Trip Notes for March 22-23: Excelsior, Inside Information, Bourbonette Oaks, Spiral, Sunland Derby and more...
Saturday, March 22
Aqueduct - Excelsior (race 8)
COMMENT: When Romansh romped by 9 ¼ lengths in the Grade 3 Discovery on the big track here Nov. 2 (110 Beyer) it earned him a shot at the deepest end of the pool, the Grade 1 Donn at Gulftream Feb. 9, but he ran 11th. He returned to New York for this race, moved down in class, and showed there were no ill effects from that Gulfstream debacle as he gamely beat his talented entrymate Long River in a prolonged drive. Romansh dogged pacesetter Percussion from the start, moved up with Long River to challenge that foe turning for home and gamely kept Long River at bay to the line. His trainer said he wasn’t sure what might be next but that the horse’s long-range goal is the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga this summer. Long River did nothing wrong. Coming off three straight wins, including two stakes wins, he was just behind the winner from the start, gamely went after that foe into the lane but try as he might just could not get on terms. Still, a very nice run. Percussion set the pace under pressure, tried to battle back when hooked by the top two but couldn’t keep pace in the lane.
[bc_video_id:319169:]
Gulfstream - Inside Information (race 10)
COMMENT: A nice 1-2 finish for trainer Marty Wolfson with Heart Stealer and My Pal. Heart Stealer was a dull fifth in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie here Feb. 9, but bounced back nicely. She stalked the pace, came with a smart wide run into the lane to grab the lead, and edged clear. This could earn her a shot at a race like the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill May 3. And there’s no Groupie Doll around any more to worry about. My Pal Chrisy wasn’t far behind her stablemate early, didn’t accelerate as quickly as she was still fourth at the eighth pole, but came home with good energy to be a clear second. Five Star Momma set the pace to the top of the lane but couldn’t finish with the top two. Centrique, the favorite, had a troubled start, made a mild move going to the far turn but flattened out.
Turfway - Bourbonette Oaks (race 10)
COMMENT: Aurelia’s Belle flattered the form of the recently deceased Onlyforyou, as after chasing that gal in stakes at Gulfstream she came here and flourished. She won her debut on this track last fall so you already knew she liked it here. She bided her time early, steadily advanced, surged between horses turning for home to grab the lead, and drew off to win comfortably. The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill May 2 is next, though that will surely be much tougher. Sloane Square dueled with Stormy Novel for the lead from the start, was getting the better of that rival into the lane, but at that point the winner blew past and drew off and this gal couldn’t counter, though she kept on well to be a clear second. Katie’s Eyes stalked while wide and a mild run though she was no threat to the top two. Swiss Lake Yodeler, a Couthern California raider, was midpack early while wide but fell away and was never a factor.
[bc_video_id:319195:]
Turfway - Spiral (race 11)
COMMENT: We Miss Artie easily won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity here in the fall. Well, he validated his love of synthetic footing as he again proved victorious here, though this wasn’t easy. He lagged back early while Solitary Ranger and Almost Famous dueled for the lead, steadily advanced, swung wide into the lane and finished resolutely to just get up in the final strides. The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby will reportedly be next, though there’s a big question as to his dirt ability. Harry’s Holiday, a $30,000 claim last September, stalked the dueling Solitary Ranger and Almost Famous, took over from those rivals turning for home, battled back gamely first when hooked by Coastline and then by We Miss Artie, and just missed in a fine try. Coastline sat fifth early, moved closer by the far turn, moved up to challenge Harry’s Holiday into the lane, stayed on gamely but just wasn’t quite good enough, losing by a nose and a head. Tamarando, the California invader who was favored, was disappointing. He was away slowly, was well back early and was never able to get involved. Tough to stay on the Derby trail off a race like this.
[bc_video_id:319194:]
Santa Anita - San Luis Rey (race 4)
COMMENT: It was no shock trainer Neil Drysdale won his sixth San Luis Rey, but what was a bit of a surprise was that it was accomplished by Fire With Fire, considered the weaker of his two entrants, with Lucayan. Race was marred, though, as heavy favorite Vagabond Shoes broke down going down the backstretch and had to be euthanized. Fire With Fire showed yet again the danger of speed. Third in this last year and coming off a stakes win at Turf Paradise, he showed his courage again here. He went out to a clear lead, was able to set dawdling splits as his stablemate Lucayan tracked in second but wasn’t pushing. Lucayan came at Fire With Fire turning for home, but the soft fractions left Fire With Fire enough fuel in the tank to keep Lucayan at bay through the lane. The Grade 2 Charles Whittingham here May 24 could be next. Lucayan tracked his stablemate, made what appeared to be a winning move turning for home, but just couldn’t edge past. Temeraine stalked the top two and kept to his task well but with the fraction he was chasing fresh horses. Vagabond Shoes banged with Niagara Falls out of the gate and after lagging back was pulled up going down the backstretch.
[bc_video_id:319171:]
Sunday, March 23
Sunland - Sunland Park Derby (race 11)
COMMENT: Bob Baffert runners Chitu and Midnight Hawk dominated the proceedings to run 1-2 and give Baffert his third win in this race, and both may point for Kentucky. Chitu dogged pacesetter Garen from the start, moved up with stablemate Midnight Hawk to challenge for the lead into the lane, battled with that rival, got the better of him and drew off. Midnight Hawk was just behind Chitu from the start, moved up with that rival to challenge for the lead into the lane, was still only a half-length behind that rival at the eighth pole, but couldn’t keep pace late while finishing far clear of the others. Still, both got weary late (Chitu’s final furlong was in 13.30) and it’s tough envision them as Kentucky Derby horses. Commissioner stumbled at the start to be last early, remained well back, steadily advanced and made a decent run to get third. Garen, a half-brother to Horse of the Year Invasor, set a brisk pace under pressure from Chitu and weakened after being headed turning for home.
[bc_video_id:319259:]