Trip Notes for March 5th: Gotham, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Santa Ysabel, and more...

Saturday, March 5

Aqueduct - Gotham (race 9)

COMMENT: Shagaf continued a big day for trainer Chad Brown, who earlier ran 1-2-3 in the Grade 3 The Very One, and continued his own Derby dreams, winning for the third time in as many starts. Coming off a smart tally at Gulfstream Jan. 29, the son of Bernardini was up close early while inside early as Laoban went off to set the pace, Shagaf pulled back a bit after a half-mile, moved closer again on the turn, swung out for room into the lane and reeled in Laoban. The track certainly seemed tilted toward the inside lanes, and that’s where he was until the stretch run, when he moved outside. Laoban, a maiden coming off a third in Santa Anita’s Grade 3 Sham Jan. 9, shot out to a clear lead, held the advantage through modest splits, rebuffed a challenge from Sunny Ridge into the lane, but couldn’t quite finish with the winner. Adventist, third to Sunny Ridge in the Grade 3 Withers here Jan. 30, lagged back and came with a solid, steady run. Withers winner Sunny Image stalked the pace, loomed a big threat into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Conquest Big E, fourth in the Grade 2 Holy Bull, was well back from the start and never mustered a run. Of course, being outside throughout on this day certainly didn’t help. Rally Cry, much troubled when third to Shagaf last out, seemed in a good spot stalking the pace on the far turn, but then gave way.

[bc_video_id:378606:]

Gulfstream - The Very One (race 5)

COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown swept the top three positions here, though his 3-5 favorite Dacita got toppled. Olorda, a Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed in France last May before coming to the U.S., hadn’t shown much speed but she went right to the lead, proving quicker than expected pacesetter Quiet Kitten. She got a wonderfully judged ride by Julien Leparoux, holding a clear lead while setting solid splits and then getting to the line before a surging Dacita. She shattered the course record for this trip. Dacita, who beat Tepin at Saratoga last summer, returned with blinkers on for her first start since she ran ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She bided her time early in fourth while saving ground, moved out widest of all to start her run on the far turn, finished well, but just ran out of ground. This was a very nice stepping-off point for her for 2016, and she figures a major player in the division, provided she can find firm ground. Guapaza sat back just behind Dacita, came with a nice run along the inside, shifted out when coming up behind the eventual winner, and stayed on well. Quiet Kitten got outrun early by the winner, was content to pressure that gal, tried to make a run turning for home, but flattened out and gave way.

Gulfstream - Gulfstream Park Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: Blofeld apparently got what he needed from his fourth-place finish on Jan. 27, as the son of Quality Road vaulted forward to post the upset here. One of four from the Todd Pletcher barn in the field of seven, he stalked as stablemates Anchor Down and Stanford set a solid pace, was just in behind Stanford, followed that runner out for room into the lane, moved back inside to make his run, and kept on to get the narrow win. Stanford dogged Anchor Down early, moved closer to engage that rival on the turn, got the better of him into the lane, and stayed on well for second. Anchor Down weakened some into the lane once headed by Stanford, drifted out to interfere with favorite Valid, straightened away, and continued on to get third. He was disqualified and placed fourth for his antics in the lane. Valid, second to top-class Mshawish in the Grade 1 Donn, stalked the pace and was making a bid when Anchor Down came out in front of him, causing him to clip heels.

Gulfstream - Mac Diarmida (race 12)

COMMENT: Grand Tito won a strong optional claimer here Feb. 13, and moved forward to beat a nice field here. He chased early pacesetter O’Prado Ole, moved closer going to the far turn, pounced coming into the lane, opened up, and kept Kaigun at arm’s length in the final furlong. Kaigun made it four straight second-place finishes. From his rail slot he bided his time early, steadily advanced, came with a run into the lane to threaten, but couldn’t close the gap. Mr Maybe, making his first start of the year after three wins to close out 2015 (including the Grade 3 Red Smith over Kaigun), was last to the far turn, swung out for room and finished well, though he was never a threat to the top two. This was his first start in almost four months, so he may have needed it. Da Big Hoss, coming off a win in the Grade 3 Connally at Sam Houston Jan. 30 in which he beat Kaigun, bided his time early while wide, started to make a wide move on the far turn to briefly look threatening, but was unable to sustain his run. Surely being so wide softened his punch. Twilight Eclipse, second in this race last year and making his first start since running eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Oct. 31, broke slowly to be well back early and never made a move. While you can reason he may well have needed the race, it’s worth noting he’s a 7-year-old now and has had many a tough race, making you wonder if he’s lost a step or two. In his defense, he did seem to get a bit warm in the preliminaries.

Santa Anita - Santa Ysabel (race 5)

COMMENT: Another race, another effortless win for champion Songbird, who further cemented her status as the leading light for the Kentucky Oaks. She wasn’t originally supposed to go here, but trainer Jerry Hollendorfer called an audible and used the race to give her a paid workout as she stayed unbeaten in six starts. She went right to the lead, set strong splits while pressured first by Not Now Carolyn and then Jade Princess, blew the race open with a big move into the lane, and cruised home geared down. Land Over Sea had chased Songbird in her last four starts. Make that five. She sat back early, steadily advanced, came with a run into the lane, and finished far clear of the rest. Mokat, Grade 3 placed on turf, was just behind the runner-up from the start, and came home smartly for third. She’s yet another smart runner from the first crop of 2-year-old champ Uncle Mo, and being proven on dirt and turf gives her options.

[bc_video_id:378608:]