Trip Notes for January 4-5: Jerome, Old Hat, Marshua's River, Santa Ynez, San Gabriel and Monrovia

Saturday, Jan. 4

Aqueduct - Jerome Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Noble Moon, making his first start since finishing a very good third in the Grade 2 Nashua (blew the start, was very wide into the lane but finished well), likely earned his way into the deeper waters as the Triple Crown trail gets going – but it wasn’t easy. From his rail post he broke alertly to dog early pacesetter Pin and Win, remained inside, moved through past that rival to grab the lead going to the far turn, maintained a narrow lead throughout and gamely rebuffed a persistent challenge from Classic Giacnroll. He’s surely bred to go long as his daddy produced 2013 Ky. Derby winner Orb and there’s big stamina on the bottom side as well (damsire Kingmambo). The Grade 3 Withers here Feb. 1 is possible, though trainer Gyarmati said they might wait for the Grade 3 Gotham here March 1, though almost surely he won’t run in both. Classic Giacnroll, son of Ky. Derby winner Giacomo, was midpack early after a slow start, moved up steadily while staying wide and in the clear, doggedly went after the winner on the far turn, but just couldn’t get to him. Scotland, a maiden who had shown talent running second in his two starts, stalked the pace while inside and stayed on decently for third, though he was no threat to the top two.

Gulfstream - Old Hat (race 3)

COMMENT: Sweet Whiskey, freshened since finishing a good second in the Grade 2 Matron at Belmont Sept. 29, came back firing for Pletcher and overcame somewhat of a tough trip to prove best. From her rail slot she broke slowly and lagged back as first Zensational Bunny and then Milam set the pace. She had to wait for room on the rail, was still trapped behind horses into the lane, finally found a seam, moved through to grab the lead from Co Cola, and drew off to win well. The Grade 2 Forward Gal at seven furlongs here Jan. 25 could be next, though if that’s too quick a turnaround they may opt to wait for the Grade 2 Davona Dale here Feb. 22, which would also be a chance to stretch her out to 1 1/16 miles. Co Cola was near the winner early, moved earlier to challenge for the lead turning for home with a smart wide run, had the lead into the lane, couldn’t fend off the winner, but stayed on well to be a clear second. Aurelia’s Belle broke slowly, sat last early, was still last turning for home and finished decently for third, though she was no threat to the top two. Zensational Bunny and Milam volleyed up front early and weakened. Race was marred when Side Street broke down in the stretch and had to be euthanized.

Gulfstream - Marshua’s River (race 9)

COMMENT: Naples Bay again validated her love of this course as a victory here made her a perfect 3 for 3 on the Gulfstream grass. This was a nice bounce-back, too, after running seventh as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade 3 My Charmer at Calder last month. She bided her time while saving ground, moved closer turning for home, commenced her run, found a seam, shot through and gamely prevailed. She reportedly is now off to be a mommy. Somali Lemonade, who last ran sixth in the My Charmer, just in front of today’s winner, added blinkers, posted a bullet work Dec. 28 and took a nice step forward. She stalked the pace, moved to the lead in midstretch looking like the winner, but couldn’t counter Naples Bay’s late charge. Angelica Zapata, who beat the top two in the My Charmer when a sharp second, was just behind Somali Lemonade from the start, made a threatening move into the lane, but couldn’t quite sustain it. Abaco, the favorite off a smart win in the Grade 3 Cardinal at Churchill Nov. 9, lagged back, swung out into the lane and finished well but was just too late. Deanaallen’skitten, winner of 4 of her last 6 including a stakes win here Dec. 7, was back with Abaco early and rallied in that gal’s wake.

Santa Anita - Santa Ynez (race 2)

COMMENT: When Awesome Baby romped in her debut at Del Mar last summer, it looked as though she might be Bob Baffert’s top 2-year-old filly. However, then came 2 dull Grade 1 outings and she got the rest of the year off. The freshening and returning to a sprint did the trick as she used her speed to capture this. She broke alertly to grab a narrow lead, took pressure from Taste Like Candy, opened up into the lane and gamely kept to her task to beat a re-rallying Taste Like Candy. Baffert indicated he’ll likely keep her sprinting, though to do so means she’ll have to leave town as there are no more sprint stakes for 3-year-old fillies here during the winter/spring segment of the meet. Taste Like Candy, a proven commodity having run second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet last time out, pressured the winner from the start, looked done when that foe opened up into the lane, but found more to doggedly go after the winner, nearly catching her in the final strides. She may prefer more ground and may target the Grade 1 Las Virgenes at a mile here Feb. 1, where she might again run into Streaming, who beat her in the Starlet. Crushed Velvet, favored off a smashing debut win at Hollywood last month, seemed in a great spot stalking the pace but couldn’t make any real impact at any point. Baffert said she would stretch out next. That could come in the Las Virgenes, which could mean running headlong again into Taste Like Candy and Baffert’s top route 3-year-old filly Streaming.

Santa Anita - San Gabriel (race 8)

COMMENT: Jeranimo showed he’s still got plenty of oomph even at age 8 as he successfully defended his title here in sterling fashion. Competing in his fourth renewal of this race and winning for the third time, he showed no speed to be last early, and well behind the rest of the field. He bided his time there, swung out turning for home and hit the afterburners, blasting past his rivals and winning fairly easily. A terrific run from the old boy. His next target is reportedly the Grade 2 Arcadia at a mile here Feb. 1. This was also the sixth straight San Gabriel taken by jockey Bejarano. Slim Shadey looked more like his old Grade 2-winning self as he set a solid pace, kicked clear into the lane, and while no match for the winner’s charge was a clear second. The Grade 2 San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles here Feb. 8 is on his radar, according to his trainer. Artic North sat midpack and kept on decently for third. Te Rapa stalked the pace but gave way in the lane.

Sunday, January 5

Santa Anita - Monrovia (race 8)

COMMENT: Ponchatrain moved to a perfect 3 for 3 on the hillside course. After two stakes wins on this course in the fall she was freshened. She stalked the strong pace of Kindle, went after that foe after the field came over the dirt crossing, got the better of Kindle, and was edging away late. To make the effort look all the better she reportedly came back with her right hind shoe askew. The next race for open distaffers down the hill is Irish O’Brien March 15, but if they don’t wish to wait that long they could tackle males in the Sensational Star down the hill Feb. 22. The way she runs down the hill she would fit there. Kindle, making her first start in almost a year, went right to the lead, as expected, battled back gamely when hooked by the winner in the lane, but couldn’t quite fend off that foe. She’s now finished second in all three of her hillside starts. Purim’s Dancer stalked the pace while saving ground, tried to make a run with the winner after coming over the dirt crossing, but couldn’t stay with that rival. Ultrasonic, making her first U.S. start, was a bit slow into stride and kept to her task decently, though she was never really a threat to win.