Trip Notes for January 4-5, 2019: Sham, San Gabriel and more

Jan. 4

Gulfstream
Kitten’s Joy (race 7)

COMMENT: Island Commish really has figured it out. After two so-so outings in the summer he blasted optional claimers on turf at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 17 and Nov. 20. He stepped into deeper waters here in a Grade 3 but it didn’t matter as he again proved a game winner. He broke well, was content to dog early pacesetter Get Smokin to his inside through solid splits, engaged that rival into the lane, had to fight to edge past but finally got the better of that foe in the final furlong and edged ahead. The Grade 3 Dania Beach at this type of trip (one mile) here Feb. 1 could be next. Get Smokin, freshened since giving way readily to end up last of 10 in the Awad at Belmont Oct. 26, rebounded to form as from his rail slot he went right to the lead, set a solid pace along the rail under pressure from Island Commish, fought back gamely when confronted by that rival to his outside into the lane, gamely held the lead to inside the eighth pole but then couldn’t quite fend off that rival thereafter. The Dania Beach would figure on his radar as well. Summer to Remember, an impressive maiden winner on this course at this trip Dec. 11, got a dream trip stalking the pace, moved closer into the far turn, was asked for more on the turn, couldn’t mount a bid to challenge the top two but stayed on to hold third. Irish Mais, favored off turf stakes win at Laurel, a fourth in a stakes at Belmont Oct. 26 and a second in another turf stakes here Nov. 30, was away slowly to be last early steadily advanced down the backstretch, pitched wide on the far turn and into the lane, continued to make some progress but was never really a threat to the top pair.

Santa Anita
Sham (race 5)

COMMENT: Authentic showed he’s absolutely authentic in terms of talent with a romping win here. He also showed he’s far from a finished product as he displayed greenness in the lane, though he held such an advantage at that point it didn’t matter. The $350,000 son of top sire Into Mischief broke alertly from his rail slot, went right out to a clear lead, set a solid pace (the track was on the dull side) while maintaining a clear lead, opened up on the turn, blew the race open into the lane, veered inward in midstretch seemingly shying from the crowd noise, then veered back out away from the rail while maintaining his sizeable advantage to the line. The Grade 2 San Felipe here March 7 could be next, according to trainer Bob Baffert, who also said he might apply blinkers or ear plugs to keep the colt more focused. Baffert may have some juggling to do as well as he also has the likes of Eight Rings, Thousand Words, High Velocity and today’s runner-up Azul Coast. Azul Coast gave Baffert a one-two finish as the $320,000 son of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, coming off a big debut win over maidens routing at Los Alamitos Dec. 8, broke slowly to be last from the start, remained there while saving ground into the backstretch, started to improve his position going to the far turn while saving ground, came out into the lane and finished decently for second, though he was never a danger to his big winning stablemate. Zimba Warrior, routing for the first time after finishing third to another Baffert trainee (High Velocity) in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar Nov. 16, stalked while between horses early, moved to the inside down the backstretch, cut the corner into the lane, kept to his task despite his rider losing his whip in midstretch and while unable to get to the runner-up stayed on to hold third. Taishan, the second choice off a smart maiden win on this track at this trip Nov. 3, was a bit slow into stride, bided his time toward the back of the pack, was still last turning for home, finally got going and ran on decently though he was never really a factor.

Santa Anita
San Gabriel (race 8)

COMMENT: Desert Stone had flashed ample talent a year ago, rallying smartly to be second in the Grade 2 Mathis Bros. Mile here and third in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile here last March 30. However, he was dull when ninth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here May 27 and went to the bench (trainer Richard Baltas said his “ankles were bugging him”). The rest did the trick as the son of Fastnet Rock came back firing to notch his first graded stakes win. From his rail slot he was away slowly to be last out of the gate, remained at the back of the pack as Overdue set a modest pace, came out into the lane to start his run, pitched wider out still in midstretch and surged late to get up in the final strides. If they want to try longer there’s the Grade 2 San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles here Feb. 1, or they could cut back to a mile for the Thunder Road here Feb. 8, using that as a link to the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile here March 7. Cleopatra’s Strike was a tough-luck second in this last year (beaten a nose) and suffered the same fate here. Cutting back in distance after a fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar Dec. 1, the 7-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike sat fifth from the start, came out into the lane, came with a smart run, grabbed the lead inside the eighth pole as if going on to victory only to have the winner surge past to his outside in the final strides. The San Marcos would figure on his radar. Majestic Eagle, fourth in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit at Del Mar Nov. 30, dogged pacesetter Overdue from the start, challenged that rival on the far turn, got the better of that foe who was to his inside by midstretch but couldn’t quite finish with the top two. Overdue, winner of two nice optional claimers before fading to ninth in the Hollywood Gold Cup, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under pressure from Majestic Eagle, battled back when challenged by that foe to his outside into the lane but gave way once headed.

Jan. 5

Santa Anita
Santa Ynez (race 7)

COMMENT: Bast, the heavy favorite after being a proven commodity at the highest level (two Grade 1 wins in 2019, third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here), prevailed as expected as the heavy favorite, though it wasn’t easy and wasn’t exactly the powerhouse performance to make you believe she can lead the division this year. Bast, a $500,000 daughter of juvenile male champ Uncle Mo, broke well from her outside post, stalked while a few lanes off the rail as stablemates Auberge on the rail and Golden Principal just to that filly’s outside set a solid pace, came under a ride on the far turn while still behind and outside those rivals, was put to a drive there and into the lane, finally got going, was able to wear down leader Auberge inside the eighth pole and edge clear. After a busy few months she’ll reportedly be freshened and will target the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill May 1. Auberge helped Baffert dominate this as he swept the trifecta. The $570,000 daughter of Grade 1 sprint winner Palace, broke a step slow but had the speed to quickly assume the lead from her rail slot, set a brisk pace under pressure from stablemate Golden Principal to her immediate outside, set a solid pace while holding the fence, gamely rebuffed Golden Principal’s challenge on the far turn and into the lane to her immediate outside but couldn’t finish with her more seasoned stablemate a few lanes wider out in the lane, settling for second. She’s got talent and could be a Grade 2 Eight Belles/Grade 1 Acorn/Grade 1 Test type. Golden Principal, a $200,000 daughter of hot young sire Constitution who was a smart winner of her debut at Del Mar Nov. 30, broke well, dogged stablemate pacesetter Auberge to her inside from the start, continued to hound that rival to the far turn, made a big there, got rebuffed, tried to go at her again into the lane, couldn’t keep pace and had no answer when stablemate Bast moved past to her outside, though she stayed on to give trainer Bob Baffert the trifecta. Orqudias Biz, second in a stakes at Del Mar Nov. 10 last time out, lagged back well off the pace while out wide, continued there to the far turn while wide, was asked for run, proved no match for the Baffert trio turning for home and into the lane but plugged along to get fourth while remaining a few lanes off the rail.