Trip Notes for March 7-8: Gotham, Swale, Tampa Bay Derby, Santa Anita Handicap, and more...

Saturday, March 7

Aqueduct - Tom Fool (race 4)

COMMENT: Sure, Salutos Amigos basically has had the same victims in three straight wins, but the manner in which he did this said he may not take a backseat to any sprinter in the country right now. Despite missing time with a foot issue and carrying high weight of 125 pounds he dominated this. He broke very alertly but was content to be take back to third as Green Gratto and Dads Caps dueled early. He launched his bid into the lane, surged to the lead inside the eighth pole and drew off to win with ease. Dads Cap dueled early with Green Gratto, got the better of that rival turning for home, and stayed on well to be a clear second in another good try. Green Gratto volleyed up front early with Dads Cap, but couldn’t keep pace in the lane. Maleeh stalked the pace while wide but never mustered a run.

Aqueduct - Gotham (race 9)

COMMENT: El Kabeir continued his good form and stamped his ticket for the Grade 1 Wood on the big track here April 4 with a game win in which he showed a new dimension. Usually one to be right on the pace, this time the son of Scat Daddy bided his time early behind a number of horses while saving ground. He had to wait for room while inside, found room in the lane to move off the rail to launch his run, took command and drew clear. This new dimension helps instill confidence he may indeed be a Derby horse. Tiz Shea D, coming off a big debut win at Parx Feb. 7, stalked the pace while saving ground, was no match for the winner but stayed on well for second. This was not only his first start vs. winners but his first route. Classy Class sat back after bobbling at the start, started a run into the lane, had to steady when in traffic, got going again to get third, but was never really a threat. Off this and his third in the Grade 3 Withers the idea of roses may be shooting a bit too high. Toasting Master dueled early with Blame Jim, got the better of that rival into the lane, only to then be immediately tackled by El Kabeir, and weakened a bit in the lane.

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Gulfstream - Swale (race 6)

COMMENT: Ready for Rye, coming off a second in the Spectacular bid here Jan. 3, vaulted forward to win in impressive fashion. He dogged early pacesetter X Y Jet from the start, took command down the backstretch and put the race away with a strong run into the lane to open up a significant advantage. Could be this is a Grade 2 Woody Stephens/Grade 1 King’s Bishop horse in the making. Daredevil, making his first start since finishing 11th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, stalked the pace in fourth, kept to his task decently and while never really a threat to the winner finished 10 lengths clear of third. This wasn’t a bad run at all first time back, though the jury is still out as to how far he wants to go. Senor Grits sat back just behind Daredevil, couldn’t keep pace with that rival, but plugged along to get third.

Gulfstream - Palm Beach (race 9)

COMMENT: Eh Cumpari, a close fifth in the Kitten’s Joy here Jan. 24, appreciated the added ground here as he posted the mild upset. He sat in last to the far turn, swung very wide into the lane and came home smartly to get up in the final strides. Felifran likewise sat well back, not far in front of the eventual winner, launched his run into the lane, had to steady in traffic but got going again to finish a game second. Divisidero was back between the top two early, swung wide on the turn as he got into contention, had to steady in midstretch but got going again to get third. Surely the trouble in the lane kept him from doing even better. Night Prowler, the favorite after winning the Grade 3 Dania Beach here Jan. 3, sat midpack from the start, had traffic issues in the lane, finally got clear and finished well but it was far too late.

Gulfstream - Gulfstream Park Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Honor Code, coming off a layoff, blasted home for the impressive score. He lagged well back early as Private Zone was quickest. Valid moved up to challenge Private Zone going to the far turn as Honor Code commenced his run. Honor Code swung out into the lane, powering home to win in the final strides. Private Zone ran splendidly again. In his first start since an easy win in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile he showed his customary speed to be on the lead, took heat from Valid though the splits weren’t terribly quick, continued to rebuff that rival but was just unable to fend off Honor Code. He could still be a force in races like the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct next month and the Grade 1 Mile on the Belmont Stakes undercard the first Saturday in June. Valid dogged Private Zone from the start, moved closer going to the far turn to challenge but could never get past that rival and weakened just a smidge in the lane. Wicked Strong, making his first start since losing his rider in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, got a dream trip stalking in third, looked mildly threatening on the far turn but was unable to muster the type of run needed to get involved. All things considered this wasn’t a bad run at all as he was beaten just over a length in a race that surely was too short for him.

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Tampa Bay - Florida Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: Quality Rocks couldn’t quite handle Consumer Credit when they met in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Jan. 24, but her speed helped her gain her revenge here. She sat third early while saving ground as Lismore set a modest pace, came through between horses into the lane, and stayed on resolutely to keep Consumer Credit at bay. Consumer Credit sat midpack while staying wide and in the clear, commenced her run on the far turn and finished well but just couldn’t get to the winner. Lismore set the pace, battled back gamely when hooked first by the winner and then by the runner-up, but couldn’t keep pace late with those two. Tiger Ride sat back and put in a decent rally but was never really a threat.

Tampa Bay - Hillsborough (race 10)

COMMENT: Stephanie’s Kitten has always been top-class and she showed it again here. She bided her time while saving ground, moved off the rail to go around a rival on the far turn, moved back to the inside, surged to the lead and drew off to win well. Her stablemate Ball Dancing stalked the pace in third, loomed a big threat into the lane, and stayed on nicely for second. Speed Seeker stalked pacesetter St. Borealis, took command from that tiring rival into the lane but was no match for the top two. Filimbi was one-paced throughout. Sparkling Review, previously unbeaten in four turf starts, lagged back early but never made a move. Could be she needed this as it was her first start in almost four months but certainly more was expected.

Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: Carpe Diem, making his first start since running second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, stamped himself among the potential Derby favorites with a romping victory. He stalked the pace of Divining Rod, steadily advanced while staying wide and in the clear, grabbed the lead into the lane and drew off to win for fun. The Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland April 4 is reportedly his next target. He figures quite tough there; he was smashing winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity there last fall. Ami’s Flatter lagged back and came with a nice run to be a clear second, though he was no threat to the winner. The Blue Grass may be on his radar as well. Divining Rod, who’s been battling foot issues, set the pace under pressure from My Johnny Be Good, got rid of that rival turning for home, but was no match for the top two. Danzig Moon, coming off a maiden win at Gulfstream Feb. 7, lagged back and made some headway. Could be this was biting off a tad too much too soon. Ocean Night, the highly regarded second choice, was quite disappointing, particularly since he ran so well on this track winning last month’s Sam Davis. He got bumped a bit at the start to be toward the back early and never made a move.

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Oaklawn - Honeybee (race 8)

COMMENT: With 2-year-old filly champ Take Charge Brandi skipping the race and the unbeaten Promise Me Silver scratched, Sarah Sis took full advantage. She’d run second, beaten a neck by Promise Me Silver in the Dixie Belle here Jan. 15 and second beaten a neck by Take Charge Brandi in the Martha Washington here Jan. 31. Here she sat second as Super Saks bounded off to a long early lead. She steadily moved closer as that gal weakened, took command on the turn, opened up a decisive lead and really wasn’t threatened thereafter. The Grade 2 Fantasy here April 4 is on her radar. Oceanwave, an optional-claiming sprint winner her Jan. 22, ran well in her first route as she sat midpack after being squeezed back at the start, commenced her run turning for home, had to wait while in traffic but got clear and finished well. Pangburn sat back early, came with a steady run but wasn’t a threat to win at any point. Super Saks opened up a long early lead but gave way readily once headed.

Santa Anita - San Felipe (race 7)

COMMENT: Dortmund confirmed his status as the early Kentucky Derby favorite with a deceptively easy victory here to stay unbeaten in five starts. He broke alertly to go right to the lead, was able to set modest splits while under pressure from Sir Samson, got a more serious challenge from Bolo on the far turn, rebuffed that rival, opened up and won comfortably. He did shift out some in deep stretch but it didn’t affect the finish. Prospect Park sat midpack, staying most wide and in the clear, had traffic issues when moving through between horses into the lane, and came with a nice run to get second. He was never a danger to the winner but you get the impression he’s headed the right way and will love the added ground. Bolo ran splendidly in his first dirt try and first action of the year. He stalked the pace, stayed wide and in the clear, loomed a big threat into the lane but couldn’t sustain his run. He did have to steady a bit and drop to the inside when Dortmund shifted out in deep stretch but it didn’t affect the finish. Maybe Dortmund is too good for him, but that guy had the pace and seasoning edge, whereas Bolo’s slight tiring in the lane may have been a sign he needed the race. Regardless, the dirt experiment worked. The top three may knock heads again in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 4. Lord Nelson stalked the pace while saving ground, loomed a threat sitting just behind the eventual winner turning for home, but didn’t have the needed oomph in the lane. He’s now 3 for 3 sprinting, 0 for 3 routing, so could be he’s simply better at a shorter trip. Ocho Ocho Ocho, previously undefeated in three starts and making his first start of the year, got jostled considerably on the first turn, moved to the rail, advanced some going to the far turn but then came up empty. He came back with a number of cuts from the early trouble.

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Santa Anita - San Carlos (race 9)

COMMENT: Race complexion changed when morning-line favorite Chitu scratched. Wild Dude, a close fourth in this last year and third to Conquest Two Step in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes here Jan. 31, got back to top form as the game of musical chairs continued in the West Coast sprint division. He showed more speed this time to dog pacesetter El Nino Terrible from the start, took the lead into the lane and persevered to get to the line before hard-charging Kobe’s Back. So who’s best out West: Wild Dude, Conquest Two Step, Secret Circle, Big Macher, Chitu? Right now they’re taking turns. Kobe’s Back, making his first start in over seven months, was devoid of speed, as usual, swung out into the lane and powered home. Conquest Two Step, the 4-5 favorite off a superb second to Shared Belief in the Grade 1 Malibu and then an impressive win in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes, showed a bit more speed this time as he pressed the pace while wide, tried to go with the winner in the lane but couldn’t keep pace and weakened a bit late.

Santa Anita - Frank Kilroe Mile (race 10)

COMMENT: Ring Weekend was scratched from a Grade 3 at Gulfstream last week when he got a terrible draw and his connections opted to ship across the country for this seemingly much tougher spot. They knew what they were doing as the son of Tapit got his first Grade 1 win and also got rider Drayden Van Dyke his first Grade 1 win. He broke poorly and ended up sitting well back as Holy Lute and Dimension set a brisk pace. Ring Weekend swung very wide into the lane and blasted home to win going away. Summer Front, fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile here Nov. 1, sat midpack, came with a strong run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch looking like the winner, but then had no answer for the winner’s charge. Home Run Kitten sat well back and finished nicely but was never a threat to the top two. Za Approval likewise bided his time, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. Winning Prize, the defending champ, stalked the pace while saving ground, came through smartly along the inside turning for home and flattened out. It was his first start since last August so he might have needed the race.

Santa Anita - Santa Anita Handicap (race 11)

COMMENT: It may not have been the strongest Big Cap field as most of the game’s elite (California Chrome, Bayern, Constitution, Lea, Tonalist, Wicked Strong, Honor Code, Palace Malice) were not here, but that does not take away from the dominance shown by the country’s best horse, Shared Belief. Winning now for the 10th time in 11 starts (the lone loss his much-troubled fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic here last fall), he had no trouble proving best here. He sat midpack early while staying wide and in the clear, moved closer going to the far turn, had little trouble wresting command from pacesetter Moreno and drew off to win with ease. Moreno, making his first start since being hindered severely at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 1, got a clean break here, went right to the lead, took pressure from Sr. Quisqueyana through strong splits, dispatched with that foe but was immediately taken on by Shared Belief. He was no match for that beast but stayed on gamely to hold second. Catch a Flight stalked the pace, cut the corner turning for home, finished well but couldn’t edge past Moreno for the place. Bronzo lagged back and could make only modest headway.

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Sunday, March 8

Santa Anita - Las Flores (race 8)

COMMENT: The top male sprinters out West have been taking turns and it appears that’s the case with the female sprinters out West as well as this time it was Harlington’s Rose who proved best. Winner of the Kalookan Queen here Dec. 28, she was then third in the Grade 2 Santa Monica here Jan. 19 and third in a nice optional claimer here Feb. 12. Moved back up in class she picked the right day to do her best work. She bided her time while saving ground, steadily advanced going to the far turn, looked in trouble when she got shuffled back some on the turn, but came out into the lane and put in a solid rally to prevail. Meinertzhageni looked super blasting $40,000 optional claimers here Feb. 21, and she ran quite well here. She stalked the pace, moved up to grab the lead in midstretch and stayed on well for second. Global Hottie, the favorite off a big optional-claiming win here Jan. 18, had a tough trip. She pressed the pace as well, was eased back going to the far turn, had to steady when in a bit tight, moved off the rail, started to advance again when moving back to the rail only to have more traffic issues. She finished third in a nice effort. Tribal Gal bounced out of the gate right to the lead, battled back when hooked into the lane but weakened in the final furlong.