Trip Notes for March 4-5: Fountain of Youth, Gotham, Santa Ysabel

March 4

Aqueduct
Gotham (race 8)

COMMENT: J Boys Echo was third to El Areeb in the Grade 3 Withers here Feb. 4 but that was his first start in almost three months. Well, he apparently got what he needed out of that race as J Boys Echo, a $485,000 son of Horse of the Year Mineshaft, improved more than enough to turn the tables here. From his rail slot, J Boys Echo sat fourth as El Areeb set the pace under pressure from True Timber, remained there to the far turn, moved out for room on the far turn, came with a nice run to grab the lead early in the lane, and drew clear. Trainer Dale Romans had a major Derby candidate in Not This Time, only to see that horse suffer a career-ending injury in the fall. This isn’t to say J Boys Echo can be Not This Time, but he still looks like a horse who could step into that void. The Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 8 is reportedly next, though the Grade 1 Wood on the big track here April 8 is a possibility. Cloud Computing was a smart winner of his debut here Feb. 11, but here was asked not only to face winners for the first time, but proven stakes runners for the first time, all while routing for the first time. He handled the assignment well as he stalked the pace, came with a run into the lane, and while unable to keep pace with the winner was much the best of the rest, finishing more than seven lengths clear of the field. The Wood is his next target. El Areeb, the heavy favorite off four straight romping wins, including two Grade 3’s here this meet, set a modest pace under pressure from True Timber while seemingly traveling comfortably, but was no match for the top pair when they came to him into the lane, only just holding third. This was at the same basic distance as his Jerome and Withers wins so the loss wasn’t a function of distance. The Wood remains on his radar but it’s worth noting he has been pretty busy since the fall (six races in slightly more than five months). So Conflated, a California invader coming off a game win in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 21, was well back early and never got involved.

Gulfstream
Herecomesthebride (race 4)

COMMENT: Apparently it’s turf that Dream Dancing wants as this daughter of Tapit made it three wins in four grass starts, showing some courage to post this victory. From her rail slot she broke well and settled at the back of the field while Conquest Hardcandy set a decent pace. She remained toward the back, moved off the rail to start to advance going to the far turn, moved back to the rail on the far turn, was stuck in traffic as Coasted grabbed the lead into the lane, bulled her way between horses and got up just inside of Coasted to get the win. Coasted did nothing wrong in defeat. Last seen finishing a strong second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 she stalked the pace, with a smart run on the outside to challenge for the lead, had little trouble going past tiring pacesetter Conquest Hardcandy, looked like the winner in midstretch but then just couldn’t quite fend off Dream Dancing, who came up the rail. A race such as the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland on April 9 could be the spot for a rematch. Party Boat, a winner of three straight before being only sixth in a stakes here Jan. 7, bounced back as she bided her time sitting just back with the eventual winner, made a strong threatening wide run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Happy Mesa was a bit unlucky. She bided her time while saving ground, had to wait for room on the far turn, was still trapped behind horses to midstretch, and then had to steady when in tight. She finally got clear but it was too late. India Mantuana was another who was unlucky as she stalked inside, lacked room on the far turn, remained inside, continued to be bottled up in traffic, had to steady in midstretch, losing her momentum and basically losing any chance. She finally got out but the damage was done.

Gulfstream
Fred Hooper (race 5)

COMMENT: Bird Song ran second in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope here Jan. 14 but was no match for big winner Tommy Macho. He didn’t face that kind of runner here and enjoyed it, posting his fourth win in his last seven starts. Giving rider Julien Leparoux two straight stakes wins on the card, he went right to the lead, dueled with Mr. Jordan through brisk splits, dispatched with that foe turning for home, and gamely kept to his task to keep Realm at arm’s length. Trainer Ian Wilkes said the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland on April 15 or the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs on May 5 could be next. Realm further validated the Hal’s Hope as he ran third in that race, not far behind Bird Song. He finished up just behind that foe again here as he stalked the pace, tried to make a run at Bird Song into the lane but just couldn’t close the gap sufficiently. The Ben Ali and Alysheba figure on his radar as well. Tale of S’avall, coming off a smart optional claiming win here Jan. 7, stalked the pace, made a threatening wide move on the turn but couldn’t sustain his bid. Greenpointcrusader, favored off a strong return win in an optional claimer here Jan 27, was disappointing as he was well back early and never made a move.

Gulfstream
The Very One (race 7)

COMMENT: Suffused continued her top-class work in the turf distance division, winning for the third time in her last four starts, her lone loss by a nose in the Grade 1 E. P. Taylor last Oct. 16. Coming off a smart win in the Grade 3 Le Prevoyante here Jan. 28, she dominated this bunch. She was last early as last year’s winner Olorda set a fast pace under pressure from Quiet Kitten, remained well back to the far turn, swung wide for clear sailing, swooped past her rivals with a strong sustained move, and kept it going, opening up to the wire to win in a romp, geared down. The Grade 3 Orchid here April 1 could be next. She ran fifth in that last year, her weakest performance in the U.S., but that was also her first start in the U.S. and came off a long layoff. She’s obviously at home now. The main question will be what happens when the likes of top-class turf distance runners Lady Eli, Sea Calisi, and Dacita return. Trainer Bill Mott said he would like to think she’s good enough to compete in races such as the Grade 1 Beverly D. or Grade 1 Diana this summer. Quiet Kitten was fourth to Suffused in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante here Jan. 28, her first start in six months, but was then only seventh in the Mary Todd here Feb. 20. That trip was apparently too short for her as she came back quickly in two weeks, moved back to this longer distance and bounced back with a nice effort as she pressured pacesetter Olorda from the start, took over from that tiring foe turning for home, and then no match for the winner but kept on decently to hold the place. Paige, ninth to Suffused in the La Prevoyante, also bounced back to top form as she sat back just in front of Suffused, moved into stalking position going down the backstretch, loomed a threat turning for home, was no match for the winner but kept on well for third. Olorda, winner of this last race year and making her first start since winning Keeneland’s Grade 3 Bewitch after being sidelined by injury, went right out to the lead, set a brisk pace under some pressure from Quiet Kitten, was starting to tire on the turn when she checked sharply and dropped out of it.

Gulfstream
Palm Beach (race 9)

COMMENT: Ticonderoga showed much promise last year, including rallying from far back to be fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. His impressive comeback here shows that the likes of Oscar Performance and Good Samaritan better return improved as well as this $850,000 son of Tapit figures tough in turf events for 3-year-olds. Ticonderoga broke well but was content to settle toward the back of the pack as Sailing Home, who was trying turf for the first time, set a solid pace under pressure from Kitten’s Cat, moved to the rail going to the far turn to start his run, had to steady a bit when he came up on traffic but found room, got back into stride and powered home (on the wrong lead) to sweep pace Kitten’s Cat and win going away. Trainer Chad Brown said the Grade 3 Transylvania on turf at Keeneland on April 7 would likely be next, with his main goal the Grade 1 Belmont Derby at Belmont July 8. Kitten’s Cat, a game winner of the race named for his sire (Kitten’s Joy) here Feb. 4, dogged Sailing Home at the start, got the better of that foe turning for home, opened up a bit of a lead into the lane, was no match for the winner but kept on well for second. Snap Decision, impressive maiden winner on this course Jan. 28, showed he was ready for this big step up in class as was last early, behind the eventual winner, couldn’t quite rally with that rival but finished well for third. Sailing Home, trying turf for the first time, set a solid pace, battled back some when confronted into the lane, couldn’t stay with the top pair but stayed on gamely and only lost third in the final strides. Cowboy Culture, winner of his first three starts, all on turf (including beating Girvin in a stakes at Fair Grounds Feb. 5; that horse came back to win the Grade 2 Risen Star there last week) suffered his first defeat as he was reluctant to load, then seemed in a good spot stalking the pace while saving ground, loomed a threat on the far turn but then gave way.

Gulfstream
Davona Dale (race 10)

COMMENT: Miss Sky Warrior, making her first start since a game win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct on Nov. 26, showed she belongs in the upper tier among 3-year-old fillies as she notched her fourth straight win in her season debut. She settled just off the pace set by Modacious, who was pressured by Jordan’s Henny to her inside. She remained wide and in the clear, moved up easily to contend on the turn, took command into the lane and kept to her task to win by a deceptively small margin. She seemed to always have things in control in the lane. But geez could that last half-furlong been any slower (13.99 seconds)? The Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks here April 1 may be next and should all go well there, a shot at the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5. Jordan’s Henny, coming off a maiden win here Dec. 18, dogged pacesetter Modacious while staying inside, moved up to take the lead going to the far turn, was still right there with Modacious on the turn, was getting the better of that filly into the lane, tried gamely but just couldn’t quite stay with the winner. Summer Luck, who finished well for fourth in the Grade 2 Forward Gal here Feb. 4, bided her time again and, again, rallied nicely to nearly get up for second. Pretty City Dancer, winner in a dead heat of the Grade 1 Spinaway last summer and a nice rallying second in her first start since in the Grade 2 Forward Gal here Feb. 4, was disappointing as she lagged back and could make only minimal headway, ending up a non-factor sixth. Eloquent Riddle, third to Miss Sky Warrior in the Grade 3 Tempted at Aqueduct on Nov. 5 and making her first start since a second in a stakes there Nov. 24, sat midpack from the start and never mustered a run. The race was marred as Saratoga Citizen stumbled and fell in the first quarter-mile.

Gulfstream
Canadian Turf (race 11)

COMMENT: Heart to Heart continued his love affair with this course (now 4 for 5 here) as he successfully defended his title. Last year he led all the way to win and it was again his speed that served him well as he shot out to take the early lead, took some pressure from longshot Vision Perfect, opened up into the lane and while a couple closers cut into his lead he had pretty much already put the issue to bed. He might next go for the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland on April 14, a race in which he was a good second last year. Of course, that spot figures quite a bit tougher. Bondurant, an outsider after finishing a so-so fifth in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay on Feb. 11, moved up nicely here as he set back early while saving ground, stayed on the fence to the top of the lane, and finished strongly to at least give the winner a bit of a scare as he cut into his lead. Conquest Pantera, winner of his last two, including a nice optional-claiming tally here Jan. 15, stalked in third, tried to make a run at the winner turning for home, couldn’t get to him and then weakened just a bit in the lane. Projected, making his first start in the U.S. and first start since September 2015, sat well back early and finished decently, though he was never really a threat. He surely needed the race though it’s tough to know where he fits in this country.

Gulfstream
Mac Diarmida (race 12)

COMMENT: Wake Forest is a proven Grade 1 winner and the 7-year-old showed there’s still gas in the tank as he proved a game winner in a blanket finish. Last seen finishing third to two of his foes here in Bigger Picture and Danish Dynaformer in Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Red Smith on Nov 12, Wake Forest sat midpack from the start as Reporting Star shot out to a clear lead, remained there to the top of the lane, swung very wide to find clear sailing, and finished resolutely to just get up in the four-horse blanket photo. Nice as this was you do get the impression that if you ran this race six times you might get four or five different winners. Still, he showed the quality remains. The Grade 2 Pan American here April 1 could be next as he ran second in that race last year, though trainer Chad Brown mentioned earlier that he would like to see if he could win the Grade 1 Man o’ War again at Belmont Park on May 13. Patterson Creek, third in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight here Jan. 28, was just behind the eventual winner from the start, remained well back turning for home as he didn’t accelerate as early or as strongly as the winner, but finished full of run in the final furlong to just miss. The Pan American surely figures on his radar. Reporting Star went out to a clear lead, set modest splits, held gamely to keep the lead to deep stretch but just got edged by the top two in a fine try. Bigger Picture stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t quite sustain it enough. Mr Maybe was well back early, still well back coming into the lane and surged home to not miss by all that much. Twilight Eclipse, the veteran who has had such a fine career and showed he has still got oomph with a good fourth in the Grade 3 McKnight here Jan. 28, was away slowly to be well back from the start and never made a move. Could be that at age 8 and after so many races (39) he’s slowing down.

Gulfstream
Fountain of Youth (race 13)

COMMENT: Gunnevera stamped himself a potential major player for the Kentucky Derby as he dominated what on paper looked like a strong field. But he made it look easy. Coming off a second in the Grade 2 Holy Bull here Feb. 5 to foe Irish War Cry, Gunnevera broke slowly, as is his custom, sat well back as Three Rules set a strong pace under pressure from heavy favorite Irish War Cry, started a strong wide run on the far turn in Practical Joke’s wake, but continued his strong run once straightened away, going around leaders Three Rules and Practical Joke to take over and draw off for the easy win.. He reminds me of Exaggerator. Trainer Antonio Sano said the Grade 1 Florida Derby here April 1 could be next or he could just train him up to the Kentucky Derby on May 6. Practical Joke, making his first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5, lagged back as well, made a strong wide run on the far turn to reach contention, hooked then-leader Three Rules into the lane but had no answer for the winner’s charge while staying on gamely to edge Three Rules for second. Trainer Chad Brown said all options are open to him and that the horse likely needed this race. Three Rules broke sharply, proved quickest as he went right to the lead, took some pressure from Irish War Cry while setting solid splits, battled back gamely when hooked by Practical Joke but like that foe had no answer for the winner and couldn’t quite outduel Practical Joke for second. While he ran well it seems he might better playing a shorter game. Irish War Cry, the favorite after winning his first three starts, including a romping win in the Grade 2 Holy Bull here Feb. 4 (over Gunnevera), dogged Three Rules from the start, was still there to the far turn but then fell apart. He seemed to be traveling well so his severe fade is cause for concern. It’s possible he bounced like a rubber ball after his big Holy Bull win. Trainer Graham Motion said he would like to wait five weeks to run back, which makes the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Grade 1 Blue Grass, both April 8, the likeliest possibilities. Takaful broke a step slow from his outside post, was being urged on the first turn to get up closer to the pace, ducked to the inside for room, but then ran up on the heels of horses and had to steady hard, was then under a good hold until into the backstretch, and had nothing to give afterward. This likely takes him off the Derby trail. With his speed he may be better suited to races such as the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and Grade 1 King’s Bishop. Huracan Americao, winner of the Peruvian Derby, was last on the far turn when he broke down. Sadly, he had to be euthanized.

Santa Anita
Santa Ysabel (race 6)

COMMENT: Unique Bella confirmed her status as the nation’s top 3-year-old filly, but she had to work a little more this time. Still, she more than proved up to the task. Coming off three straight romping wins, including her 8 3/4-length romp in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes here last time out Feb. 5, she broke a bit slowly, didn’t seem comfortable behind horses, pulled her way through between horses to go up on the pace, dueled early with longshot Tap It All, quickly assumed command from that rival, opened a five- length lead on the far turn, was given a scare as Abel Tasman came up to pose a big threat by midstretch but got going again to rebuff that filly and open up once more. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks here April 8 is likely next and should all go well there a trip to Churchill for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 5. Abel Tasman, making her first start since taking the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10, bided her time early, came with a smart, threatening run into the lane, got close to Unique Bella by midstretch but couldn’t sustain her run and tired a bit late as Unique Bella drew away again. It was still a fine first try of the year and she finished eight lengths clear of the others. The Santa Anita Oaks figures on her radar as well. Spooky Woods stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner turning for home, was no match, and plugged along to be third while no danger to the top two.

March 5

Santa Anita
Las Flores (race 3)

COMMENT: Pretty N Cool hadn’t run since finishing sixth in her first turf start at Del Mar on Sept. 2. But that didn’t matter, and she returned to dirt with strong works here and toppled a couple of the West’s best sprinting fillies. She broke sharply to pressure Sensitively early through a hot first quarter-mile, took command from that filly going to the far turn, opened up a commanding lead into the lane and while 4-5 favorite Constellation closed the gap on her the issue had pretty much already been put to bed. Trainer Bob Baffert said she does well with some time between races. That said, there are no graded sprint stakes for fillies and mares in Southern California until the Grade 3 Desert Stormer here June 18 so if they want to run her before that she’ll have to skip town. Constellation, the heavy favorite off a game win in the Grade 1 La Brea here Dec. 26, stalked the pace, didn’t accelerate as quickly as the winner into the lane, finally got going to close the gap but was never really a danger to the winner. Constellation, an $800,000 daughter of Bellamy Road, has run well before back East so she may be amenable to shipping for her next assignment. Ponder Lea stalked in fourth and plugged along well to hold third. Sensitively, the 9-5 second choice making her first start since dueling and fading to sixth in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar last Aug. 17, shot right out to the lead, took immediate pressure from Pretty N Cool while holding the rail, stayed with that filly to the far turn but then gave way.