Trip Notes for January 5-6, 2018: Sham, Santa Ynez, and more

Jan. 5

Santa Anita
San Gabriel (race 7)

COMMENT: Next Shares was so impressive winning the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland over some tough company Oct. 6 he was bet down to 7-1 in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill on Nov. 3. Alas, after stalking the pace he gave way, ending up a non-factor 13th. He was freshened a bit, returned to his SoCal home base, got some class relief and made it work as he got back to the winner’s circle – but it wasn’t easy. He lagged well back early as longshot Arms Runner set a modest pace, remained toward the back to the far turn, swung wide into the lane and rallied smartly to just get up in the final stride to edge two rivals who were to his inside. He’s effective from 6-9 furlongs, so that gives them options, though he’ll reportedly wheel back in a few weeks in the deep end of the pool in the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf Cup at Gulfstream on Jan. 26. Cleopatra’s Strike, an invader from Woodbine who was stepping well up in class for his first start for trainer Phil D’Amato, showed he has a future in the turf ranks here as the 6-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike stalked the early pace, moved closer to the pacesetter going down the backstretch, went after that foe into the lane, finally got the better of him by midstretch while on the fence but just got nipped on the wire by the winner. Liam the Charmer, a non-factor 12th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, returned to the site of his best work (four of his five starts have come on this course) and from his rail draw he sat midpack early, moved closer going down the backstretch, came with a nice run between the top two in the lane and finished well to lose by just a nose and a head. Chicago Style, smart winner of the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 23, lagged back while saving ground, swung out into the lane and finished decently but wasn’t quite good enough. He’s yet to hit the board in three starts on this course so this may not be his favorite place. Platinum Warrior, making his first start with blinkers and first against elders after last running 10th in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Dec. 1, stalked the pace from the start while saving ground, loomed a threat into the lane but didn’t have the needed oomph when it mattered. Flamboyant, second in this last year and coming off a sharp third in the Grade 3 Berkeley on Golden Gate’s synthetic main track Nov. 24, sat back while saving ground just in front of the eventual winner, came out into the lane looking as if he might make a run but the run never came.

Santa Anita
Sham (race 9)

COMMENT: Gunmetal Gray showed plenty of promise when a big maiden winner at Del Mar on Aug. 22 and then a solid second to certain-to-be-juvenile-male-champ Game Winner in the Grade 1 American Pharoah here Sept. 29. However, he was away slowly and no factor when fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He returned home, was freshened a bit and got back on track, looking more like the guy we saw earlier this year. The $225,000 son of Exchange Rate showed no speed from the start, which had to have backers worried, as he sat last, remained there to the far turn while saving ground, came off the inside on the far turn, swung wide into the lane and rallied smartly to get the win. He could return in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis here Feb. 2 or they could await the Grade 2 San Felipe here March 9. Of course, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer isn’t averse to shipping, so there are certainly out-of-town options as well. Sueno, winner of his last two including a stakes win at Golden Gate last time out Dec. 1, stalked as Savagery set a solid pace, remained there to the far turn, doggedly went after then clear leader Much Better into the lane, was able to reel in that foe inside the final half-furlong while drifting in some but then couldn’t fend off the winner. Much Better, back to dirt after giving way badly in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill on Nov. 2, responded well to the change. The $600,000 son of Pioneerof the Nile broke his maiden easily in his only dirt try, his debut, at Del Mar on Sept. 1. From his outside post he stalked early pacesetter Savagery, took over on the turn, opened up into the lane as if going on to victory but then couldn’t finish with the top two. Gray Magician, a romping maiden winner in his first route at Del Mar on Nov. 24, stalked the pace from the start, loomed a threat between horses turning for home but flattened out. Coliseum was the big disappointment. Heavily favored at 3-5 off a romping win in his sprint debut at Del Mar on Nov. 17, the son of Tapit broke slowly, pulled his way into stalk mode while wide (trainer Bob Baffert has said his biggest issue is being too eager/rank), remained wide to the top of the lane but never mustered a run. He’s still a work in progress and it’s far too early to give up on him.

Jan. 6

Santa Anita
Santa Ynez (race 8)

COMMENT: Main track was listed as ‘fast’ despite about a half-inch of rain overnight. Bellafina was sent off the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after three straight romping wins in graded stakes, including two Grade 1s, in Southern California. However, she was lackluster, stalking the pace before finishing a well-beaten fourth. Trainer Simon Callaghan said she was in season, which may have explained her dullish outing. Freshened since, she looked every bit the pre-Breeders’ Cup filly we got to know as she easily dispatched her rivals, confirming she’s still the top of her class on the West Coast. The $800,000 daughter of Quality Road broke well from her inside slot (post 2), settled just off pacesetter Mother Mother’s hip through a solid first quarter, moved up on her own without being asked heading to the far turn to challenge to her inside, took command on the turn while still well in hand, opened up from there and won with ease while geared down. Callaghan said she might have two starts before the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks here April 6. That could mean next could be the Grade 2 Las Virgenes at a mile here Feb. 9, where she might run into Chasing Yesterday, winner of the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8 and sister to Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, or the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel here March 10. Mother Mother, a $450,000 daughter of Pioneerof the Nile and third in the Starlet last time out, went right to the lead from her rail slot, showing her good speed despite racing without blinkers, set the early pace along the rail under pressure from the favorite to her immediate right down the backstretch, was confronted by that foe going into the far turn, tried to fight back on the turn, proved no match for the winner but finished second. She can do some damage in the right spots but as of now looks up against it when facing the likes of Bellafina. Tomlin, a $200,000 daughter of Distorted Humor who was an easy winner of the Golden Gate Debutante on synthetic footing at Golden Gate on Nov. 23 but a winner of her only dirt start (that at Santa Rosa last summer), sat last early in the small field while saving ground, was still last going into the far turn, stayed on the fence as she made a run on the turn and into the lane, was never a danger to the winner got third. Sold It, fifth in the Starlet, stalked in third just to the outside of Bellafina, remained in stalking mode to the far turn, came under a ride to try and keep up but proved no match for the top three and fell away. Her lone win came on turf, so it may be back to that footing for the $175,000 daughter of The Factor.