Trip Notes for March 16-17, 2019: Rebel, Azeri, Inside Information, and more

March 16

Gulfstream
Inside Information (race 11)

COMMENT: America’s Tale dueled and faded in a turf route stakes at the Fair Grounds when last seen Jan. 19. She returned to dirt and sprinting here and got back on track as the daughter of Gio Ponti posted the upset. She stalked as Razorback Lady set a solid pace under heavy pressure from Tequilita, moved closer while a few lanes off the rail, moved up to challenge the two leaders on the far turn and into the lane, got the better of Razorback Lady inside the eighth pole and edged clear. Not sure this means she’s ready for the big girls in something like the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 6 or Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day on May 4, but this shows she can do damage in the right spots. Razorback Lady, stepping up after a smart optional-claiming win here Feb. 28, set a solid pace under heavy pressure from Tequilita, and held second. Tequilita, a good third despite trouble in the Grade 3 Royal Delta here Feb. 16, pressed the issue from the start, was still in the thick of it into the lane, was no match for the winner though she surged again late to nearly get up for second. She reportedly could go for the Madison at Keeneland on April 6 or be retired and sent to Street Sense, with whom the owner has a season. Jala Jala, the Mexican champ who has made a smart impression in the U.S. by winning a stakes (over males) here Dec. 8 and then finishing second in the Royal Delta, was away slowly to be well back early, was asked for run on the far turn into the lane but was unable to get involved. She was cutting back in distance here and while she can sprint it could be she’s better playing a longer game, at least at this level.

Oaklawn
Azeri (race 7)

COMMENT: It was a compact field of five but it had a champion (distaff sprint champion Shamrock Rose), two near-champions (Elate, Midnight Bisou) as well as another Grade 1 winner (Eskimo Kisses), but it was Midnight Bisou who proved clearly the best, despite not a big winning margin. Coming off a win in the Grade 3 Houston Lady Classic at Sam Houston on Jan. 27, when she had to overcome a tough trip, the daughter of Midnight Lute bided her time inside from her inside post as Tapa Tapa Tapa set a slow pace, was content to remain just behind the leaders while saving ground, looked in a bit of trouble when staying inside as Shamrock Rose took the lead into the lane, was now desperately looking for room as Elate was rallying on the outside posed to overtake Shamrock Rose, found a seam between horses inside the eighth pole while still inside, surged through and went on to victory. The margin was just a length but she seemed to be edging clear in the final half-furlong while only under a hand ride. This stamps her the favorite for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom here April 14, though it’s possible she might again have to deal with Elate, not to mention nemesis and reigning 3-year-old filly champion Monomoy Girl. Elate, making her first start since a troubled second in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga last summer and then having to miss the Breeders’ Cup due to a setback, ran well in this return as she stalked the pace toward the outside, keeping Midnight Bisou hemmed in along the fence, moved closer on the turn and into the lane as Shamrock Rose took the lead, took dead aim on that rival in the final furlong while to her outside, finished well to overtake that rival but couldn’t counter the winner’s charge to her inside. This sets her up well for a rematch in the Apple Blossom should they elect to go there, though she could await the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill on Kentucky Oaks Day May 3, or the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont on May 5 if they feel coming back in the Apple Blossom is a little too quick considering this was her first start in a while. Shamrock Rose, last year’s sprint champion female after multiple stakes wins including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and returning to a route her after a so-so fourth in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie in slop at Gulfstream on Jan. 26, stalked pacesetter Tapa Tapa Tapa, moved eagerly past turning for home to grab the lead, was still there to just inside the eighth pole but then couldn’t finish with the top two. She didn’t run badly and can certainly handle this trip, though routing vs. the likes of the top two may be just a bit beyond her. Her distance versatility does give her lots of options. Eskimo Kisses, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga last Aug. 18 and making her first start since being a dull seventh in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 7, lagged back, as is her custom, sitting last in the small field, moved up nicely to be just behind Elate and just outside of Midnight Bisou, was asked to get closer on the far turn but came up empty.

Oaklawn
Rebel (race 8 – 1st division)

COMMENT: A bit of the shine came off previously undefeated Improbable as the 2-5 favorite was foiled by local Long Range Toddy. The 3-year-old son of Take Charge Indy, coming off a rallying third in the Grade 3 Southwest here Feb. 18, broke sharply and went right up to contest the early pace with longshot Classy John, soon relinquished the lead to a few rivals going into the backstretch but tucked in behind those leaders, bided his time there while saving ground, came out in midstretch and finished resolutely to edge past Improbable while to that rival’s outside. You’d expect off this that the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby here April 13 would be next. Improbable, the overwhelming favorite off three wins to start his career including a romp in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8, stalked while wide from his far-outside post, moved up eagerly to contest the lead going to the far turn, took command on the turn while still wide, looked on his way to victory but couldn’t fend off the winner in the final strides. This was his first start in three months and he didn’t run badly at all particularly with being wide throughout. That said, the fact he got run down and isn’t necessarily bred on top for 10 furlongs (by City Zip) makes you wonder some about his Kentucky Derby prospects. Trainer Bob Baffert said a rematch in the Arkansas Derby is the plan. Galilean, a $600,000 son of Uncle Mo and winner of three of his first four out West, pressed the issue from the start, loomed a threat while inside into the lane but couldn’t quite sustain his bid. Extra Hope gave the SoCal raiders a 2-3-4 finish as the son of Shanghai Bobby, third to Improbable in the Los Alamitos Futurity and then a big optional claiming winner in slop at Santa Anita on Jan. 31, stalked early, quickly moved to the lead while dueling with Classy John and Galilean, battled between horses when confronted by Improbable, was still there to midstretch but tired a bit in the final half-furlong while ending up well clear of the rest.

Oaklawn
Rebel (race 10 – 2nd division)

COMMENT: This marked the much-awaited return of unbeaten juvenile male champ Game Winner but fellow Southern California raider Omaha Beach spoiled it as the son of War Front proved a game winner. He showed talent out West and was stepping way up in class here off a nine-length romp over maidens sprinting in slop at Santa Anita on Feb. 2. Despite facing winners for the first time, trying stakes foes and shipping for the first time he proved up to the task as he was third early as longshot Market King shot out to a clear lead, dogged that rival down the backstretch, took the lead into the far turn, surged clear into the lane, looked in trouble when Game Winner charged up alongside to his outside but edged the champion to the line. His final time was just a smidge faster than what Long Range Toddy did in the first division. The Grade 1 Arkansas Derby here April 13 could be next, as his ‘home’ prep, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, is April 6 and that may be coming back a tad quick. Trainer Dick Mandella said he’d return to Southern California and decide later. Game Winner, a son of Candy Ride and previously undefeated in four starts, was making his first run since easily taking the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Nov. 2, securing his championship. He ran splendidly here in his return as he bided his time early as the heavy 1-2 favorite, came with a strong wide run on the far turn to reach contention, still had work to do to get on terms with the eventual winner but found his top gear, roared up alongside Omaha Beach to his outside as if ready to go on by but just couldn’t quite outduel that rival while finishing far clear of the others. It’s interesting that the two horses generally considered the early Kentucky Derby favorites, this guy and stablemate Improbable, both went down to defeat this day. Trainer Bob Baffert said a return to Santa Anita and the Santa Anita Derby would likely be next, despite it coming in just three weeks. Market King, a $550,000 son of Into Mischief stepping into stakes ranks for the first time after a solid third in an optional claiming sprint here Feb. 24, shot out to a clear early lead, took pressure from longshot Jersey Agenda and Omaha Beach, couldn’t finish with the top two in the lane but kept to his task well to hold third. Gunmetal Gray, a $225,000 son of Exchange Rate and a Grade 3 winner and Grade 3 placed at Santa Anita this winter, was slow into stride to be last early, was still last on the far turn, swung very wide into the lane and finished with good energy, though he was never really a factor. Laughing Fox, a $375,000 son of Union Rags coming into this off two wins, both on this track at this trip, got pinched back at the start to be well back and never really mustered a run. Our Braintrust, third in the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct on Feb. 2 (beaten just a neck) and getting blinkers for his first start for new trainer Mark Casse, stalked the pace, was still within reach of the leaders turning for home, but then backed out of it.