Trip Notes for March 7-8, 2020: San Felipe, Gotham, Tampa Bay Derby, and more

March 7

Aqueduct
Tom Fool Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Mind Control showed his heart as a lousy start couldn’t foil him. Coming off a game win in the Grade 3 Toboggan here Jan. 18, the colt stumbled at the start to be well back early, steadily advanced while wide as Happy Farm set a solid pace, continued to make a run on the turn, pitched wider out into the lane, finishing resolutely to reel in leader Happy Farm in the final half-furlong and surging past. Surely something like the Grade 1 Carter at 7 furlongs here April 4 figures on his radar. Happy Farm making his first start since finishing a sharp second to top-class sprinter Firenze Fire in the Gravesend here Dec. 22, went right to the lead, took early pressure from Wentz, soon moved off to a clear lead, opened up a big advantage into the lane as if going on to victory only to be overwhelmed by the winner in the final half-furlong. Bon Raison was away slowly to be even behind the eventual winner who stumbled at the start, remained well back while well off the rail, continued wide on the turn and into the lane, made some headway but was never a danger to the top two. Wentz, making his first start since running fourth in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico last May 18, pressed Happy Farm from the start, couldn’t keep pace with that foe down the backstretch and was one-paced to the line.

Aqueduct
Gotham (race 10)

COMMENT: Mischevious Alex was dazzling romping in a couple sprint stakes in his last two starts, including the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream last time out Feb. 1, but his only prior dirt route resulted in a decent third. He’s apparently a better horse now than he was then as the son of Into Mischief handled the mile just fine here as the favorite. He showed the tactical speed to press early pacesetter War Stopper while well off the rail, had little trouble taking over from that rival into the far turn while moving toward the inside, was soon confronted by United to his outside but opened up and held his clear edge to the line. The Grade 2 Wood Memorial and more ground here April 4 could be next, though trainer John Servis later said he wasn’t sure he’d run Alex again before the Kentucky Derby. Untitled, fourth to Alex in the Swale and then second in his first route in an optional claimer at Tampa Bay Feb. 14 (to highly regarded Gouverneur Morris) stalked just behind the eventual winner, tried to go with that rival when he made his move on the far turn, loomed a brief threat on the turn but couldn’t keep pace with the winner and was unable to cut into that gap while gamely persevering to just hold second. The Wood is a possibility though you have to question whether he wants to go any farther than this. Attachment Rate, a smashing maiden winner in slop at Gulfstream last time out Feb. 15, was slow into stride but had the speed to establish himself midpack a few lanes off the rail, moved toward the inside going to the far turn, came with a nice run through the lane to almost get second, though he was never really a danger to the winner. There was a jockey’s objection against him by the rider of Informative who had to steady going to the far turn but the objection was not allowed. War Stopper, a big maiden winner with the addition of blinkers on this track at this trip Jan. 11, was pushed right to the lead from the start, took pressure first from Celtic Striker to his inside then from Mischevious Alex to his outside and gave way once headed into the far turn.

Tampa Bay
Challenger (race 8)
COMMENT: Trophy Chaser may be a new horse. After a couple so-so outings in November he was freshened and came back to romp over optional claimers at Gulfstream Park Feb. 2. The son of Twirling Candy continued his ascent here, showing courage for the win. He broke well to stalk in third as Admiralty Pier made the running, bided his time in third while saving ground off the modest pace, remained there as even-money favorite King for a Day took the lead on the far turn, went after that rival turning for home and kept on resolutely outside that foe to edge past in the final strides. King for a Day, best known for beating Maximum Security in the Pegasus at Monmouth last June and making his first start since finishing fifth to ‘Security in the Grade 1 Haskell there July 20, pressed pacesetter Admiralty Pier from the start, crept closer to that foe to his inside, took over from that foe into the far turn, battled gamely when challenged by Trophy Chaser to his outside, drifting out some in the lane, only relenting in the final strides while finishing far clear of the others. Prompt, making his first start since winning to allowance races in New York last spring, sat fifth from the start, was asked to get going into the far turn, pitched wide on the turn, made some headway to get third though he was never a danger to the top two. Admiralty Pier, winner of an optional claimer on this dirt Dec. 29 and trying dirt again after a game win in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay on turf here Feb. 8, went right out to set the pace, got to the rail from his outside post, set a modest pace under pressure from King for a Day to his outside, giving way once headed turning for home. He handles dirt to be sure but turf still appears his preferred game.

Tampa Bay
Hillsborough (race 9)
COMMENT: There had been talk of retiring Starship Jubilee after her strong 2019 season. Her connections opted to let the 7-year-old mare have another go this year and they have to be thrilled with that decision as she romped for a third straight time this year. Coming off a romping win in the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Feb. 8 she was as dominant here as she bided her time midpack between horses as longshot Dynatail set a modest pace, remained there to the far turn, came with a smart wide run turning for home, battled with Jehozacat and Beautiful Lover for the lead into the lane, got the better of them and drew clear. The way she’s going a shot at the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 11 could be in the cards, though obviously things would be a lot tougher there as that could lure the likes of Rushing Fall, Concrete Rose, Got Stormy and other beasts. Beautiful Lover, freshened since running on for second to ‘Jubilee in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Jan. 18, sat midpack not far behind the eventual winner, tried to rally with that gal turning for home, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t stay with the winner in the final half-furlong. Kelsey’s Cross, who set the pace before fading to fifth in the Suwannee River, was this time far off the lead (in fact, she was last) while saving ground, remained well back to the far turn, came though between rivals on the turn, swung wider out into the lane and finished well, though she was never really a danger to the winner. Magic Star, a bit troubled when second in the Suwannee River (though that didn’t affect the outcome), sat midpack just ahead of the eventual winner while saving ground, angled out into the lane as if poised to make a run but was one-paced in the lane and unable to finish with the top three.

Tampa Bay
Florida Oaks (race 10)
COMMENT: Another example of how speed can kill. Outburst came from off the pace to beat optional claimers in her first start in the U.S. here Feb. 7 after having raced in France last year. However, the daughter of Outstrip found herself on the lead and took full advantage, leading all the way for the score. She broke sharply and had a clear early lead as the 2-1 favorite, set a modest pace as Walk In Marrakesh and then Correctness put some pressure on her, saw those two creep closer into the far turn, opened up again into the lane while shifting out and finished gamely to just get to the line before a hard-trying Walk In Marrakesh. Off this the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland April 5 could be on her radar. Walk In Marrakesh, making her first start since an excellent second (beaten a nose) in the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine last Sept. 14 after previously campaigning in Europe, broke well to sit just off the pacesetter and eventual winner, moved closer while inside heading to the far turn, came out for room into the lane as the leader opened up again on her but then came home smartly to just miss. Secret Stash, fifth in the Natalma and then third in an optional claimer at Keeneland Oct. 25, lagged back early after moving to the inside, continued inside as she made headway to the far turn, remained inside on the turn, moved off the fence into the lane for room and finished decently but was unable to threaten the top two. Micheline, a rallying second despite traffic issues in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Feb. 1, sat midpack from the start while wide after breaking from the far-outside post (No. 12), remained there while continuing a wide trip, was urged to get involved turning for home, showed a brief spark of interest into the lane but that soon fizzled. The wide trip surely didn’t help.

Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: King Guillermo, a $150,000 son of juvenile male champ Uncle Mo, isn’t even nominated to the Triple Crown (yet) but that may change as the colt who was routing on dirt for the first time posted a big upset. He was a respectable third to Sole Volante in a turf stakes at Gulfstream Nov. 30 when last seen and turned the tables on that foe (who was favored here) with this move to dirt. He didn’t just win at 49-1, he romped. From his outside post (No. 11) he broke well to be second pressing early pacesetter Relentless Dancer, continued to dog that rival through modest splits to the far turn, seized command turning for home, opened up and powered to the line to win easily. He’ll reportedly train up to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby May 2.Sole Volante, the 3-2 favorite off his smart win in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis here Feb. 8, was away slowly to be well back early, remained there while saving ground, started to advance on the far turn while staying inside and finished with good energy up the inside to be a clear second, though the winner was already long gone. Texas Swing, a $275,000 son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and coming off a nice maiden win in his first route here Feb. 8, stalked in third just behind the eventual winner while saving ground, remained there to the top of the lane, came out for room but was no match for the winner and then couldn’t finish with the eventual runner-up to his inside. Chance It, winner of the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Jan. 4 and who scratched from last week’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth after getting the outside post to go here instead, sat midpack from the start, advanced into the far turn to be just behind the eventual winner, drifted out as he made a mild move into the lane as if he might get a piece (the winner was already gone) but flattened out in the lane. Market Analysis, a $250,000 son of Honor Code who smartly won his debut at Gulfstream Jan. 25, got crowded a bit at the start to get shuffled back some, moved toward the inside while midpack, remained inside to the far turn when he made a mild move to be not far behind the leaders but then came up empty. Spa City, a regally bred son of juvenile champion and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and Grade 1-winning mare Sara Louise and a smart winner over maidens routing at Gulfstream Feb. 8, stalked just behind the leader, moved out for room on the far turn appearing poised to make a run but the run never came.

Oaklawn
Honeybee (race 9)
COMMENT: Shedaresthedevil was considered Brad Cox’s third top sophomore filly, though far behind champion British Idiom and the late Taraz. The $280,000 daughter of Daredevil showed she could do damage in the right spot as she noted her first stakes win. Coming off a decent second in an optional-claiming route here Feb. 15, her first start in four months, she stalked early as Ring Leader moved out to a clear early lead, bided her time there off a modest pace while saving ground, came out for room turning for home to start her rally, remained patient behind the leaders into the lane, angled back toward the inside to continue her run in midstrech and came through between horses (outside Ring Leader and inside Motu with Alta’s Award further out) late for the score. Since she obviously likes this place the Grade 3 Fantasy here April 10 figures next. Alta’s Award, a daughter of multiple Grade 1 route winner Tonalist and winner of her first two routes, both at Fair Grounds and stepping into stakes ranks for the first time, stalked in third from the start, moved closer to pacesetter Ring Leader into the far turn with Motu in between, seemed to be getting the better of those two inside the eighth pole only to have the winner surge past late to a few lanes to her inside. Motu, a sharp second to top-rated filly Finite in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Nov. 30 and then third in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Feb. 8, sat with Alta’s Award stalking the pace, moved up with that rival into the lane, had a narrow lead by the eighth pole but not only couldn’t quite stay with Alta’s Award to her outside had no answer for when the winner came on the scene to her immediate inside. Ring Leader, winner of her first three starts, though all were sprints including the Dixie Belle here Feb. 15, shot out to a clear early lead while routing for the first time, set a decent pace on her own, battled back gamely along the inside when hooked by Alta’s Award and Motu on the far turn, was still locked in a battle with those two into the stretch when the winner surged past to her immediate right before tiring late.

Santa Anita
San Carlos (race 4)

COMMENT: Flagstaff was a very game second in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes here Jan. 25, his first start in almost three months. With that under his belt and more ground here he got back to his winning ways, proving a handy winner. He broke well from his inside slot, got a dream trip sitting just behind St. Joe Bay who was pushed through solid splits by Law Abidin Citizen to his outside and McKale further out, came off the inside to move closer to those three, came with a nice run on his own outside those three foes on the far turn, got the better of them into the lane, opened up and while runner-up Roadster closed the gap in the final half-furlong the issue was never really in doubt. The Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai is possibly next, though they might instead opt to stay in the U.S. and eye the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland April 4. Roadster, back to sprinting after a dull seventh in the Grade 2 San Pasqual as the 9-5 favorite here Feb. 1, bided his time early, as is his want, remained well back to the far turn, didn’t appear to be going anywhere when pitched wide into the lane, found his best stride once straightened away and finished well while widest of all for second, though he was never a danger to the winner. The Triple Bend at this same 7-furlong trip could be in play, though trainer Bob Baffert mentioned a while back this $575,000 son of Quality Road could be a Grade 1 Met Mile type (at Belmont, June 6). Of course, he’ll have to run quite a bit faster as that will surely be a brutal spot. McKale gave Baffert a two-three finish as coming off a nice optional claiming win here Jan. 20, his first start in four months, he pressed the issue while widest of the three who were on the pace, moved up to challenge for the lead on the turn, was immediately joined by Flagstaff to his outside, proved no match for that foe, couldn’t rally with Roadster but kept on to get third. Law Abidin Citizen, making his first start since winning the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Aug. 11, pressed pacesetter St. Joe Bay while outside that rival, with McKale to his immediate right, moved up to challenge St. Joe Bay to his inside on the turn with McKale moving closer and Flagstaff wider out, was no match for the top two but kept on gamely to end up not far behind McKale to his inside.

Santa Anita
Frank Kilroe Mile (race 5)

COMMENT: River Boyne has always been solid but could be the 5-year-old has found another gear as he looked super winning the Grade 3 Thunder Road here Feb. 8 and then ran maybe the race of his career to notch his first Grade 1 here. From his inside post he broke well, sitting just behind pacesetter Kingly, who was dogged from the start by heavy favorite Got Stormy to his outside. River Boyne clung to the rail throughout, had to wait for room and steady some on the far turn when stuck on the rail behind Kingly, moved off the inside, gamely went after leader Got Stormy into the lane, moved back to the rail and finished determinedly for the score. Last year after running fourth in this race he went to Golden Gate to be a good second in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. This year’s renewal is April 25 so that may be on his radar again. Got Stormy, who nearly won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile over boys here Nov. 2 but was coming off a inexplicably dull fourth in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Feb. 8, looked more like her old self here, though she tasted defeat. She broke on top, soon allowed Kingly to her outside to take over pacesetting duties into the first run, moved off the inside to get on Kingly’s right hip, pressed the rival while in the clear, moved up easily to challenge turning for home, opened up some into the lane as if primed to go on to victory but just couldn’t quite fend off the winner, who charged up to her inside. While this was better she might still not be back to her best form as you’d expect her “A” game to take this. Next Shares, very much a Jekyll and Hyde, was the good version here as he bided his time well back early while saving ground, advanced down the backstretch to the far turn between horses, pitched out on the turn and wider out into the lane and finished resolutely to just miss. True Valour, a troubled third to River Boyne in the Thunder Road, sat midpack while saving ground, was stuck behind horses turning for home, came off the inside into the lane, found room and finished well between horses just inside Next Shares for fourth. Ohio, the defending champ and coming off a game stakes win at Turf Paradise Jan. 11, stalked between horses just outside River Boyne, was urged to get involved on the far turn, was in the thick of it turning for home but flattened out.

Santa Anita
San Felipe (race 8)

COMMENT: Authentic remained unbeaten and likely moved to the head of the Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby armada with an easy victory here. Easy winner of his first two starts including the Grade 3 Sham here Jan. 4, he broke a bit awkwardly but recovered quickly to take the early lead. He set a solid pace under some pressure from also-unbeaten stablemate Thousand Words who was behind him and juvenile male champ Storm the Court to his outside. He maintained the lead while just off the rail as he got the better of Storm the Court and Thousand Words, was soon confronted by Honor A. P. to his outside but had plenty left in the tank and was able to open up again and win comfortably. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby here April 4 figures next. As good as he looked it will be interesting to see how he responds to an early challenge as he basically had things all his way in the Sham and here. Honor A. P., highly regarded off a super maiden win here Oct. 13 but who had a slight setback and hadn’t been seen since, stalked a couple lengths off the lead while a few lanes off the rail, moved up easily on the far turn outside Storm the Court, went past that rival and took dead aim on Authentic into the lane, loomed a threat outside that rival once straightened away but then couldn’t keep pace. It was still a very smart first try off such a layoff and first try vs. winners. We could see a rematch of the top two in the Santa Anita Derby. Storm the Court, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile here Nov. 1 and champion juvenile male coming off a decent fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente at 7 furlongs here Feb. 9, showed some early eagerness as he broke well, pressed Authentic who was to his inside, continued to stalk that rival down the backstretch, was asked to go after that rival on the far turn, got a bit closer, couldn’t go with Authentic into the lane and couldn’t rally with Honor A. P. who went past him to his outside but stayed on gamely for third. This was a solid run and he could try the top two again in the Santa Anita Derby, though trainer Peter Eurton mentioned going out of town as a possibility for either the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct or Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland, both April 4. Thousand Words, who like stablemate Authentic came into this unbeaten including a win in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis here last time out Feb. 1, broke well just outside his stablemate, was content to pull back just a bit and follow that rival into the first run, seemed to be traveling very comfortably just behind Authentic while holding the fence but came under a ride turning for home and was unable to get involved. It’s far too early to give up on this $1 million son of Pioneerof the Nile, though you wonder if he now ranks if he ranks behind Authentic, Nadal and even Charlatan and Eight Rings on the Baffert pecking order. Baffert said either the Wood Memorial Blue Grass at Keeneland was possible but he wanted to wait a bit and see how the horse was doing.

Santa Anita
Santa Anita Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed dramatically when Gift Box, the defending champ and 6-5 morning-line favorite, scratched (injured ankle). But it’s a funny game. Gift Box is trained by John Sadler and was to be ridden by Joel Rosario so you would have thought their chances were ended, but Sadler had another runner, Combatant, moved Rosario to that guy and they still ended up posing for pictures as Combatant posted the mild upset. Combatant was purchased for $220,000 out of a horses-of-racing-age sale in November, and he came to Sadler’s care. He got blinkers for his first start for Sadler and ran on for third, albeit no threat to winner and today’s rival and favorite Midcourt in the Grade 2 San Pasqual here Feb. 1. But that race under his belt and another furlong helped him turn the tables as the son of Scat Daddy stalked early as longshot Brown Storm set a decent pace, crept closer on the far turn while wide, stayed wide into the as he launched a serious bid, grabbed the lead into the lane while widest of all and gamely fended off Multiplier, at 33-1 the highest-priced horse in the race who rallied up the rail, for the win. This gives this owner/trainer combination an historic third straight win in this race (Accelerate, Gift Box). The Grade 2 Californian here April 18 could be next as a bridge to what is surely his prime spring target, the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita here May 25. Multiplier returned to dirt after a respectable fifth in the Grade 2 San Marcos on turf here Feb. 1 and almost posed the big upset as he ran in close attendance to the eventual winner while on the rail, didn’t get going as strongly as that rival on the far turn but stayed on the fence and kept to his task gamely to come up just a neck short. Midcourt, the heavy 7-10 favorite after the scratch of Gift Box and coming off a big win in the San Pasqual, didn’t really do anything wrong as he sat second dogging pacesetter Brown Storm from the start, challenged that foe on the turn to his outside, was getting the better of Brown Court to his outside into the lane but couldn’t quite finish with the winner to his outside and the runner-up to his inside. It may be the tenth furlong got him. He’ll reportedly be freshened for the Gold Cup. Hofburg, once very highly regarded but coming off a dull seventh in the Grade 3 Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds Feb. 15, his first start in seven months, was dull again as the son of Tapit was at the back of the pack early and never made a move.

March 8

Santa Anita
Santa Ysabel (race 7)

COMMENT: Gingham, who might have been the second choice, scratched to instead go in the Sunland Park Oaks March 22 or the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks here April 4. On paper Donna Veloce dominated this, hence the reason she was the 1-5 favorite. Backers had to be a bit worried, though, when she stumbled at the start from her rail slot to be last, but she bided her time early, moved off the inside as she advanced to get a nice position stalking pacesetters Gidgetta (on the rail), Speech (to that rival’s outside) and Tiz Fake News (wider out) on the first turn and into the backstretch as those three set a modest pace, moved up easily outside leaders Gidgetta and Speech into the far turn inside a falling-away Tiz Fake News, challenged those two on the far turn outside those rivals while yet to be asked, took over into the lane and drew off to win easily while never being set down. This wasn’t the strongest renewal but still sets her up for a West Coast summit with unbeaten Venetian Harbor and possibly huge maiden winner Gamine in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks here April 4. Trainer Simon Callaghan said he might also nominate to the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland the same day but was pretty sure she would stay home. Speech, second to the promising Auberge in an optional claiming sprint here Feb. 1 and routing for the first time, was part of a triumvirate setting the pace, tried to battle back when hooked by Donna Veloce to her outside, proved no match but kept to her task while drifting out in the lane to be a clear second. Storie Blue, a game maiden winner routing here Jan. 5 but facing winners for the first time, lagged back while well off the rail, continued wide on the far turn and into the lane, kept to her task to get up for third but was never a danger to the top two.