Trip Notes for January 9: Fort Lauderdale, Sham, San Pasqual, and more...

Saturday, January 9

Gulfstream Park - Marshua’s River (race 4)

COMMENT: When on her game, Sandiva is only a notch below the best turf gals around, and she showed that here, proving a handy winner. Off since finishing third in the Grade 3 My Charmer during the Gulfstream Park West meet Nov. 21, she dueled in the Marsha’s River with Quiet Kitten and Divine Aida through modest splits, finally took command on the far turn, opened up and kept a couple hard-trying closers at bay in the final furlong. The Grade 3 Suwannee River here Feb. 6, a race she won last year, figures next. A Little Bit Sassy, off since running sixth in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont Oct. 17, lagged back early, pitched very wide on the far turn, and came with a nice run. Tuttipaesi likewise lagged back and finished decently between horses, though she was never a danger to the winner. Partisan Politics sat well back and could make only modest headway.

Gulfstream Park - Hal’s Hope (race 7)

COMMENT: Mshawish showed his big debut on dirt when fourth in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile no fluke, as he again handled dirt with aplomb here and stamped himself a major threat for the Grade 1 Donn here Feb. 6. He stalked as Valid set a strong pace while taking some pressure from Grande Shores, moved up to challenge into the lane, put his head in front by midstretch, and battled gamely to the line to edge a very stubborn Valid. Mshawish also is a Grade 1 winner on turf, so that gives his connections all sort of options down the line. He does seem to idle when making the lead, and that may very well have been what happened in the Cigar Mile when he surged to the lead by midstretch only to end up fourth. Valid, coming off a win in the Harlan’s Holiday here Dec. 12, ran splendidly in defeat. He was under modest pressure from Grande Shores, dispatched with that foe and was immediately challenged by Mshawish, and finished second, well clear of the rest. He did catch a break when the other main speedster in the race, Mr. Jordan, got bumped at the start. Grande Shores, who had been primarily sprinting and was a no-threat second to big winner X Y Jet in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector here Dec. 19, dogged Valid but couldn’t keep pace with the top two in the lane. Matrooh, a strong third in the Cigar Mile last time out, beating Mshawish, was expected to show speed but got bumped at the start to get away slowly. He still seemed comfortable when sitting at the back of the pack not far behind the eventual winner, but was unable to make a dent in the lane.

Gulfstream Park - Ft. Lauderdale (race 10)

COMMENT: Heart to Heart has flashed big-time ability, particularly when able to use his speed. Well, he did that again here. Coming off a front-running win in the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs Nov. 26, he went out to a clear early lead in the Ft. Lauderdale, setting a solid pace. Heart to Heart kicked clear into the lane, giving himself enough of a buffer to get to the line before Lukes Alley. Lukes Alley chased the winner from the start, looked done for when Heart to Heart kicked clear into the lane, but kept to his task. All Included stalked the pace and got third. Lochte, the 2-1 favorite, lagged back and finished well between horses, but was never really a danger. War Correspondent stalked the pace, loomed a threat turning for home, but then gave way.

Santa Anita - Sham (race 6)

COMMENT: The race lost a bit of shine when Dressed in Hermes, a Grade 3 winner who might have gone favored, was scratched sick the morning of the race. Collected, second to Dressed in Hermes in the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille on turf at Del Mar Nov. 29, was making his first start on dirt. Being by dirt Grade 1 winner City Zip with another dirt Grade 1 winner as his damsire (Johannesburg), he figured to handle the surface, and he did. He stalked as Semper Fortis set a modest pace, first taking pressure from I’malreadythere and then from Found Money. Collected moved up to challenge on the far turn, grabbed the lead, and edged away late. Nice as this was he remains well behind Mor Spirit and Toews on Ice on Bob Baffert’s 3-year-old depth chart. Let’s Meet in Rio gave Baffert a one-two finish. A Los Alamitos maiden winner, he was last early and still well back turning for home, angled out bumping a rival, and finished willingly. There was an inquiry regarding the bump, but the finish order was allowed to stand. Laoban, a maiden who ran second to Let’s Meet in Rio at Los Alamitos, sat midpack, was in tight, swung out into the lane and finished decently. Found Money pressed the pace, loomed a big threat turning for home, but couldn’t sustain his run.

Santa Anita - San Pasqual (race 8)

COMMENT: Caifornia Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, hadn’t started since running second in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup last March 28, and he looked good making a successful return here. He stalked pacesetter Alfa Bird, who was able to set dawdling splits, moved up to challenge that foe on the turn, got the better of him, and held on. He’s reportedly now off to Dubai to prep for another shot at the World Cup March 26. Imperative, second to top-class Dortmund in the Grade 3 Native Diver at Del Mar Nov. 28 and scratched from an optional claimer a few days ago, sat fourth early, came out into the lane, made a run at the winner to briefly look very threatening, but was unable to get to him. Considering the slow pace he ran quite well. Hoppertunity was away slowly to be last early, steadily advanced, and was never a danger to the winner. Surely he was a victim of the very slow pace.