Trip Notes for March 14-15, 2020: Rebel, Azeri, and more

March 14

Gulfstream
Hurricane Bertie (race 11)

COMMENT: Sally’s Curlin looked on her way with two monstrous optional-claiming wins and then a game Grade 3 win in Kentucky last summer/fall. However, she was then a non-factor seventh in the Grade 2 Falls City at Churchill Nov. 28. Freshened since and moved back to a long one-turn game she returning seemingly better than ever as the $160,000 daughter of two-time HOY Curlin lagged back early, as is her want, sitting last while saving ground as Blamed set a sharp pace under pressure from Pauseforthecause, remained last to the far turn, angled out very wide on the turn to start her run, wider still into the lane to continue unimpeded (was widest of all), finishing strongly to blow past the leaders on her way to an easy win. An effort like this could mean a shot at something like the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at this same 7-furlong trip at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2. Wildwood’s Beauty, a decent second to big winner Pinks Sands in the Grade 2 Inside Information at this same trip here Jan. 25, sat well back as well, just ahead of the eventual winner while widest of all, moved toward the inside heading to the far turn while remaining well back, started a run into the lane, pitched out for room to go after leader Pauseforthecause in the stretch, was getting the better of that rival but had no answer when the winner went storming past. Pauseforthecause dogged early pacesetter Blamed from the start through smart splits, got the better of that rival into the lane, opened up by midstretch but was no match for the top two in the final furlong. Lady Kate, the 5-2 favorite off two straight big optional-claiming wins over this track, stalked in third, still seemed in a good spot turning for home but lacked the needed punch in the lane. Blamed, a Grade 3 winner on this track and coming off a big optional-claiming win here Feb. 8, went right to the lead from her rail slot, set a brisk pace under pressure from Pauseforthecause to her outside but gave way once headed turning for home.

Turfway
Jeff Ruby Steaks (race 11)

COMMENT: Finnick the Fierce, 6-1 on the morning line, scratched. Field Pass, a son of multiple Grade 1 dirt route winner Lemon Drop Kid (with a Grade 1 Preakness winner as his damsire) may have punched his ticket for a potential Grade 1 Kentucky Derby try at Churchill May 2 as he proved a game winner. Coming off a game stakes win on turf at Gulfstream Feb. 1, his first start in over three months, he broke well from his tough far-outside post (No. 12), was able to establish a nice position stalking outside as Fancy Liquor shot out to a clear early lead, remained in third to the top of the lane, gamely gave chased as 6-5 favorite Invader took the lead by midstretch, getting the better of that rival to his inside in the final strides for the win. He’s not currently nominated to the Triple Crown and according to reports might not head in that direction but instead target the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2. Invader, favored off a smashing win in the Battaglia Memorial here Feb. 14, broke decently from what was like the winner a very tough draw (post No. 11) to chased pacesetter Fancy Liquor, moved closer to challenge that rival on the far turn, finally got the better of that foe by midstretch but couldn’t quite fend off the winner to his outside. Fancy Liquor went right out to a clear early lead, set a solid pace as Invader chased him, battled back when hooked by that rival turning for home, was still in the thick of it to the eighth pole but finally succumbed in the final half-furlong while still finishing far clear of the others. Myamanoi, a good rallying fourth to Field Pass in that aforementioned turf stakes at Gulfstream Feb. 1, was midpack from the start, remained there to the far turn, moved toward the inside into the lane as if poised to make a run but the run never came.

Oaklawn
Azeri (race 9)

COMMENT: Track was listed as sloppy (sealed) for this rae. Serengeti Empress is already a real, real nice filly but give her footing she loves and spoon-feed her a pace scenario completely in her favor and you’re likely to see something big. Well, that’s just what happened here as the daughter of Alienation, second against many of these in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 26, ran her rivals off their feet and stamped herself the one to beat come the Grade 1 Apple Blossom here April 18 at this same trip (particularly with Monomoy Girl’s comeback spot as well unknown, Midnight Bisou likely freshened for something later after her Saudi Arabia run, and Dunbar Road pointing for the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill May 1). In the Houston Ladies Classic she took the early lead but backed up the pace. She did no such thing this time, instead being much more aggressive as she broke sharply, shot out to a clear early lead while being pushed out (Awe Emma on the far outside reared at the start to lose her rider and was the one who chased ‘Empress while well to her outside while never impeding any in the field), maintained a clear lead through strong splits while not under a hold, was urged to step on her rivals’ throat into the lane, opened up further and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Mylady Curlin, fourth in the Houston Ladies Classic, bided her time early while saving ground, steadily advanced to the far turn while staying inside, kept to her task well, had to steady in midstretch when rival Saracosa veered in somewhat but stayed on well for second, though she was never a danger to the winner. The Apple Blossom figures on her radar as well. Saracosa, fifth in the Houston Ladies Classic, broke slowly to be last from the start, began to advance into the far turn, continued her run into the lane, veered inward in midstretch, got straightened and plugged along for third. Street Band, third in the Houston Ladies Classic, stalked while saving ground, was urged to make a run at the eventual winner on the far turn, gamely made chased but tired in the lane. Lady Apple, winner of the Houston Ladies Classic and previously unbeaten in three starts here, broke well from the rail, sat third just outside Street Band while chasing the lonely leader, was urged to get going into the far turn but came up empty. It’s hard to blame the footing for the efforts of Street Band and Lady Apple as both previously handled wet going well so that may leave their Apple Blossom status in doubt.

Oaklawn
Rebel (race 10)

COMMENT: Track was still listed as sloppy (sealed). Nadal, unbeaten in his first two starts, both sprints including the Grade San Vicente at Santa Anita Feb. 9, showed he could route, could ship, could handle wet going and prevail in a fight as he was extremely impressive giving trainer Bob Baffert his seventh win in this race. The $700,000 son of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame, racing without blinkers, broke sharply from his rail slot, went right to the lead, was immediately joined by American Theorem a couple lanes further out and No Parole in between, set a solid pace while holding the fence as soon it was a duel between just he and American Theorem, dispatched with that rival into the lane only to have Three Technique launch a challenge, rebuffed that rival only to then see Excession come charging up behind him along the inside then moving a few lanes to his outside and gamely kept to his task to outfinish that rival. Off this you’d expect the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby here April 11 to be next, but with the likes of Authentic, Charlatan, Thousand Words and Eight Rings in the mix Baffert has some juggling to do. Excession, a well-beaten eighth at 43-1 in a division of the Grade 2 Risen Star here Feb. 15, was away slowly to be last early, remained last to the far turn, had to steady on the turn, moved to the rail into the lane, launched a smart run, came off the inside in midstretch to move a few lanes outside Nadal, looked as though he might go past that rival but couldn’t quite finish with Nadal in a fine try. The Arkansas Derby surely figure on his radar as well. Basin, making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga last Sept. 2 and routing for the first time, settled a couple lengths off the pace while saving ground, remained inside to the far turn, encountered some traffic on the turn but found a clear path into the lane, loomed a threat but was then one-paced in the final furlong and while he ran on for third he was no danger to the top two. Considering the layoff and first-time routing this was a solid run. Three Technique, a solid second in the Smarty Jones here Jan. 24, sat midpack from the start, crept closer down the backstretch while wide, loomed a big threat into the lane with a wide run but flattened out. Considering he didn’t make up any ground in the final furlong in the Smarty Jones or here you wonder if he might end up better going one turn. Silver Prospector, big winner of the Grade 3 Southwest here Feb. 17, stalked a few lengths off the lead toward the inside, was in a bit tight in traffic on the first run, remained inside to the far turn, again had some traffic to deal with turning for home but never mustered a run thereafter once clear. American Theorem, making his first start since a second in the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita last Sept. 27, was very eager from his far outside post, rushing up to duel with Nadal to his outside, continued to battle with that rival to the far turn but then gave way, not surprising considering the layoff and duel. No Parole, romping winner of his first three starts, though all vs. statebreds (14 1/4, 13 1/4 and 6 1/2 lengths) and who in fact had never been behind a rival at a margin call, broke well, moved up smartly on the first turn to duel with Nadal to his inside and American Theorem to his outside, soon pulled back to avoid continuing the duel but was never able to get involved again. This likely quashes his Kentucky Derby plans but he’s shown he can be the big fish in the Louisiana-bred pond.

Santa Anita
Beholder Mile (race 7)

COMMENT: Main track was fast for this race despite some light showers during this running. Mother Mother, 4-1 on the morning line, scratched. They thought enough of Ce Ce last June to ship her East for the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont and she was fourth in a brutally tough race and then suffered an injury. She wasn’t seen again until Feb. 17 when a smart winner of an optional-claiming sprint here but with that under her belt stepped up her game with a big effort here to post her first graded stakes victory. The daughter of Elusive Quality bided her time early from her far-outside post as heavy 3-5 favorite Hard Not to Love set a strong pace, was quite wide on the first turn, advanced nicely into the backstretch to get a good stalking position in third, moved closer to pressure Hard Not to Love on the far turn, got the better of that rival into the lane, opening up and extending her margin in the final furlong to win easily. While she ran big note her final time was much slower than what brilliant 3-year-old male Charlatan did at this same distance about 20 minutes earlier (1:36.24/1:37.33). This could merit another trip out of town, maybe for even something like the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at 7 furlongs on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 2. Hard Not the Love, routing for the first time after romping wins in the Grade 1 La Brea and Grade 2 Santa Monica, both at 7 furlongs, earlier this meet, broke sharply from her rail slot to go right to the lead. The $400,000 filly, well known for having just one eye and some anxiety issues, was a clear early leader, set a brisk pace while holding the fence, battled back when hooked by Ce Ce on the far turn to her outside, couldn’t stay with that rival but kept on well to be a clear second. The Derby City Distaff would seem an option for her as well, though with her anxiety issues you wonder if they’d prefer not to ship. If that’s the case there’s always the Grade 3 Las Flores here April 5 and/or the Grade 3 Desert Stormer here May 17. Ollie’s Candy, making her first start since running fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff here Nov. 2, stalked in third early, moved closer to be second into the backstretch, continued in stalking mode to the far turn, was urged to go after the top two in the lane, proved no match but kept on decently for third. She might be better going longer and this might set her up for a shot at the Grade 2 Santa Margarita here April 25. If they want to go out of town there’s the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn April 18 or the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill May 1. Surely the Santa Margarita won’t be as tough a spot. Der Lu, a $900,000 daughter of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Orb coming off a big optional-claiming win here Feb. 14, showed speed to chase pacesetter Hard Not to Love from the start but once into the backstretch she lost position and was no factor at any point thereafter.