Trip Notes for January 30: Withers, Holy Bull, Houston Ladies Classic, and more...

Saturday, January 30

Aqueduct - Withers (race 4)

COMMENT: Sunny Ridge, second in the Grade 1 Champagne and the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot, showed he’s the real deal. He dogged Vorticity through snail-like splits, and battled with that rival from midway down the backstretch to midstretch before edging away in the final half-furlong. Vorticity, a well-beaten second to Flexibility in the Grade 3 Jerome Jan. 2, got bumped at the start by Adventist but was still nimble enough to move off to a clear lead. He battled long and hard with Sunny Ridge and finally succumbed in the final half-furlong. Adventist bumped with Vorticity at the start, got a stalking trip while climbing, and kept to his task well to be third. Considering it was just his second start - he had won his debut by 11 1/4 lengths here Dec. 19 - it was a fine try and there’s ample upside. Flexibility, the heavy favorite after a back-to-back Grade 2 seconds to Mohaymen and then a romping win in the Grade 3 Jerome here Jan. 2, stalked the pace while inside, made a mild move into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Surely trying to rally into such slow splits cost him but this was a disappointing run regardless.

Aqueduct - Toboggan (race 9)

COMMENT: This race was originally carded for Jan. 18 but lost due to bad weather, then carded for Jan. 24 but also lost due to bad weather. Sassicaia, stepping up in class off a big optional-claiming win here Dec. 26, continued the hot run for trainer Rudy Rodriguez as he posted the upset while notching his first stakes win. He was slow into stride, began to advance on the far turn, had to check briefly and shift wider to avoid the fallen rider turning for home, but got back into stride. He came with a smart run into the lane, altered course to go between horses, and surged late to get the win. Mewannarose, 46-1, dogged pacesetting favorite Green Gratto from the start, looked dead in the water when that rival scooted clear in midstretch. But he got past that foe, although he couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Green Gratto went set fast splits under pressure, looked like the winner when opening up a clear lead by midstretch, but then then tired late. Dads Cap, a two-time winner of the Grade 1 Carter and making his first start since running third in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont last June 5, stalked the pace, loomed a threat into the lane but then died on his run. Captain Serious sat back early while inside, stumbled on the far turn and lost his rider.

Gulfstream Park - Forward Gal (race 3)

COMMENT: Cathryn Sophia came here off two laughingly easy wins over lesser, beating maidens by 12 3/4 lengths at Parx and winning a stakes by 16 1/4 lengths at Laurel, and was getting something of an acid test. Well, she passed with flying colors, proving an easy winner despite trouble. She got away slowly, but steadily advanced, took command into the lane and drew off to win under wraps. Island Saint set a solid pace under pressure from Ballet Diva, rebuffed that rival turning for home, but was no match for the winner. Ballet Diva dogged Island Saint from the start, kept at her into the lane but then couldn’t sustain her challenge in the final furlong.

Gulfstream - Swale (race 4)

COMMENT: Three starts, three romping wins now for Awesome Banner. He his debut here last June, then wasn’t seen again until he won the Grade 3 Hutcheson here Jan. 2. He again proved far too much for his sprinting colleagues here as he went right out to the lead, took pressure from Noholdingback, but kicked away into the lane to win easily. Economic Model, making his first start since easily winning his debut at Saratoga last Aug. 8, stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner turning for home, was no match for that foe, and stayed on to just get second. Richie the Bull stalked the pace and battled with Economic Model in the lane, and just lost second in the final half-furlong.

Gulfstream - Sweetest Chant (race 10)

COMMENT: J R’s Holiday made it three wins in his last four starts, posting the upset as the longest-priced horse in the race. He sat last early as Don’t Be So Salty and Little Mo volleyed on the lead through modest splits, angled out turning for home, went back to the inside into the lane, and came home with a flourish, edging away late. Don’t Be So Salty shifted out into the lane bumping Little Mo and stayed on to get second. He was disqualified and placed fourth. Azar stalked the pace, moved up to challenge into the lane, checked late while trying to rally and continued on for third (moved up to second). Little Moe was able to get back into stride after being bumped and finished well for fourth (moved up to third).

Gulfstream - Holy Bull (race 11)

COMMENT: Mohaymen continued to strengthen his stand near the top of any Kentucky Derby list with another impressive victory. A son of top sire Tapit who cost $2.2 million at auction, Mohaymen won all three of his starts in 2014, including the Grade 2 Nashua and Grade 2 Remsen. Here he stalked as Perfect Saint and Greenpointcrusader dueled for the early lead, moved closer as Perfect Saint fell away, grabbed the lead from Greenpointcrusader on the turn, and opened up. Impressive as this outing was he still hasn’t beaten all that much – Flexibility, second to him in both the Nashua and Remsen, was fourth in the Withers earlier this day. Greenpointcrusader, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne and making his first start since finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, tried to fight back when challenged by Mohaymen on the turn, was no match for that rival, but kept on well to be a clear second. Fellowship sat last early and came with a steady run, though he was never really a factor. Conquest Big E sat back, made a threatening run on the turn but flattened out.

Sam Houston - John B. Connally (race 8)

COMMENT: Da Big Hoss was well beaten in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland Oct. 31 and coming off a third in the Grade 3 McKnight at Gulfstream Dec. 26. Here he sat midpack saving ground as Pumpkin Rumble, Bullards Alley and Going Somewhere all volleyed up front, remained inside as he moved closer turning for home, hit high gear while still on the fence, and powered away from his rivals for the easy win. He demolished the course record, which had stood since 1996, by over four seconds. Kaigun, who finished second just in front of Da Big Hoss in the McKnight, sat back not far behind the eventual winner, didn’t accelerate as quickly or as strongly but got going late to get second. Big John B, one of the top stayers on the West Coast, was last until coming into the lane, swung out very wide and finished well for the show. Pumpkin Rumble proved best of those on the pace, and kept on gamely to lose second by just a length.

Sam Houston - Houston Ladies Classic (race 9)

COMMENT: Forever Unbridled showed she’ll be a filly to reckon with this year as she notched a second straight Grade 3 win. Coming off a head tally in the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct Nov. 28, she stalked in fourth as Cassatt bounced out to a clear lead while setting modest splits, remained there to the far turn, came with a strong run under her own power, and took command late under a hand ride. Cali Star, coming off two romping wins in Florida this fall including Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Rampart Dec. 12, was just in front of the eventual winner from the start, moved with that gal to challenge for the lead into the lane, and surged late to edge Cassatt for second. Cassatt, the defending champ, was clear turning for home, remained in front to inside the eighth pole, and just lost second in the final strides.