Trip Notes for March 14-15: Azeri, Rebel, Santa Margarita, Santa Ana and more...

Saturday, March 14

Oaklawn - Azeri (race 7)

COMMENT: This was supposed to be little more than a walk in the park for Untapable, last year’s 3-year-old filly champion who was making her first start of the season. However, we got a reminder again that they all get beat as Gold Medal Dancer had other plans and posted the upset. Coming off a third in the Grade 3 Bayakoa here where she dueled for the lead from the she was able to establish a clear early lead on a “good” (sealed) track. She set a modest pace, looked in trouble when the champ came to her in the lane but rebuffed that foe’s bid and actually edged away a bit again at the wire. Off this she figures a go for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom here April 10. Untapable was rank from the start, continued to fight the rider until going down the backstretch, moved up to challenge the winner going into the far turn but couldn’t get past. Still, it was her first start back after a layoff and the off track may not have suited. The Apple Blossom is possible for her. Mufajaah, who beat Gold Medal Dancer in the Bayakoa, showed little speed, as is her custom, to trail the small field from the start, swung wide on the far turn, loomed a threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain her run.

Oaklawn - Razorback Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Race Day, coming off two smashing efforts at Gulfstream, signaled he may well be developing into a bigshot for Todd Pletcher as he won nicely here for his fourth win in his last five starts. As rain continued he dogged pacesetter Midnight Hawk from the start through modest splits, moved up to challenge that foe turning for home, and battled on to narrowly prevail. The Grade 2 Charles Town Classic April 18 might be next. Midnight Hawk, coming off a nice win at Santa Anita, looks back on his game as he ran very well for second. He went right to the lead, set modest splits while pressured by Race Day, battled back gamely when confronted by that foe into the lane and only gave way grudgingly. He still finished far clear of the others in what was basically a two-horse race. The Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap could be next, though that is also on the radar of top-rated Shared Belief. Golden Ticket, making his first start since running eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Oct. 31, was last early and still last turning for home before putting in a nice rally while moving through traffic to get third. Tapiture, second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, stalked the pace but never mustered a run. Ride On Curlin, who came back from a layoff to win an optional claimer here Jan. 15 and then finish second in the Essex Handicap here Feb. 14, lagged back and never made a move.

Oaklawn - Rebel (race 10)

COMMENT: Steady rain caused the track to become sloppy after the Razorback. American Pharaoh, last year’s 2-year-old male champ, made his much-anticipated return from injury and it went off without a hitch. As in his other big victories it was his speed that proved lethal. He stumbled at the start (grabbed himself, displacing his right front shoe) went right out to the lead, set a slow pace while taking only modest pressure from Paid Admission and Madefromlucky, opened up when asked into the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Bob Baffert said there’s a good chance he could return for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby here April 11. Madefromlucky, stepping up off two wins at Gulftsream Park, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner turning for home, and was a clear second. Off this there’s reason to go on and see if he’s a legit Derby hope. Bold Conquest, a rallying fourth in the Grade 3 Southwest here Feb. 22, his first start of the year, was closer than usual early (probably a function of the slow pace), sitting fourth, looked poised to make a run into the lane but was unable to make a dent. The Truth Or Else, who ran on so well to be second in the Southwest, lagged back early while saving ground, came up nicely along the rail nicely going to the far turn seemingly ready to pounce, had to wait for room into the lane as he stayed inside but his run never came when the room materialized. Of course, those three were chasing a fresh horse who had things far too easy up front.

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Santa Anita - Santa Margarita (race 8)

COMMENT: It’s time to start believing in Warren’s Veneda. In a division that had been lacking a leader in the absence of Beholder, she’s filled the vacuum in terrific fashion, romping in the Paseana, romping in the Grade 2 Santa Maria and dominating again here. She was last early as Cassatt set the pace under pressure from Uzziel, steadily advanced, pitched out turning for home and just rolled past her rivals. The way she’s going she’s an absolute legit threat to Beholder in the battle for top West Coast distaffer. Dame Dorothy stalked pacesetter Cassatt early, got shuffled back some turning for home but got going again to get up for second. Thegirlinthatsong, winner of the Grade 2 La Canada here and third to Warren’s Veneda in the Grade 2 Santa Maria, bided her time near the winner early, was no match for that gal’s acceleration but plugged along well for third. Cassatt, coming off stakes wins at Zia Park, Fair Grounds and Sam Houston, set a solid pace under pressure and wilted in the lane. Maybe this level is just a bit beyond her.

Sunday, March 15

Santa Anita - Santa Ana (race 7)

COMMENT: Hoop of Colour came from England and made a very nice impression in her U.S. debut with a stylish optional-claiming win here Feb. 5. She took a hefty step up in class here but won again. She stalked while Rusty Slipper set a slow pace, looked in trouble when Three Hearts took command into the lane, but reeled in that rival and edged past. The Grade 3 Santa Barbara at 1 1/4 miles here April 18 figures next. Three Hearts, freshened since finishing a strong third despite trouble in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel here Dec. 27, did nothing wrong in defeat. She pressured pacesetter Rusty Slipper, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, but couldn’t fend off Hoop of Colour. The Santa Barbara seems a logical next stop for her as well. Winning Rhythm, last seen finishing fifth at 32-1 behind Diversy Harbor in the Grade 2 Buena Vista here Feb. 16, was away slowly, steadily advanced to reach a stalking position by the far turn and finished well. Testa Rossi, one of two invaders for trainer Chad Brown, bided her time, got shuffled back turning for home and into the lane, got going again, but by then it was too late. Rosalind, the other Brown invader, sat midpack from the start and never mustered a run. Diversy Harbor, the favorite off a big win in the Grade 2 Buena Vista, sat well back as usual but could only make minimal headway in the lane. The slow pace surely played against her as she was chasing some fresh horses in the lane.