Trip Notes for March 23-24, 2019: Louisiana Derby, Sunland Derby, and more

March 23

Gulfstream
Hutcheson (race 12)

COMMENT: Gladiator King was last seen dueling with Hidden Scroll in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here March 2 and paying the price, fading badly to end up last of 11. Well, here he got class relief and a cutback in distance and that did the trick as the son of Curlin got his first graded stakes win. This time his speed proved lethal as he went right to the lead, took some pressure from Topper T going to the far turn while holding the fence, but had little trouble dispatching that foe with a surge into the lane, opening up a big lead and maintaining it to the line. He’s not a Kentucky Derby horse but a race like the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill on Derby day May 4 could be on his radar. Federal Case, the 4-5 favorite after a poor start and eventual seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Holy Bull here Feb. 2, was also getting some class relief and a distance cutback. The $650,000 son of Gemologist also got blinkers for the first time. However, he was a bit slow into stride to be last early in the small field, steadily advanced, was asked to go after the eventual winner on the far turn and while unable to challenge that foe kept to his task to be second. Topper T dogged the eventual winner to his outside from the start, was no match for that foe into the lane and tired some to lose second in the final half-furlong.

Fair Grounds
New Orleans Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Core Beliefs hadn’t run since fading to be a well-beaten fifth in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing last Sept. 22, but a stellar training job by Pete Eurton had him ready and his heart showed as he proved a game winner. From his far outside post the $350,000 son of Quality Road broke well, was four wide early going into the first turn, took back some and was able to move inward some to avoid getting hung out to dry, stalked a few lengths off the pace set by Noble Indy under pressure from Mr. Buff, remained wide throughout, moved up smartly on the far turn widest of the three leaders, challenged Noble Indy into the lane, got the better of him but had to battle to fend off a hard-trying Silver Dust to his outside. Off this something like the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks day May 3 could be next, though Eurton said he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of shipping this guy again. That could mean he’ll remain out West for something else instead. Silver Dust, coming off a smashing win in the Grade 3 Mineshaft here Feb. 16, continued his good form as the son of Tapit sat midpack a few lanes off the fence, bided his time there, came with a run to be just behind the eventual winner going into the far turn, stayed in the wake of the eventual winner, doggedly went after that foe in the lane, came up alongside to that foe’s outside but couldn’t get by. The Alysheba is in the cards for him next. Lone Sailor, sixth to Silver Dust in the Mineshaft, lagged well back, as is his custom, started to wind up going into the far turn, stayed wide and in the clear on the far turn and into the lane and closed the gap on the top two while widest of all, though he was never really a danger to them. Copper Bullet, the favorite off a sharp rallying second in the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn on Feb. 18, his first start of the year, lagged back early, made headway going to the far turn between horses to get within reach of the leaders, remained between horses on the turn, but could make only modest headway from there on while unable to threaten. Noble Indy, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby here, went right to the lead from his inside post, set a modest pace under some pressure from Mr. Buff, dispatched with that foe on the far turn only to immediately be taken on by the eventual winner, battled back to the top of the lane but soon was headed and gave way.

Fair Grounds
Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: Bricks and Mortar was out of action from October 2017 to December 2018 but just three months later he’s the king of the middle-distance turf ranks as after a smashing win in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf he backed it up with a game performance to win here. The 5-year-old, an overwhelming 1-5 favorite, broke well and stalked just off a couple lanes off the rail, was a bit rank going under the wire the first time sitting just behind and to the outside of longshot Markitoff, who set a dawdling pace, settled well going down the backstretch, remained in stalking mode to the top of the lane as the pacesetter continued slow, was asked for run in the lane to go get the pacesetter, looked as though he was going to just go right on by Markitoff but found himself in a fight and was able to just edge that stubborn rival to his inside. This race was to serve as a bridge to the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Down on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4 and he goes there as a heavy favorite. His crown does not rest easy, however, as two huge division threats (who happen to be stablemates), Raging Bull and Robert Bruce, are cranking up for their return. For now, though, this is the guy. Markitoff, third to today’s foe Synchrony in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap here Feb. 16, went right to the lead at 62-1, was able to set a very slow pace allowing him to save plenty for the stretch run, battled back when confronted by Bricks and Mortar to his outside in midstretch and continued on along the fence only to succumb to the heavy favorite in the final strides. Synchrony, who up until now owned this course having won all four starts here including this race last year and the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap last time out Feb. 16, stalked the pace just behind and inside the eventual winner, remained there to the far turn between horses, gave chase while on the eventual winner’s tale, ran on gamely and was able to get third though he was no threat to the top two in the final furlong. Surely the pace worked against him so the Turf Classic at Churchill on May 4 and a rematch with the winner could be in the cards. Divisidero, the one-time Grade 1 stalwart who showed at age 7 there’s still gas in the tank with a good rallying second in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay on Feb. 9, was last early but with the slow pace wasn’t that far off the pace, crept closer while wide going into the far turn, advanced on the far turn while wide, moved wider still into the lane, came with a threatening run but flattened out just a bit in the final half-furlong as Synchrony outfinished him for third to his inside.

Fair Grounds
Fair Grounds Oaks (race 12)

COMMENT: This was supposed to be something of a coronation for Serengeti Empress, who dominated some of these same fillies when easily winning the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra here Feb. 16. However, something may have gone amiss with her as she gave way badly and had to be vanned off as Street Band, a well-beaten fourth in the Rachel Alexandra, proved easily best. The daughter of Istan stalked while holding the rail just behind the pacesetting favorite, remained there to the far turn, was in a bit of traffic turning for home when tiring pacepresser Slewgoodtobetrue got in her way, soon found room, came off the inside for clear sailing into the lane once that foe had retreated, moved wider into the stretch and powered home to reel in then-leader Liora to her inside and surge clear. No reason they shouldn’t think about the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill on May 3 after this. Liora, second in the Rachel Alexandra and getting blinkers for the first time, stalked the pace while wide, remained there to the far turn, came with a smart run on the turn to engage Serengeti Empress, quickly blew past that foe, opened up as if primed to go on to victory but was then no match for the winner, who swept past to her outside with a big final furlong. Sweet Diane, third in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay last time out Feb. 9, sat back a few lengths behind the leading group while wide, came with a nice wide run on the far turn and into the lane to be alongside the eventual winner, couldn’t match strides with that foe thereafter but ran on decently third. Serengeti Princess, who in her four wins won by 5 1/2, 13 1/2, 19 1/2 and 4 1/2 lengths, went right to the lead as expected, took some pressure from Slewgoodtobetrue to her outside though it was a moderate pace as she held the rail, had that rival continue to dog her to the far turn to her outside, was then confronted by Liora farther to the outside as Slewgoodtobetrue fell away, was overwhelmed by Liora into the lane while staying on the rail and gave way badly, having to be vanned off. She reportedly bled. Her Kentucky Oaks prospects will be evaluated in the coming weeks before a decision is made, according to trainer Tom Amoss.

Fair Grounds
Louisiana Derby (race 13)

COMMENT: This was supposed to stamp War of Will as one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and rival Country House as a legitimate up-and-comer, but both failed to thrive here as By My Standards, a son of Goldencents coming off a maiden win here Feb. 16, handled the class hike and posted the big upset. He broke well, was content to stalk just off the rail as Lemniscate set the pace under pressure from Sueno, remained inside just behind the leaders, was trapped there turning for home as Spinoff to his outside surged to the lead, came off the inside into the lane but found no room, moved back to the rail vacated by the tiring Lemniscate in midstretch and rallied inside Spinoff to get the win. The Kentucky Derby on May 4 figures next. Spinoff, a romping 11 3/4-length winner over optional claimers at Tampa Bay on Feb. 22, his first start in six months, stalked the pace toward the outside, came with a nice run to challenge on the far turn, took the lead into the lane a few lanes off the fence, looked on his way to victory but couldn’t fend off By My Standards to his inside, still finishing well clear of the rest. He’ll reportedly train up to the Kentucky Derby. Sueno, second in the Grade 3 Sham at Santa Anita on Jan. 5 and in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn on Feb. 18, pressed outside the longshot pacesetter from the start, moved up to challenge as Spinoff came up to his outside into the lane, battled briefly with that foe, couldn’t keep pace with him or the winner who rallied to his inside but held third. Country House, a smashing maiden at Gulfstream on Jan. 17 and a rallying second to War of Will in the Grade 2 Risen Star here Feb. 16, lagged back, came with a nice wide run on the far turn to get within reach of the leaders, pitched widest of all into the lane to loom a threat but flattened out in the lane. War of Will, previously unbeaten in three dirt starts including an easy win in the Risen Star over many of these same rivals, had his hind end go out from under him at the break so he ended up midpack between horses from the start, remained midpack down the backstretch, was in traffic going into the far turn and on the far turn but once he found some room into the lane he came up empty. He was reported ‘significantly off’ after the race and trainer Mark Casse believed he might have strained a muscle when he stumbled a couple strides out of the gate. He was reportedly doing much better the next day, though how he progresses with his training will determine his Kentucky Derby status, according to Casse.

March 24

Sunland Park
Sunland Park Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: Cutting Humor made a threatening midrace move in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn as the 2-1 favorite Feb. 18 but died on his run, fading to seventh. Well, the $400,000 son of First Samurai bounced back here as the 2-1 second choice and may have punched his ticket to Louisville for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4. He sat fourth early as heavy 9-10 favorite Mucho Gusto set a strong pace pressed by Hustle Up, improved his position on the far turn while a few lanes off the fence, took command into the lane from then-leader Mucho Gusto, opened up some and kept to his task to keep a hard-charging Anothertwistafate at bay to his outside while setting a track mark for the 9 furlongs. He gives trainer Todd Pletcher potentially a couple Derby prospects along with Spinoff, who ran second in Saturday’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Pletcher said, however, he wanted to get him back to Florida first and evaluate how he came out of this race before committing to a trip to Louisville. Anothertwistafate, back to dirt after three romping wins on Golden Gate’s synthetic track including an easy win in the El Camino Real Derby there last time out Feb. 16, handled the dirt well as the $360,000 son of Scat Daddy showed enough speed to press the early pace, looked in trouble on the far turn when losing some position as the eventual winner shot on past, had to wait for room into the lane, came out for room, found a seam and finished well to just miss while finishing far clear of the rest in what was basically a two-horse race in the lane. Louisville could be in his plans as well as this showed he’s by no means out of his element on dirt. And the way he finished hints the 1 1/4 miles of the Derby will be just fine for him. Mucho Gusto, the heavy favorite after winning three of his first four starts in Southern California including two Grade 3s (and was second to top-rated stablemate Improbable in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8, his lone loss up to this point), was a bit disappointing as the $625,000 son of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man went right to the lead, took pressure first from Anothertwistafate and then Hustle Up while setting a brisk pace, tried to battle back when hooked into the lane, was still in it at the eighth pole but then faltered in the final half-furlong. It’s up for debate as to whether he deserves a shot at the Kentucky Derby off this, particularly as his trainer Bob Baffert is already loaded with the likes of Game Winner, Improbable, and possibly even Roadster. Wicked Indeed, second in the Mine That Bird Derby here last time out Feb. 24, sat midpack from the start, saved ground, shifted out turning for home, loomed a threat into the lane but was unable to sustain his bid. Hustle Up, a winner of eight of 10 including all four starts here including the Mine That Bird Derby, pressed pacesetter Mucho Gusto from the start, was still hounding that rival to the top of the lane but then gave way. He likely goes back to a shorter trip at which he thrives.