Jan. 25 Gulfstream Fred Hooper (race 7) COMMENT: Phat Man gamely chased War Story when second in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday when earning a career-top Beyer (98). It’s possible the 6-year-old gelded son of Munnings is better than ever now as he stepped up his game further to prove victorious here. He bided his time early by Zenden set a sizzling pace pressed by Epic Dreamer to his outside and Storm Advisory to his inside, started to advance between horses going to the far turn, advanced just inside favorite Free Enterprise, came with a nice run on the far turn, pitched wider into the lane and finished resolutely to reel in then-leader Zenden to his inside in the final half-furlong. The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile at this same trip Feb. 29 could be next, though trainer Kent Sweezey mentioned races like the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April and Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill in May as possible goals. Zenden ran big in defeat. Moving to a route after finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here Dec. 21 he went right to the lead, set a hot pace under pressure from Epic Dreamer and Stormy Advisory, continued to be hounded through sizzling splits by those two, dispatched with those rivals into the lane but was quickly taken on by Phat Man to his outside, couldn’t finish with that foe but stayed on well for second. Rare Form, stepping up off a smart second in an optional claimer at Churchill Nov. 28, sat a couple lengths off the pacesetters, remained there while traveling well, crept closer into the far turn, moved to the rail on the far turn to pass the tiring Epic Dreamer, came off the rail into the lane, couldn’t finish with the winner to swept past to his outside but stayed on well to get third. Free Enterprise, the favorite off two big wins in New York in the fall, sat midpack while well off the rail, tried to move with the eventual winner on the far turn as that rival came up inside of him, remained wide on the turn and into the lane but came up empty in the lane. Gulfstream La Prevoyante (race 8) COMMENT: Mean Mary gave more crucial evidence as to the importance of pace. The daughter of Scat Daddy, stepping into stakes ranks for the first time off a game optional-claiming win here Dec. 22, went right to the lead, was able to set a dawdling pace, held a clear advantage to the far turn while traveling easily, was asked for run into the lane and had lots of gas left in the tank as she blew the race open, drawing off to win easily. She’s really blossomed and could make a lot more noise in the division. Off this a shot at the Grade 3 The Very One here Feb. 29 could be next, though trainer Graham Motion said he’d like to keep her fresh for the bigger races in the summer. La Paname, the favorite having won her first two starts in the U.S., the last being a Grade 3 at Aqueduct, though that was way back in November 2018, sat a few lengths off the lead toward the outside, crept closer down the backstretch, advanced nicely on the far turn while still a few lanes off the rail, came with a run into the lane only to find the winner already long gone. Touriga sat well back from the start, remained there to the far turn while a few lanes off the rail, started a nice run on the far turn between horses, pitched out into the lane to continue her rally, finished well to get up for third though she was never a danger to the big winner. Simply Beautiful, a European invader, was urged away from the gate to get position, was able to establish herself midpack while holding the fence just inside of La Paname, was asked to get involved going into the far turn but came up empty. Gulfstream Inside Information (race 9) COMMENT: Pink Sands rallied furiously to win the Grade 3 Rampart at a mile here Dec. 14 in what was surely the best race of her life. It was déjà vu all over again as the daughter of Tapit repeated that run to notch the biggest win of her career here. She was slow into stride, as in the Rampart, to be far back early as Liza’s Star, J P’s Delight and Blamed pushed a strong pace, remained last to the far turn as Blamed took a narrow lead on the far turn, was still well back coming into the lane, came out to find a lane between horses and closed furiously widest of all to not only catch the leaders but surge clear. The Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at this same 7-furlong trip here March 14 could be next, with her primary target being the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland April 4. The way she’s developing she could add her name to a division loaded with talent (Covfefe, Bellafina, Come Dancing, Guarana, Indian Pride, Spiced Perfection, Hard Not to Love). Wildwood’s Beauty, second to J P’s Delight in a Tampa stakes Dec. 14, sat just in behind the leaders while saving ground, remained there to the far turn, was boxed in for a bit on the turn, had to steady, came off the inside got going again, rallied smartly to come up to leader Spiced Perfection’s outside, had no answer for when the winner blew past to her outside but kept on well for second. Nonna Madeline, smashing winner of her comeback here Dec. 20 after over 14 months off, was a bit slow into stride but advanced nicely between horses to gets a stalking trip to the right of Wildwood Beauty, crept closer on the turn, tried to rally with favored Spiced Perfection to her outside turning for home, ducked to the inside for room as the speedsters tired and vacated the inside and continued on gamely to edge Spiced Perfection for third, though she was no real danger to the top two. Spiced Perfection, favored off her sustained excellent form the past couple years including a win in a Grade 3 at Aqueduct last time out, broke well, bided her time midpack while traveling comfortably, moved up easily under her own power while wide on the far turn to get abreast of the leaders, took the lead into the lane as if poised to go on to victory but was unable to sustain her run, tiring some in the final half-furlong to end up fourth. Gulfstream W. L. McKnight (race 10) COMMENT: Spooky Channel, a 5-year-old gelded son of grass champ English Channel, was best known as the best grass horse at Turf Paradise last year, the site of all six career wins including three stakes wins. After five months off he tried deeper waters in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale here Dec. 14 and wasn’t disgraced when eighth. Moved to this longer trip with that run under his belt he ran the race of his life, notching his first graded stakes win with the big 36-1 upset. He sat midpack as Dubby Dubbie set a modest pace under pressure from Cross Border, was content to remain there down the backstretch while staying wide and in the clear, was asked for run into far turn as the pace quickened, came with a smart run while staying wide and resolutely kept to his task to catch Cross Border to his inside and get his nose down on the line. The Grade 2 Pan American here March 28 could be next. Cross Border, sixth in the Fort Lauderdale, dogged pacesetter Dubby Dubbie from the start to that foe’s outside, continued to press that foe to the far turn, was then asked to make his run to challenge that rival, took a short lead from that foe on the far turn, rebuffed a re-rally from Dubby Dubbie, opened up into the lane, finished gamely a couple lanes off the rail but couldn’t quite fend off the winner to his outside. Apreciado, second in a stakes here Dec. 7, lagged back while saving ground, remained there down the backstretch, started to advance along the inside heading to the far turn, had to steady behind rivals while still on the fence, came off the inside into the lane, advanced nicely between horses, shifted toward the inside and stayed on well for third while no real danger to the top two. Red Knight, favored off a second in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct Nov. 23, was slow into stride to be last early while holding the fence, remained last into the backstretch while staying inside, started to advance as he came off the inside heading into the far turn, pitched extremely wide on the turn to start his run, wider still into the lane as he loomed a threat while widest of all but couldn’t sustain his run enough to challenge. Gulfstream Pegasus World Cup Turf (race 11) COMMENT: Zulu Alpha was considered an outsider, not due to his talent and form, but because many believe this trip too short for him. Well, he proved the doubters wrong and opened up all sorts of options as the 7-year-old gelded son of Street Cry was a smashing winner. Coming off a good fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 2, the former claimer (trainer Mike Maker claimed him for $80,000 at Churchill in September 2018) broke decently from his rail slot, soon steadied while in behind horses first time under the wire, was able to settle while remaining on the rail, bided his time there to the far turn, came with a strong run as he cut the corner along the inside into the lane to reach contention, surged past leader Magic Wand to her inside in the final furlong and drew clear. Other Street Crys have gotten better with age (Zenyatta, Winx, for example) so maybe that’s the case for this guy. And winning at this trip, particularly in the manner in which he did it, opens up all sorts of options, that he doesn’t necessarily have to be shoe-horned into longer races. Maker said he wasn’t sure what would be next, but that it would likely be at Gulfstream, meaning likely either defending his title in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Feb. 29 or awaiting the Grade 2 Pan American March 28. Magic Wand, the globetrotting mare who was second in this last year to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, was terrific as always. From the outside post she broke well, used her speed to get up and over, grabbing the lead first time under the wire while getting to the inside. She set an even pace while holding the fence, took some pressure from Henley’s Joy and Next Shares to her outside, dispatched with those two turning for home, opened up some into the lane, came off the rail a bit, was no match for when Zulu Alpha surged past to her inside but kept on gamely to hold second. While coming off the rail in the stretch gave Zulu Alpha a lane it likely didn’t make any difference as ‘Alpha was much the best and had Magic Wand kept the fence he likely could have just gone around and past. The $1 million Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia at just over 1 1/4 miles Feb. 29 could be next, and/or the Group 1 Dubai Turf (1 1/8 miles) or Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (at 1 1/2 miles) March 28. She has such a constitution it wouldn’t shock if she went in one or both, and maybe back to the U.S. later in the year, as she did last year. Instilled Regard, game winner of the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale here Dec. 14, stalked in fifth, moved closer between horses, moved to the inside on the far turn to loom a threat, came out into the lane, was no match for the winner to his inside but finished gamely to end up third just outside of Magic Wand. Sacred Life broke alertly, soon took back to be not far behind stablemates Instilled Regard and Without Parole, remained well back into the lane, didn’t seem to be going anywhere but once straightened away found his top fear and finished well. He can certainly motor once straightened away but not showing that same acceleration on the turns is a drawback. Sadler’s Joy got pinched back significantly at the start, though he would have been well back even under the best of circumstances. He bided his time there, came out on the far turn to start a run, pitched wider still into the lane and finished decently to better his position though he was never really a threat. Mo Forza, smashing winner of his last four in Southern California, the last three being graded stakes but all vs. 3-year-olds only, broke slowly, got pushed very wide into the first turn, bided his time midpack while staying wide, was urged along on the far turn while still wide to get involved, made a mild move into the lane between horses, steadied a couple times in the lane, seemed to run in spots and was unable to threaten. With more maturity he could still be a big player in the division. He reportedly returns to his Southern California home base. Without Parole, the tepid 3-1 favorite off a good rallying third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, his first start in the U.S. and first action in six months, seemed in a good spot from the start sitting midpack, crept closer down the backstretch between horses, was asked to get going on the far turn between horses and into the lane but came up empty. Could be this trip is a tad beyond him, at least at this level. Gulfstream Pegasus World Cup (race 12) COMMENT: Race complexion changed considerably Thursday when multiple Grade 1 winner and morning-line favorite Omaha Beach scratched (right hind ankle injury) and goes into retirement and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and second choice Spun to Run scratched (skin infection). Mucho Gusto became a big player once those two defected and he showed why as he was an easy winner. Freshened since tiring to be fourth in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Sept. 29, the 4-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man broke very sharply to go right to the lead, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Mr Freeze who grabbed the lead to his outside, was content to pull back a bit into third along the rail behind Mr Freeze and Bodexpress, remained there to the far turn, crept closer while inside Higher Power, came off the inside to go around then-leaders Mr Freeze and Bodexpress, had little trouble sweeping past to their outside, opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. The $20 million Saudi Cup may be next, though the water could be a lot, lot deeper there with the likes of McKinzie, Maximum Security, Midnight Bisou and Tacitus, among others, also targeting that. Mr Freeze, who pressed the pace before finishing third in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Nov. 29, broke well, surged to the lead into the clubhouse turn from his outside post while wide, moved to the rail once he got the lead, set a solid pace under pressure from Bodexpress, looked in trouble turning for home when that rival came at him, was no match when the winner swept past to his outside but kept to his task gamely to rebuff those other rivals and hold on for second before a couple closers got to him. War Story, broke well, soon took back, ended up at the back of the pack, bided his time there, came off the inside into the lane while still last, pitched very wide and finished well for third while widest of all, though he wasn’t ever really a danger to the winner. Diamond Oops, winner of five of six here including the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here last time out, broke well, had to steady along the rail when Mucho Gusto moved over in front of him, settled there a few lengths off the lead while under a hold, remained there to the far turn, started a run along the rail well behind the leading trio, pitched wider out and stayed on decently, though he was never a danger. Higher Power, coming off a third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, broke well, got a nice trip stalking the pace while well off the rail, remained there on the first turn and into the backstretch, crept closer to be third just behind and outside Bodexpress with Mucho Gusto to his inside, was asked for run into the far turn while outside Mucho Gusto but couldn’t go with that rival and gave way in a disappointing effort. Santa Anita Palos Verdes (race 8) COMMENT: Field was reduced to four after the scratches of Ax Man and St. Joe Bay. It was hardly the strongest renewal but Captain Scotty still did what he needed to do get his first stakes win. Back to dirt after finishing a close-up fifth in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez on turf here Jan. 1, the 6-year-old gelded son of Quality Road shot right out to a clear early lead, was able to set a relatively slow under modest pressure from 9-10 favorite Flagstaff while holding the rail, saw that rival move closer into the lane to his outside and doggedly kept to his task to only just keep that rival at bay to the line. The Grade 2 San Carlos here March 7 could be next. Flagstaff, the heavy favorite after running third to top-class runners Omaha Beach and Shancelot in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship here Oct. 5 and then gamely winning the Damascus here Nov. 2, hopped at the start to get away a bit behind Captain Scotty, was content to chase in second outside that rival, moved closer into the lane, battled gamely and crept closer all the while but just couldn’t quite get to that foe. The San Carlos figures on his radar as well. Speed Pass, stepping into stakes ranks for the first time after easily winning his first two starts at Los Alamitos, stalked in third toward the outside, angled in some into the lane but never mustered the needed run to be a factor. Jan. 26 Sam Houston Houston Ladies Classic (race 8) COMMENT: Lady Apple hadn’t been seen since winning the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks Sept. 29 and previously proved no match for favorites Serengeti Empress and Street Band. However, maturity has apparently helped this daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin as she posted the mild upset. She bided her time early as heavy favorite Serengeti Empress set a modest pace, remained toward the back down the backstretch while saving ground, crept closer while saving ground on the far turn as the leaders bunched, remained on the rail and kept to her task gamely to get the win while drifting off the inside some. The Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Feb. 17 might be next, and should all go well there the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn April 18 would be her long-term goal. Serengeti Empress, the heavy favorite after setting the pace and finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Nov. 2, did as expected, popped the gate, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under some pressure from Out for a Spin while staying on the fence, continued on a clear lead down the backstretch, had the field close in on the far turn, drifted off the rail into the lane while holding a narrow lead, gamely fought back but couldn’t quite fend off the winner who came up to her inside while ending up second. The Apple Blossom is reportedly her long-term goal. Street Band, the second choice after a smashing win in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx last Sept. 21 before a lackluster eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, bided her time early a few lengths off the lead while well off the rail, started to advance heading to the far turn while still wide and in the clear, loomed a big threat turning for home outside Serengeti Empress, battled for the lead into the lane while widest of the four in the fight, stayed on well but wasn’t quite good enough. The Apple Blossom is reportedly her long-term goal as well. Mylady Curlin, big winner of the Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill Nov. 28, stalked a few lengths off the pace, came with a nice run while a few lanes off the rail going to the far turn, loomed a big threat between Serengeti Empress to her inside and Street Band to her outside on the far turn and into the lane, was still in the thick of the four-horse battle for the lead to midstretch before succumbing a bit in the final half-furlong. Sam Houston John B. Connally Turf (race 9) COMMENT: Cross Border, the tepid 7-2 morning-line favorite, scratched, having run in Saturday’s Grade 3 McKnight at Gulfstream. Dot Matrix showed he belonged in graded stakes company when a decent third in the Grade 3 Red Smith at Aqueduct last time out Nov. 23. He fully validated that here as the son of Freud proved a game winner. He used his speed to press early pacesetter Sleepy Eyes Todd through slow splits, continued to press that rival going to the far turn, took over from that tiring rival, opened up a bit into the lane and then doggedly kept to his task to get to the wire before a hard-trying Bemma’s Boy. This doesn’t mean he’s ready for the big boys but it shows he can surely do damage in the right spot. Bemma’s Boy, coming off a good fourth beaten less than a length in the Grade 3 River City at Churchill Nov. 16, bided his time early toward the back of the pack while wide after breaking from the far outside, bided his time there while staying wide, came with a nice wide run on the far turn, carried it into the lane and to the wire but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Marzo, the tepid favorite after finishing seventh in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale at Gulfstream Dec. 14, sat midpack fro, the start, moved closer into the far turn to be just behind the eventual winner, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain his bid. Tracksmith, facing elders for the first time after winning the Woodchopper at the Fair Grounds Dec. 28, stalked the pace while saving ground, had to steady off heels into the far turn, was able to recover but was one paced thereafter and unable to threaten.