Trip Notes for March 30-31, 2019: Florida Derby, Beholder Mile, and more

March 30

Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park Mile (race 4)

COMMENT: On paper Prince Lucky dominated these off a monster win in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope here Feb. 23, his first start in eight and a half months. Well, that’s how it worked out on the track as the son of Corinthian, an overwhelming 1-5 favorite, had little trouble with his overmatched foes. He showed enough speed to stalk as longshot All Golden set the early pace under pressure from Guy Caballero, soon took command going down the backstretch, started to open up on the far turn and extended his lead to the wire while never in any real danger. Tale of Silence, fourth to Prince Lucky in the Hal’s Hope, was just behind that rival early in fourth, remained in that position going to the far turn while Prince Lucky made an early run to the lead, started to advance on the turn and into the lane, kept to his task well to end up a clear second though he was never really any threat to the winner. Guy Caballero pressed the early pace, tried to make a run at the eventual to his outside on the far turn but proved no match and plugged along to be third, well behind the runner-up.

Gulfstream
Gulfstream Park Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Champagne Anyone ran third in the Grade 3 Forward Gal here Feb. 2 and in the Grade 2 Davona Dale here March 2 but was unable or unwilling to be more forwardly placed from the start, leaving her with too much to do in the lane each time. Well, the addition of blinkers did the trick as she posted a mild upset and likely punched her tick to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill May 3. With the blinkers she was a bit more eager from the start, positioning herself second behind pacesetter Cookie Dough who set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, doggedly went after Cookie Dough, went past that rival to her outside and kept on gamely to get to the line before hard-trying favorite Dunbar Road. The latter, a smashing winner of her debut here March 3 and supplemented to this and made the 6-5 favorite, stalked a bit behind the eventual winner while toward the outside, came under a ride on the far turn and seemed to be spinning her while, but found her best stride once straightened away into the lane and closed well widest of the top three to almost catch ‘Anyone. Trainer Chad Brown has said before she would likely be supplemented to the Kentucky Oaks when the deadline comes in a few weeks and considering this was just her second start, her first vs. winners and first going two turns she ran quite well. The way she finished hinted she’ll love the Oaks’ 1 1/8 miles. Cookie Dough, a sharp second in the Davona Dale beaten just a head, went right to the lead as she moved to this two-turn, set a modest pace under minimal pressure from the eventual winner, was confronted by that foe to her outside turning for home, couldn’t keep pace with her and couldn’t finish with the eventual runner-up who was wider out but kept to her task decently to hold third. The Oaks distance may be a tad more than she wants but something like the shorter Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Derby/Oaks week could be on her radar. Point of Honor, the 9-5 second choice off two easy wins to start her career including a stakes win at Tampa Bay last time out Feb. 9, sat back a bit, came under a ride on the far turn to try and follow Dunbar Road but was unable to get involved.

Gulfstream
Pan American (race 13)

COMMENT: Stop me if you’ve heard this before – Chad Brown saddles the winner of a graded turf stakes. This time it was with Focus Group, a son of turf champ Kitten’s Joy who was making his first start since finishing third I the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine Oct. 13. From his rail slot he settled midpack while staying on the rail, started to advance up the inside on the far turn, came with his run into the lane to engage fellow closer Melmich to his outside and fought on gamely to just prevail. This was meant as a prep for the Grade 1 Man O’ War at 1 3/8 miles at Belmont May 11. Good as he looked, he probably still rates behind stablemates Bricks and Mortar, Raging Bull, Robert Bruce and new South American hotshot import Ya Primo. This exhibits the strength of Brown’s barn in this division. Melmich, a sharp rallying second in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida here March 2, ran well again as the 8-year-old gelding lagged back, was just behind the eventual winner on the far turn while wide, came with a strong run in the lane to be just outside the eventual winner and just missed. Village King, fifth in the Mac Diarmida, went right to the lead, took pressure from longshot Salute the Colonel through very slow spits, relinquished the lead on the turn when Canessar took a narrow lead but rerallied to engage that foe, worked past that rival but then couldn’t finish with the top two. Canessar, fifth in the McKnight, his first start in six and a half months, stalked the pace, made a smart run to grab the lead turning for home, had to steady a bit when Melmich drifted into his path and was unable to get into gear. Soglio, a sharp second in the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight here Jan. 26, stalked the slow pace while wide, was seemingly in a good spot to the far turn but came up empty thereafter.

Gulfstream
Florida Derby (race 14)

COMMENT: Maximum Security’s Derby hope is no longer a pipe dream. This smart front-running win stamps the son of New Year’s Day as the real deal as he controlled things from the start. Maximum Security, who debuted for a $16,000 claiming tag and who romped in his first three starts prior to this, broke sharply from the middle of the field to go right to the lead, moved over to the inside, was able to set a dawdling pace under token pressure from Bodexpress to his outside and favored Hidden Scroll just in behind (went 6 furlongs in 1:12.90 while 3-year-old fillies went 6 furlongs in 1:11.77 in the Gulfstream Park Oaks earlier in the day), looked relaxed and well in hand throughout, was asked for more on the turn for home, opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. He’s unbeaten and untested in four starts and has run fast so he has to be considered one of the Kentucky Derby favorites. He reminds a bit of Big Brown. That being said, a maiden ran second and he surely won’t get such a comfy lead in Louisville. The owners also have reigning juvenile male champ Game Winner so they’ve got a couple big bullets to fire at the Derby prize. Bodexpress, a four-start maiden, was fractious behind the gate, tossing his rider. Once safely into the barrier he broke well, showed the speed to sit just off Maximum Security to his outside, tried to make a run at that foe on the turn and into the lane, proved no match but kept to his task well to be second, well clear of some highly regarded sophomores. Code of Honor, who took advantage of a hot, contested pace to win the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here March 2, didn’t get such a pace scenario here. He sat midpack between horses, just a bit behind Hidden Scroll who was on rail and next to Bourbon War who was to his inside, started to advance going into the far turn, moved toward the inside into the lane for clear sailing, made some headway, came off the rail to continue and ran on for third though he was never really a danger to the top two. While he ran decently, trainer Shug McGaughey wouldn’t commit yet to a Kentucky Derby run. Bourbon War, second in the Fountain of Youth, sat back just inside Code of Honor, bided his time there, came off the inside going to the far turn, pitched wide to start his run, wider still into the lane, made some headway but was never really a factor. Hidden Scroll, the favorite off his monstrous debut win here Jan. 26 and good fourth in the Fountain of Youth after setting a sizzling pace, broke alertly from the rail, remained on the fence just behind the eventual winner, was a bit rank and pulling going into the backstretch, settled some but was eager again going to the far turn, remained inside on the turn, came off the rail as is poised to make a run but the run never came. Could be this was all too much too soon. You’d have to think his Derby dreams have been quashed.

Santa Anita
Kilroe Mile (race 5)

COMMENT: Ohio may be an 8-year-old now but could be the gelding is as good as ever as he posted the upset here. A smashing winner of a stakes at Turf Paradise Jan. 12 and then a good second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road here Feb. 9, the horse who was claimed for $50,000 last June stalked pacesetter Hunt from the start, moved closer going to the far turn, took over from that foe on the turn, opened up a bit which gave him just enough of a buffer to get to the line a lip before hard-charging Catapult to his outside. They could ship for the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4 at a longer 1 1/8 miles or stay home and await the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here May 27. Catapult, favored off a sharp second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile and fourth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 26, bided his time from the start, remained there to the far turn, stayed wide on the turn and into the lane and finished with a flourish to just miss. He’s shown he can ship and perform so the Old Forester Turf Classic could be on his radar or they could wait for a rematch with Ohio in the Shoemaker Mile. Desert Stone, fifth in the Thunder Road, sat back with Catapult, didn’t move as early or as strongly, got going into the lane but then had to wait for room when in traffic and was just able to get up for third. River Boyne, winner of six of seven over this course, his lone loss coming when fourth in the Thunder Road, sat last early though not that far off the lead while a few lanes out, was still last on the far turn as he pitched wide to find clear sailing to make his run but could make only modest headway. Next Shares, second in this last year, a game winner of the Grade 2 San Gabriel here Jan. 5 and seventh in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, was disappointing as he stalked the pace, was still in the thick of it turning for home but gave way when it mattered.

Santa Anita
San Carlos (race 6)

COMMENT: While St. Joe Bay posted the big upset, a big part of the story was his rider as Victor Espinoza notched his first win since a serious injury last summer. Espinoza, best known for riding the likes of Horses of the Year American Pharoah and California Chrome, was injured last summer at July. In this, his first win since starting his comeback recently, he put St. Joe Bay, who was second in this last year but coming off a non-threatening fifth to champion Roy H in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes here Jan. 19, right on the lead from the start, cleared off early, set a solid pace while clear, opened up into the lane and had no worries thereafter. The Grade 2 Triple Bend at this same 7-furlong trip here May 25 figures next, particularly as the aforementioned sprint kingpin Roy H is sidelined indefinitely due to a foot issue. Dr. Dorr, making his first start in over seven month, sat back early, angled in going into the far turn, came with a smart run and while unable to threaten the winner finished clear of the rest. Kanthaka, favored after running second to champion Roy H in the Palos Verdes, albeit well beaten (four lengths), bided his time in fifth, made a modest run into the lane, ran on for third but was never really a threat. Dr. Dorr and Kanthaka could eye a rematch with the winner in the Triple Bend. Az Man, smart optional claiming winner here Feb. 8, chased the winner from the start and tired in the lane from those efforts.

Santa Anita
Santa Ana (race 7)

COMMENT: Elysea’s World was only sixth in the Grade 2 Buena Vista here Feb. 23, her first start for trainer Richard Baltas after being under Chad Brown’s care. But that race was short of what she prefers and served as an ideal prep for this as the 6-year-old mare got back on track with the win at this longer trip she likes. She lagged back as India Mantuana set a brisk pace, remained toward the back to the far turn, pitched wide into the lane and powered home to get up in the final yards. The Grade 3 Santa Barbara at 1 1/2 miles here May 11 could be next. Zaffinah, a solid third to win-machine Vasilika in the Grade 3 Megahertz here Jan. 21, shows she belongs with this caliber as she bided her time early just in front of the eventual winner, crept closer going to the far turn, came with a wide run into the lane to grab the lead by midstretch but couldn’t quite fend off the winner. The Santa Barbara may be too long for her, but the only other graded stakes at this type of trip would be the Grade 1 Gamely at 1 1/8 miles here May 27, though obviously being a Grade 1 would mean much deeper water for her. Lynne’s Legacy, back to routing after finishing sixth in a sprint stakes here Feb. 16, fared better with the distance move as she was last from the start, remained there to the top of the lane and finished with good energy. Streak of Luck, a rallying second in the Buena Vista, raced in tandem with Zaffinah much of the way while saving ground, split horses into the lane, moved back to the inside and kept to her task well but wasn’t quite good enough.

Santa Anita
Beholder Mile (race 9)

COMMENT: When Secret Spice dazzled winning here last Oct. 7 by 11 1/4 lengths while earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure it looked as though she was ready for big things. In fact, the plan after that was to target the Grade 1 La Brea here Dec. 26. Alas, things didn’t go according to plan as she had an infection in her hock and wasn’t seen again until Feb. 7 when third as the even money favorite vs. optional claimers here. Well, apparently she’s back to her best as she beat a number of graded stakes winners here, and did so handily. She showed enough speed to stalk as Selcourt went out to the early lead, bided her time there going into the backstretch, advanced to be just behind Selcourt on the far turn, had no trouble putting away that rival, opening up into the lane and winning clear. She seems best going two turns so maybe something like the Grade 2 Santa Maria at 1 1/16 miles here June 1 could be next. Marley’s Freedom, the heavy favorite off six wins in her last seven starts, was just behind the eventual winner early, still just behind her going down the backstretch, didn’t accelerate as early or as quickly as that rival into the far turn, found her best stride in the lane and finished well though by that time the winner was already long gone. While she handled this two-turn mile she might be best at about 7 furlongs, meaning something like the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at 7 furlongs at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard could be next. Paradise Woods chased early pacesetter Selcourt from the start, took back a bit to be in stalking position with the eventual winner but was basically one-paced the rest of the way to hold third. Selcourt went right to the lead, set a modest pace under minimal pressure first from Paradise Woods and then Just a Smidge while saving ground, had no answer then the eventual winner came to her and then tired in the lane. Could be she’s better playing the one-turn game at a slightly shorter trip.

March 31

Santa Anita
San Simeon (race 4)

COMMENT: Law Abidin Citizen posted an upset, the but news here was the fatal breakdown of Arms Runner. Law Abidin Citizen was only fifth in the Grade 3 Joe Hernandez on this hillside course Jan. 1 and then faded to fifth going a mile vs. optional claimers here Jan. 13. After some time off he returned to this hillside course, on which three of his previous four wins had come, and got back on track. The 5-year-old gelded son of Twirling Candy stalked the brisk pace set by heavy favorite Conquest Tsunami, came with a smart wide run into the lane, grabbed the lead from the tiring favorite in the upper stretch and stayed on gamely to keep a hard-trying Cistron at bay in the final furlong. The Grade 3 Daytona on this hillside course May 25 may be his next target. Cistron stalked the pace, just in front of the eventual winner while saving ground, saw that rival surge past after the dirt crossing, doggedly kept after him but couldn’t get to him while finishing well clear of the rest. The Daytona figures on his radar as well. Mesut was last from the start, still there going behind the trees, moved to the inside leaving the hill and coming over the dirt crossing into the stretch, kept to his task but was unable to threaten the top two. Conquest Tsunami, the heavy 1-2 favorite off a smashing win in the Clocker’s Corner on this course Jan. 27, shot right out to the lead, as expected, under pressure from Air Vice Marshall but paid the price for that early work, fading to fifth. La Sardane lagged back and fell over the fallen Arms Runner coming over the main track onto the main turf course but got right up and appeared to be OK. Arms Runner took a bad step coming over the dirt crossing and fell. Sadly, the 5-year-old gelding suffered a catastrophic injury to his right fore and had to be euthanized.