Saturday, March 1 Aqueduct - Tom Fool Handicap (race 4) COMMENT: Strapping Groom, winner of the Grade 1 Forego last summer and last seen romping in the Gravesend here Dec. 21, came back firing as the 7-year-old took advantage of a great trip. He stalked in third while Dads Caps set a brisk pace under pressure from Jake N Elwood, moved closer turning for home, tipped out into the lane, moved up to challenge Dads Caps, got the better of that rival in the final half-furlong and edged clear. The Grade 1 Carter on the big track here April 5 could be next. Dads Caps, second to Candyman E in his last two the Spooky Mulder and Grade 3 Toboggan, turned the tables on that foe but still ended up second best. As usual he was quick from the gate, going right to the lead. He took pressure from Jake N Elwood, finally dispatched with that rival by midstretch, battled back when then hooked by the winner but couldn’t keep pace late. Saturday’s Charm, second beaten a nose in this race last year, bided his time while saving ground and finished well, though he never really was a threat to the top two. Candyman E, winner of his last three, sat fourth early but got shuffled back, swung very wide into the lane and was unable to make any progress. [bc_video_id:317525:] Aqueduct - Top Flight Handicap (race 8) COMMENT: Race complexion changed when morning-line favorite and defending champ Summer Applause was scratched after injuring herself in her stall That scratch left the blossoming Teen Pauline as the heavy favorite and she didn’t disappoint. Coming off wins here in the Affectionately and Ladies, Teen Pauline actually stumbled at the start but recovered nicely to eagerly go up between horses to grab the early lead before the field reached the clubhouse turn. From there on she had no real worries as she set a modest pace while clear and played keep-away all the way around. Surely her connections are disappointed there’s nothing left for her on the inner track this meet. Centring, who finished behind Teen Pauline in the Affectionately and Ladies, sat last early and finished well to just get up for second, though she was never really a threat to the winner. Flash Forward, second in the Ladies while finishing well ahead of Centring, stalked in third, made a bit of a run into the lane but couldn’t sustain her bid and just lost second in the final strides. [bc_video_id:317522:] Aqueduct - Gotham (race 9) COMMENT: Samraat and Uncle Sigh put on a whale of a show in the Grade 3 Withers Feb. 1, and Round 2 was just as stirring as the New York-breds put on a terrific battle, with the result the same as the Withers: Samraat coming out on top. Samraat showed more tractability this time. After dueling and winning in the Withers, this time he stalked sat just a bit off the pace of In Trouble, who was pressured by Uncle Sigh. Samraat moved up to challenge into the lane, grabbed the lead in midstretch and gamely fended off his stubborn rival. There was an inquiry as the two made some contact in midstretch. The Grade 1 Wood here April 5 figures next. Uncle Sigh lost nothing in defeat. He dogged pacesetter In Trouble from the start, moved up with Samraat for the real battle in the lane, did get bumped lightly by that foe and stayed on gamely in a fine effort. The Wood is likely for him as well. In Trouble, making his first start since winning the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont Sept. 29, and routing for the first time, set a modest pace under pressure from Uncle Sigh, battled back gamely when hooked by the top two into the lane and stayed on well to be beaten just two necks. Considering it was his first race in a long time and first route this was most encouraging. The Wood is also on his radar. Financial Mogul sat midpack, made a mild run on the turn but didn’t sustain it. Harpoon sat back, was very wide into the lane, kept to his task but was no factor. [bc_video_id:317516:] Gulfstream - Swale (race 9) COMMENT: Race complexion changed with the scratch of morning-line favorite Havana with a quarter crack. Spot had a troubled trip when no match for Wildcat Red when fifth in the Grade 3 Hutcheson here Feb. 1, but with that race under his belt he took a big step forward to prove an easy winner. He bided his time as Can’t Top the Kid set a brisk pace, swung out into the lane and came with a strong run to seize the lead and draw off. Trainer Nick Zito didn’t sound convinced this guy is a Derby horse and said, “I wish there were a mile race here.” No Nay Never, the 2-5 favorite, dogged the pacesetter from the start, was poised to pounce into the lane but couldn’t counter the winner’s big rally. Brothersofthetime was last early and finished decently for third, though he wasn’t really a factor. [bc_video_id:317546:] Gulfstream - Palm Beach (race 10) COMMENT: Gala Award, a $1.5 million son of champion Bernardini, faced winners for the first time and prevailed. He won on turf here Jan. 20 after being reluctant to load. He had no such issues today and with a good start stalked the pace of favorite Storming Inti. He moved up to challenge that rival into the lane, got the better of him and gamely stayed on to keep hard-trying Mr Speaker at bay. He may flirt with the Derby trail in a race like the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland April 12. With his price tag and dirt pedigree you can’t blame them for taking a swing. Mr Speaker was troubled early to be last at the first call, steadily advanced and came home with good energy, but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Storming Inti, the favorite after four straight wins, including the Kitten’s Joy here Jan. 19, went right to the lead, as is his custom, gamely responded when challenged by the winner but just couldn’t quite stay with him and lost second in the final strides. Pleuven, a stakes winner in France before finishing third in his U.S. debut in the Grade 3 Dania Beach here Dec. 21, sat midpack, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. [bc_video_id:317688:] Santa Anita - Santa Ysabel (race 8) COMMENT: Awesome Baby hinted at big ability as a 2-year-old last summer, but a dull run in the Grade 1 Chandelier here in the early fall sent any Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies aspirations down the drain. Well, the daughter of Awesome Again looks back on track – helped by being the lone speed, facing weak foes and getting a wet track she obviously liked. She went right to the lead, set a solid pace on a day when speed dominated, and gradually extended her advantage in the lane. Artemis chased the winner from the start, moved closer down the backstretch, but then couldn’t keep pace. Swiss Lake Yodeler, the favorite, stalked in third but never really mustered a run. [bc_video_id:317550:] Sunday, March 2 Gulfstream - Herecomesthebride (race 9) COMMENT: Room Service, coming off a third in the Sweetest Chant on turf here Jan. 26, upped her game enough to foil favorite Candy Kitty and notch her first graded win. From her outside post she was content to sit last early, remained there going down the backstretch, started her move going to the far turn, swung wide and powered past her rivals to win going away. Candy Kitty, favored off wins in the Wait a While and Ginger Brew, stalked the pace of Seeking Her Glory, pushed past that rival in midstretch as if she were going to go on to victory, but then had no answer for the winner’s charge. Seeking Her Glory, coming off a smart maiden win on this turf course, set the pace under pressure first from Raging Atlantic and then Candy Kitty, couldn’t go with the top two in the final furlong, but stayed decently, giving trainer Todd Pletcher a 2-3 finish. Valseuse, winner of her only start, which came here last month, lagged back and made some headway. She’s eligible to improve. This bunch figures awfully close talent-wise, giving you the feeling they’ll be taking turns in these 3-year-old filly turf races. [bc_video_id:317589:]