibu Moon who was so impressive beating optional claimers here Dec. 13, dueled from the start and like Seduire paid the price.

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay (race 8)

COMMENT: Lochte may not be a Grade 1 horse any longer but the he showed that he can still do damage in the right spot. Coming off a fifth in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream Jan. 10, Lochte bided his time early as Super Soldier set a solid pace. Lochte steadily advanced, came with his run into the lane, got the better of stubborn leader Sky Flight, and just held off a hard-charging Old Time Hockey. Old Time Hockey, an invader from Southern California, was far back turning for home but finished with a flourish. Sky Flight, the 6-5 favorite off three straight wins including the Tropical Park Derby Dec. 20, stalked the pace, took command into the lane, but just couldn’t outfinish the top two, losing by just a head and a neck. Guys Reward, the defending champ and making his first start since running fourth in the Grade 3 River City at Churchill Nov. 8, was far back early and could pass only tired foes.

Sam Houston

Connally Turf Cup (race 7)

COMMENT: Coalport, a strong favorite, had little trouble dominating his rivals here. He bounced right out to a clear early lead and never had an anxious moment. That gives him wins in the past couple seasons on Arlington turf, Kentucky Downs turf, Keeneland turf, Hawthorne turf and now here. Trace Creek chased Coalport, closed the gap a bit in the lane but then saw the winner draw off again. He finished far clear of the others. Daddy’s Kid sat midpack and made decent late headway. Dreams Cut Short was away slowly, last turning for home, and finished well.