Trip Notes for March 2-3, 2019: Fountain of Youth, Davona Dale, and more

March 2

Gulfstream
Palm Beach (race 4)

COMMENT: A Thread in Blue won his third straight, proving himself the top 3-year-old male turfer in Florida. The $430,000 son of Hard Spun also showed he wasn’t a one-dimensional speed type as this time he won from off the pace, as opposed to his wire-to-wire tactics in his previous three wins. As the heavy 1-2 favorite he broke well and was content to stalk in third as first longshot Hard Belle set the pace before soon being overtaken by King Ottokar. He bided his time stalking just behind the two dueling leaders, came with a smart run on the turn wide of those two, grabbed the lead into the lane and then fended off a hard-trying Casa Creed. This is the last graded stakes on turf for 3-year-old males this meet, meaning something like the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland on April 5 could be next. Casa Creed, a 12-1 upset winner of the Kitten’s Joy here Jan. 5 before finishing a disappointing sixth to A Thread of Blue last time out in the Dania Beach here Feb. 3, bounced back to form as the son of Jimmy Creed was just behind the eventual winner from the start, tried to rally with that rival to his outside into the lane, loomed a big threat midstretch but couldn’t sustain his run enough to get to the winner. The Transylvania could be on his radar as well. Louder Than Bombs, a rallying second to A Thread of Blue in the Dania Beach, lagged well back early while saving ground, came off the inside on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished well though he was never really a danger to the top two. King Ottokar, a big maiden winner on this course Jan. 9, volleyed on the lead with longshot Hard Belle, took pressure from that foe to the far turn, then took pressure from the eventual winner and couldn’t keep pace in the lane once headed.

Gulfstream
Canadian Turf (race 5)

COMMENT: Krampus rallied well for fifth after a troubled trip behind Hembree in the El Prado here Feb. 9 (moved up to fourth via a disqualification) but with a cleaner trip here the son of Shakespeare notched his first graded stakes win. Unlike in the El Prado, where he was well back early after a troubled start, he had the speed to sit second behind pacesetter Siem Riep, remained there as that rival cleared off to a big lead on the first turn into the backstretch, moved up nicely to take command from that rival on the far turn and then battled to the line to fend off hard-trying 7-10 favorite Breaking the Rules. The two flew home (final quarter was :22.55). Off this a shot at the Grade 3 Appleton here March 29 could be next, though if that’s coming back too quickly he could await a shot at the big boys in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland on April 12, though even trainer Bill Mott said those waters might be a tad deep. Breaking the Rules, the heavy favorite off two romping wins including the Tropical Park Derby here Dec. 29, stalked the pace sitting just behind the eventual winner, remained lapped onto that rival to the far turn, made a run at the winner into the lane, battled gamely but just got outdone. The Maker’s 46 Mile could be on his radar as well. Holiday Stone, the longest-priced runner in the race (20-1) after fading to 10th in the El Prado, sat just behind the top two from the start, came out into the lane, doggedly kept after them in the stretch but couldn’t get to them. Hembree, winner of the aforementioned El Prado, bided his time in fifth just behind Holiday Stone from the start, made some headway in the lane to nearly get up for third, though he was no danger to the top two.

Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park Sprint (race 6)

COMMENT: Coming off a second to top-class sprinter World of Trouble in the Gulfstream Turf Sprint here Jan. 29 (race was washed off onto a sloppy main track) earned Recruiting Ready heavy 1-2 favoritism and he got the job done, even if he did so a bit differently than expected. On paper he looked like the primary speed but he didn’t break all that sharply from his rail slot and found himself chasing My Chinumado, who set the pace with Quijote pressing him from the outside, all of which kept Recruiting Ready hemmed in along the fence. He remained there, boxed in, to the far turn, was able to be kept off the inside, moved wide to make his run on the turn, challenged then-leader Quijote, got the better of that foe and drew clear. This doesn’t mean he’s ready for Roy H, World of Trouble, Imperial Hint, Whitmore and the other sprinting heavyheads, but shows he can do damage in the right spot. Trainer Stan Hough said the Grade 3 Count Fleet at Oaklawn on April 13 could be next. Quijote, big winner of the Sunshine Millions Sprint here Jan. 19, pressed pacesetter My Chinumado while to his outside while keeping Recruiting Ready boxed in along the fence, took over from the tiring pacesetter going into the far turn, battled back when hooked by ‘Ready turning for home, couldn’t keep pace with that foe but kept on well for second. Sweetontheladies, lagged back early, steadily advanced and kept to his task to get third, though he was never a danger to the top two.

Gulfstream
The Very One (race 7)

COMMENT: Holy Helena is best known for beating the boys in the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine in July 2017 but she may be better on turf and she proved that here as she successfully defended her title. The daughter of Ghostzapper won this race last year and made it three wins in five starts on this course with another game performance. She was a disappointing sixth in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante here Jan. 26 but that dull run may have been a function of yielding turf. She got firm ground today and bounced back, stalking in third as longshot Ickymasho set a modest pace, remained there while saving ground to the top of the lane, came off the inside and came home resolutely to reel-in then-clear leader Ickymasho and get up for the narrow win. Last year after winning this she went to Belmont and won the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay so they may take the same path with this year’s Sheepshead Bay scheduled for May 4. Ickymasho, who faded to seventh in the La Prevoyante, went right to the lead, set a modest pace under pressure from Lafta, dispatched with that foe into the lane, opened up a clear lead by midstretch as if ready to go on to the 24-1 upset but just couldn’t quite fend off the winner while well clear of the rest. Semper Sententiae, third in the La Prevoyante, stalked in fourth but was basically one-paced throughout, getting up for third while never a danger to the top two. Tricky Escape, fifth in the La Prevoyante, sat toward the back early, was asked for run between horses on the far turn and into the lane and made some headway in the lane but was never a threat. She was pulled up on the backstretch and had to be vanned off.

Gulfstream
Herecomesthebride (race 8)

COMMENT: Imagine that, a graded turf stakes for distaffers and Chad Brown gets the money. Cambier Parc is supposed to be nice as the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro came with a $1.25 million price tag. A smashing maiden winner on this course Jan. 2 she handled the class hike as she sat second behind Bella Laura through modest splits, crept closer to that foe going into the far turn, challenged that rival turning for home, got the better of her and gamely kept Princess Carolina at bay in the final furlong. Brown said the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 6 is her main target though he wasn’t sure where she could go next as a bridge to that race. Princess Carolina, freshened and back to turf after last being a well-beaten fourth (15 lengths) behind Mother Mother in the Rags to Riches on dirt at Churchill on Oct. 28, bumped hard with Golconda at the break, ending up toward the back, bided her time there, started her run on the far turn, moved wider into the lane and finished gamely, though she couldn’t quite get to the winner. Belle Laura set the pace under pressure from the eventual winner, battled back on the rail when confronted by that foe on the turn, was still engaged with that rival to midstretch but then yielded in the final half-furlong. Golconda, making her first start for Brown in the U.S. after last finishing second in a stakes in France on Sept. 26, bumped hard with Princess Carolina at the start to be well back early, moved a bit closer on the far turn but was unable to get involved thereafter. She may well have needed the race. Connectivity, another from the Brown barn who rallied smartly to win her debut on this course Jan. 12, stalked the pace, loomed a threat going to the far turn but came up empty.

Gulfstream
Honey Fox (race 11)

COMMENT: The song remains the same as trainer Chad Brown takes down yet another graded turf distaff stakes, this with the promising French import Precieuse. The 5-year-old mare, making her first start since finishing a game second to stablemate Uni (since a Grade 1 winner) in a stakes at Saratoga last Aug. 4, bided her time early from her rail slot, saving ground as La Signare moved out to a clear early lead while setting a strong pace, started to advance on the far turn, moved out into the lane and finished resolutely to edge past then-leader Valedictorian. This run not only shows her quality, but shows she can handle firm ground as her best work overseas came on non-firm turf. Brown reportedly already has champion Sistercharlie and top-class Rushing Fall pointing to the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on April 13. If he doesn’t want to throw her into that deepest end of the pool he could await the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont on May 11. Valedictorian continued her strong form to be second in a big effort. Coming off a romping win in the Grade 3 Suwanee River here Feb. 9, the daughter of Temple City stalked in third, came with a smart run into the lane to reel in La Signare to take the lead but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. Bellavais, freshened since a big win in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River here Jan. 12 (Valedictorian was third), sat well back early, bided her time while saving ground, cut the corner when commencing her run into the lane, pitched off the rail some for room and finished well, though it never appeared she’d get to the top two. La Signare, sixth as the favorite in the Marshua’s River, went out to a clear early lead, set fast splits, was still clear into the lane but felt the effect from her early work, tiring once headed.

Gulfstream
Davona Dale (race 12)

COMMENT: This marked the return of juvenile filly champ Jaywalk and it was expected for her to put on a show and prove she would be the one to beat coming into the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 3. Well, this shows how inscrutable this game can be at times as Jaywalk didn’t just get beat by fillies she appeared to dominate on paper, she gave way to be a non-factor fourth. Instead, it was Jeltrin who took advantage. The daughter of Tapizar cost a mere $7,000 at auction and was fourth in the Grade 3 Forward Gal here Feb. 2 at a hefty 124-1.She was 51-1 here as she stalked in third as Cookie Dough set a modest pace, moved closer while three wide going to the far turn, kept to her task nicely to go after Cookie Dough in the lane and just edge past in the final strides while to her outside. Off this a shot at the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks here March 30 figures next. Cookie Dough, making her first start after two big Florida-bred stakes wins here in September and a subsequent illness, went right to the lead, took pressure from Jaywalk while setting a slow pace, kept on gamely in the lane as Jaywalk faded, battled to the line to come up just a head short while much the best of the rest. Champagne Anyone, third in the Forward Gal, got bumped at the start to get away poorly, bided her time toward the back and kept to her task decently to get up for third, though she was never a danger to the top two. Jaywalk, smashing winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Grade 1 Frizette, was outsprinted for the lead by Cookie Dough from her rail slot, came off the rail to get outside that rival, pressed her through a modest pace, was seemingly in position turning for home but then had nothing to offer. You could reason she needed this race after the time off but that she was no factor was jarring. Still, it’s just one race and there are still two months before the Kentucky Oaks – but this didn’t exactly fill you with confidence. Trainer John Servis reported she pulled up fine and that all was well with her the day after, saying that either the Gulfstream Park Oaks here March 30 or the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland on April 6 would be next.

Gulfstream
Fountain of Youth (race 13)

COMMENT: You could be forgiven some if you lost faith in Code of Honor as after an illness kept him out of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile he was a dull fourth as the 4-5 favorite in the Mucho Macho Man here Jan. 5. But trainer Shug McGaughey didn’t lose faith as he kept this guy on the Derby trail by going here and it paid off as he was a smart winner in what may so far be the toughest Derby prep. From his rail slot he broke alertly, was content to bide his time along the rail as favorite Hidden Scroll set a very fast pace dueling alongside Gladiator King, started to advance going to the far turn while saving ground, remained inside as he rallied past a tiring Global Campaign with Vekoma rallying outside that foe, cut the corner into the lane, shifted out to go outside of Hidden Scroll, grabbed the lead from that foe and opened up some, giving himself enough of a buffer to get the line before a hard-charging Bourbon War. Shug used the Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby to propel Orb into the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner’s circle in 2013. He said he’d like to take the same path here, so the Florida Derby here March 30 could be next. Shug said if he needed an extra week then the Grade 1 Wood at Aqueduct on April 6 would do. Bourbon War, a $410,000 son of Tapit who was a smashing winner of an optional claimer here Jan. 18, bided his time early toward the back, started to advance going to the far turn, pitched wide on the turn into the lane to find a clear path to make his run and finished strongly to close the gap on the winner. This was a most promising run. As with the winner the Florida Derby here is reportedly next with the Wood as a backup. Vekoma, winner of his first two starts last year including the Grade 3 Nashua at Aqueduct last time out Nov. 4, sat a few lengths off the lead while well off the rail, started to advance going to the far turn while staying wide, rallied with Code of Honor who came through along the rail, checked briefly into the lane when Code of Honor came out in front of him but kept to his task well for third. Considering it was his first start in four months this was a most encouraging run. All the big-race options are on the table for him. Hidden Scroll, favored off an amazing 14-length debut win here Jan. 26 in the slop, earning a 104 Beyer, broke a tad slowly but his natural speed carried him up alongside longshot Gladiator King on the rail, dueled with that foe through fast splits down the backstretch, had little trouble getting the better of that foe going to the far turn, held a clear lead and seemed to be traveling very well on the turn, rebuffed a challenge from Global Campaign to keep a clear lead while moving toward the rail, battled back when confronted by Code of Honor into the lane but then tired once headed. Considering this was just his second start, his first vs. winners, his first on a dry track, his first around two turns and that he set very fast splits, this wasn’t bad at all, though whether they want to stay on the fast track to the Kentucky Derby is another matter. Global Campaign, romping winner of his first two starts this meet, stalked a couple lengths off the pace, moved earliest of all to make a run at Hidden Scroll going to the far turn, was asked to try to get to that rival on the turn but was unable to get involved once Code of Honor passed him to his inside and Vekoma passed him to his outside into the lane. He reportedly grabbed a quarter fairly significantly, however, and will need time to recover, meaning he may be off the Derby trail. Signalman, rallying winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill last time out Nov. 24, lagged well back while between horses, saved ground going down the backstretch, made a bit of progress going into the turn and on the turn along the inside but came up empty thereafter. Gulfstream Mac Diarmida (race 14) COMMENT: Zulu Alpha continued his strong form as the 6-year-old gelded son of Street Cry (sire of such beasts as Zenyatta, Winx, Street Sense), made it four wins in his last five starts and getting his first Grade 2. Coming off a smart win over stablemate Soglio in the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight here Jan. 26, the gelding was sent off as the even-money favorite. He was midpack after the start but soon moved closer to be stalking in third, remained there a few lanes off the fence as Village King set a slow pace, tracked that pace to the top of the lane, was set down once straightened away and came home smartly for the win. Trainer Mike Maker said the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland on April 20 was likely next. He won the Grade 3 Sycamore at the same 1 1/2-mile trip there in the fall. Melmich, a rallying third as the favorite in a restricted stakes here Jan. 25, handled the step-up in class nicely as he was far back early, remained well back to the far turn, swung wide in the lane and finished well to win a four-horse blanket finish for second. Kulin Rock, a longshot as he was claimed for $40,000 in the fall (by Maker) and was coming off a narrow second vs. starter allowance foes here Jan. 21, stalked the pace sitting just behind his stablemate while saving ground, continued inside throughout and finished well to just miss getting second. Channel Maker, coming out of four straight Grade 1s including a win in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last fall but no factor in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (11th) and Pegasus World Cup Turf (fifth), dogged pacesetter Village King from the start, went after him in earnest into the lane, was getting the better of him inside the eighth pole but couldn’t quite finish with the top trio. It wasn’t a bad run at all, but could be he’s better on non-firm turf as his Joe Hirsch win and his only other win the past 17 months (Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga last summer) came on soft footing.