Trip Notes for March 19-20: Rebel, Inside Information, Las Flores, and more...

Saturday, March 19

Gulfstream - Inside Information (race 12)

COMMENT: Stonetastic is one of the quickest gals in the game and when things break her way she’s capable of freaky-big efforts. She came into this off an easy win in the Miami Shores here Feb. 14 and again dominated the proceedings. She shot right out to a clear lead, set fast splits while remaining clear and extended her advantage to the wire while never really being threatened. One caveat: the track was surely tilted toward speed this day. Tiger Ride, winner of her last two, including the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland Oct. 24, her last start, lagged back while inside and came with a nice run into the lane for second. This was her first sprint so it may be back to the longer game for her off this good run. Engaginglee, easy winner of an optional claimer here last month, her first start in seven months, was far back early, came with a run into the lane to be just behind Tiger Ride, but then seemed to even out after that. You Bought Her, second in this race last year and coming off a romping win in the Minaret at Tampa Feb. 20, bided her time, moved closer with a wide run into the lane but flattened out. Best Behavior, third in the Grade 2 Royal Delta here Feb. 13, moved back to sprinting here. She chased in third, was still there to the far turn but then gave way. Bar of Gold, making her first start since finishing second in the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland Oct. 17, broke poorly, was midpack early while inside, made a quick move to get into second on the far turn, but then gave way.

Oaklawn - Azeri (race 7)

COMMENT: After winning last month’s Grade 3 Bayakoa here, the late running Call Pat stepped up to face tougher and beat champion Untapable to capture this race. From her rail draw she just walked out of the gate, bided her time as longshot High Dollar Woman set a modest pace, started to advance going to the far turn maneuvering through traffic, moved inside her rivals in the lane and closed with a flourish to edge Untapable. Making her first start since running second in the Grade 1 Spinster Oct. 4, Untapable stalked the pace, took over on the turn, opened up some into the lane as if ready to go on to victory, but just seemed a smidge short. Remember, last year she got edged in this race and then came right back to easily win the Apple Blossom, and she could go in that race again. Streamline, a close second to Call Pat in the Bayakoa, sat just behind Untapable, didn’t started a run into the lane, and couldn’t get to Untapable late. Sarah Sis, fourth as the favorite in the Bayakoa, dogged pacesetter High Dollar Woman, tried to go with Untapable on the far turn but couldn’t stay with the top three. She hasn’t really advanced from 3 to 4. Her two best Beyers came sprinting, so maybe that’s the game she prefers now.

Oaklawn - Razorback Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Upstart, making his first start since being fifth in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, got back to form to prove best here. After chasing American Pharoah, Frosted and Keen Ice much of last year, he found this spot to his liking. He sat well back early as Shotgun Kowboy set a modest pace, pitched wide to start his run on the far turn, and carried it through the lane, passing his rivals and edging away late. Domain’s Rap, claimed for just $10,000 at Remington Park Nov. 20, sat midpack, came with a threatening run alongside the winner but couldn’t keep pace in the final half-furlong. Idolo Porteno, 2014 Argentine Horse of the Year and making his first start since finishing fifth in a Grade 1 on turf there last June 27, stalked the pace, moved up with the top two to challenge into the lane, and finished decently. He can certainly benefit from this outing, though you wonder if his best footing as actually turf. La Macchina, 11-1 upset winner of the Essex here last month, was away slowly to be last until turning for home, swung wide and finished decently.

Oaklawn - Rebel (race 10)

COMMENT: Cupid, who was shipping for the first time and facing winners for the first time, thrust himself into the Kentucky Derby picture and seemingly exposed the local 3-year-old male contingent. The son of Tapit cost $900,000 so he was always cut out to be a good horse. In his first route, which came at Santa Anita last month, he won easily. He shipped here, blew the start but was pushed to make the lead, set a decent pace and caught a bit of a breather, looked in trouble when Whitmore surged up alongside in midstretch, but rebuffed that foe and was edging away late. His time (1:43.84) was better than what elder Upstart did in winning the Razorback about an hour earlier (1:44.12). This was Bob Baffert’s sixth win in this race in the last seven years. Whitmore, who rallied for second in the Grade 3 Southwest, sat well back early, came with a strong run to reach contention by the top of the lane and looked as if he might go right on past Cupid by midstretch, but then lost ground to the winner in the final half-furlong. He may have distance limitations. Creator, a $440,000 son of Tapit coming off a maiden win, was far back early from his rail slot,came out very wide into the lane, and finished smartly. He has a promising future and may be getting things figured out. Cherry Wine, had won his last two starts but missed the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth due to a slight setback. He was far back early, had to deal with traffic and came with a nice run in the lane. Suddenbreakingnews, who rallied from far back to win the Grade 3 Southwest, lagged well back early, saved ground, had to check hard on the far turn, was able to get going again but it was too late. Without the trouble he surely could have been closer, though with his style he’s at the mercy of pace and traffic. Ralis, making his first start since being 14th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, sat midpack while saving ground but never made a move. He certainly needed the race but at this stage does not look like a Derby horse.

[bc_video_id:379511:]

Santa Anita - Santa Margarita (race 9)

COMMENT: Tara’s Tango, winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Feb. 13, added blinkers today and that seemed to take her to another level, as she notched her first Grade 1 win. She showed a little more speed, sitting fourth early but not far off the slow pace of Penwith. She was asked for run coming into the lane to go after leader Taris, the 9-10 favorite, and ran her down in the final half-furlong. Taris did nothing wrong, though it’s possible she got exposed a bit at this 1 1/8-mile trip. She dogged Penwith from the start, took over on her own from that rival, was asked for run in the lane, seemed to kick on nicely but just couldn’t outfinish the winner. She certainly got the trip, though this may be a tad longer than her best game. Living The Life stalked in third, tried to make a run at the leaders turning for home, and kept on for third. Penwith, last seen easily winning Gulfstream’s Grade 2 Royal Delta, went right out to set the pace, took some pressure from Taris, battled back when hooked into the lane, was still there to midstretch, but then gave way.

Sunday, March 20

Santa Anita - Las Flores (race 3)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed some when one of the favorites, Sensitively, scratched. Fantastic Style, the 1-2 favorite despite this being her first start since an easy win in Los Alamitos’s Grade 2 Great Lady M. last July 11, was easily best. She dogged pacesetter Amaranth through solid splits, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, opened up and extended her advantage despite being under a hand ride. Ben’s Duchess, disappointing in her last two graded stakes tries, got back on track. She broke slowly to be last early but came with a nice rally to be a clear second. Cadet Roni, stepping up after winning 3 of her last 4, sat just behind the winner from the start, tried to go with that foe on the far turn, was no match for her and kept on evenly to hold third.