Trip Notes for March 8-9: Santa Anita Handicap, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Honybee, San Felipe, Las Flores and more...

Saturday, March 8

Gulfstream - Gulfstream Park Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Palace Malice, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Belmont and making his first start since running sixth in the Grade 1 BC Classic, came back firing and showed guts as he had to re-rally to get the win. He stalked the pace, moved to the lead turning for home as if he might take over, was then headed by Uncaptured into the lane, but responded gamely to re-rally past that foe while outfinishing a game Golden Ticket. Trainer Todd Pletcher said a number of options are on the table, including the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds, the Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park, and the Met Mile at Belmont. Golden Ticket, making his first start since running eighth in the Grade 1 Clark, lagged back early but came with a smart run through the lane but just couldn’t quite get to the winner. Uncaptured stalked the pace, moved past Palace Malice into the lane as though he might go on to victory, but couldn’t sustain his run as the top two edged past in the final half-furlong. Falling Sky was a huge disappointment. Coming off a romping win in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint, he dueled early but gave way readily before even hitting the stretch, as if something may have gone awry.

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Tampa Bay - Hillsborough (race 9)

COMMENT: Cloud Scapes has really come into her own as the 5-year-old mare made it 3 for 3 on this course, this win being her second straight Grade 3 tally. She went right to the lead out of the gate but relinquished pacesetting duties to rank longshot Donna’s Fly Girl. She dogged that girl, though the splits were slow, seemed in trouble when Waterway Run surged past her and the tiring Donna’s Fly Girl to get the lead in midstretch, and came home fast to just edge Waterway Run (final furlong in a hot 11.63 seconds). Now the question is whether she can be as effective somewhere other than Tampa Bay. Waterway Run was just behind Cloud Scapes from the start, surged past that rival and tiring pacesetter Donna’s Fly Girl to grab the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t quite outduel the winner. Still a very nice try. Riposte, the favorite off a Grade 3 second at Gulfstream on Feb. 8, sat back, came with a threatening run into the lane, but didn’t quite sustain it through the final furlong. In her defense, the gals she was chasing had gone slow early and still had plenty of run in them so the race shape worked completely against her. Gulsary seemed in a good spot stalking the pace but never mustered a run.

Tampa Bay - Florida Oaks (race 10)

COMMENT: Testa Rossi, making her first start since a nice second in the Grade 1 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, showed she has no ill effects from the layoff and that she does indeed seem the real deal. She showed more speed than in her last couple starts where she came from far back. This time she sat midpack early, bided her time, came out into the lane, and powered past her rivals to win going away. The Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland could be next, though trainer Chad Brown said if she didn’t care for the synthetic surface there he would look for another turf race instead. Istanford, back to turf (was 2 for 2 on turf before this) after giving way badly to be a well-beaten fifth (last) in the Silverbulletday on dirt here Jan. 18, went right to the lead, was no match for the winner when that gal made her move in the lane, but kept to her task nicely to be well clear of the others. Apparently grass is what she wants. Interrupted, Babe’s Ruler, Runway Giant, and Annulment, all longshots, all sat back and finished decently. Miss Besilu seemed in a good spot stalking the pace but gave way readily in the lane.

Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: Ring Weekend, who had only a maiden win last time out at Gulfstream of which to boast, took a big step forward and may have vaulted himself into the Derby picture as the son of Tapit was an impressive winner. From his rail slot he broke alertly to grab the lead. He took some early pressure from Surfing U S A but by the time they headed into the backstretch he’d opened up a clear lead. He never really had an anxious moment after that as he stayed well in front of his rivals throughout. He looks like a new horse since being gelded. The Calder Derby or Blue Grass are reportedly on his radar for his next go-round. Vinceremos, game winner of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis here last month, stalked the pace while inside and finished decently though he was never really a threat to the winner. Surfing U S A was closest to the winner early, gamely chased after him, but then couldn’t keep pace. Conquest Titan, the favorite, sat back early, saved ground, made what appeared to be the start of a threatening move on the far turn, but didn’t sustain. Could be he needed the race as he hadn’t run since finishing second in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Jan. 25, a race that reportedly took quite a bit out of him, hence he missed last month’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. He can do better next time – though he’ll need to do MUCH better if he’s to be considered legitimate Derby timber.

Oaklawn - Honeybee (race 6)

COMMENT: Euphrosyne, coming off a second in her first stakes try in the Martha Washington here Feb. 1, notched her first stakes win with a little help from the stewards. The filly stalked in third behind pacesetting favorite Taris and pace-presser Sugar Shock, moved out into the lane to commence her run, but was impeded when Sugar Shock shied away from something, moving into Euphrosyne’s path. Sugar Shock was then straightened out and went on gamely from there to just get to the line before Euphrosyne but was disqualified for the incident in midstretch. They could renew their rivalry in the Grade 1 Fantasy here April 5 and should all go well there, a shot at the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill on May 2 looms. Please Explain sat well back early, remained there to the top of the lane, but finished nicely between runners. Taris, the favorite, set the pace under pressure from Sugar Shock, then gave way readily once headed in midstretch.

Santa Anita - San Felipe (race 5)

COMMENT: Race complexion and Derby scenario changed when likely heavy fave Bayern was forced to miss this (bruised foot). Even without that brilliant runner, we saw quite a show as Cal-bred California Chrome made it three straight dominant wins, stamping himself the real deal. He romped by 6 1/4 lengths in a Cal-bred sprint at Hollywood on Dec. 22, romped by 5 1/2 lengths in the Cal Cup Derby at this trip here Jan. 25, and did it again here versus open, Grade 2 foes. He grabbed the early lead but was immediately taken on by Midnight Hawk. He took pressure from that rival to the top of the lane while setting brisk splits, and then shot clear and drew off to win easily, and in fact won geared down. The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9 could be next and he may well go favored there now, even if Candy Boy shows up there. But trainer Art Sherman said he’d “let the horse tell him” when and where to go and it could mean waiting for the big race, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 3. Midnight Hawk pressured the winner from the start but just couldn’t keep up while much the best of the others, though this was basically a one-horse race. Kristo lagged back, came with what appeared to be his main run on the far turn, but didn’t sustain it and was really no factor. Could it be he’s better suited as a miler at this stage of the game? Schoolofhardrocks, making his first start since winning his debut at Del Mar last Aug. 31, stalked the pace and continued on evenly in a race he surely needed.

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Santa Anita - San Carlos (race 7)

COMMENT: Reports on the demise of top sprinter Sahara Sky were surely exaggerated as the 6-year-old, winner of this race and the Grade 1 Met Mile last year but coming off a so-so fifth in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes, got back to that kind of form. The veteran lagged well back early, as is his custom, while saving ground. He started to advance going into the far turn, had to steady when in tight, but gathered himself, got going again, surged through between horses, and continued on resolutely to get up for the score. This puts him on track for a defense of his Grade 1 Met Mile crown at Belmon in a few months, though first will apparently be another shot at the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 9, a race in which he ran second last year. Big Macher dueled early with Cyclometer, got the better of that rival into the lane to take the lead by midstretch, but couldn’t counter the winner’s charge. Clubhouse Ride lagged back, came with a strong run into the lane, but couldn’t quite sustain it. Still, this was a nice move forward for the guy who was second to Game On Dude a few times last year. Wild Dude, winner of the Grade 2 Palos Verdes, dueled between horses and kept to his task nicely, but just wasn’t good enough. Shakin It Up, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu and Grade 2 Strub, sat midpack and never really mustered a run.

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Santa Anita - Kilroe Mile (race 8)

COMMENT: Winning Prize confirmed he’s the top dog among West Coast turf milers as he had no trouble beating a very strong field. Coming off a big win in the Grade 2 Arcadia here, the 5-year-old Winning Prize, who was a multiple Grade 1 winner in Argentina before coming to the U.S., actually was quickest here, despite the presence of the very fast Regally Ready. The horse broke sharply, went right to the lead, and seemed to be in little more than a strong gallop as he set a modest pace and gamely fending off Lochte all the way to the line. Looks like Neil Drysdale has a real, real nice one on his hands. The focus is getting him to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile here Nov. 1, and Drysdale mentioned keeping him ‘home’ would be important, meaning a race like the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile (formerly at Hollywood, now at Santa Anita) June 14 is a spring target. Lochte, 39-1 upset winner of the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, showed that win may not have been a fluke as he shipped West for this, shortened up, and ran splendidly. The $475K son of Medaglia d’Oro stalked the pace, moved up to challenge Winning Prize turning for home, doggedly kept at that rival while on the inside all the way to the line, but never could quite get on terms with Winning Prize. Suggestive Boy, the defending race winner who missed much of last year after that due to injury, looked back on track as he lagged back, swung wide into the lane, and finished well. Za Approval, second in three Grade 1’s at a mile on turf last year but making his first start since second in the Grade 1 BC Mile here Nov. 2, sat back, made a nice run into the lane, but couldn’t quite sustain it. Silentio,third in the Grade 1 BC Mile and winner of the Grade 2 Citation at Hollywood in the fall (beat Winning Prize back into third), sat in midpack early, continued to push closer, but couldn’t get close enough to be a real danger.

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Santa Anita - Santa Anita Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Game On Dude capped a day of retribution. While many thought Sahara Sky might not be the same (came back to win the Grade 2 San Carlos), they were lining up to toss the proverbial dirt on this guy’s grave after three straight losses. All he did was come up with a dazzling performance to run them off their feet and become the first EVER three-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap. He dueled early with Hear the Ghost but had a clear lead by the clubhouse turn. He maintained a clear lead through fast splits and kept on gamely, keeping Will Take Charge at bay throughout. Bob Baffert wasn’t sure what would be next but it could be the Grade 3 Charles Town Classic on April 19 or two races now at Santa Anita – the Grade 2 Californian on May 31 and Grade 1 Gold Cup on June 28. Now, if he can just come up with this type of effort in the BC Classic. Will Take Charge, second in the Grade 1 BC Classic, and second in the Grade 1 Donn, made it another second in another high-profile race as he sat midpack in fourth early, steadily advanced to the far turn to be within 1 1/2 lengths of Game On Dude, but despite keeping on smartly could not close the gap on that rival while clearly the best of the rest, however (eight lengths clear of third). Blingo lagged back and kept on with a steady run to get third, though he wasn’t a threat to the top two at any point in the lane. Mucho Macho Man, so game winning the Grade 1 BC Classic here Nov. 2 and coming into this off a romping win in Gulfstream’s Sunshine Millions Classic, didn’t show the same spark. He was just behind Game On Dude from the start but when asked for run going to the far turn and when Will Take Charge came up alongside just didn’t punch it in like we’re used to seeing.

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Sunday, March 9

Santa Anita - Las Flores (race 7)

COMMENT: On paper Judy the Beauty dominated this, having last been seen running a superb second to two-time champion Groupie Doll in the Grade 1 BC Filly & Mare Sprint here Nov. 2. And that’s the way it worked out on the track as the daughter of Ghostzapper had no trouble with her rivals as the heavy 1-2 favorite. She dogged pacesetter Munnings Sister through brisk splits, took over from that rival turning for home, drew off, and won clear while well in hand in a super effort. This sets her up for a swing at the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland April 12. She’s 2 for 2 there, too, including winning the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America last Oct. 5. Heir Kitty broke poorly, so she couldn’t use her speed. Instead she bided her time, steadily advanced, and kept to her task well to just get up for second, though she was never a danger to the winner. It’s possible that off this she follows Judy the Beauty to Kentucky to take another swing at her in the Madison. Munnings Sister set the pace under pressure, was no match for the winner turning for home, but stayed on decently and only lost second in the final jump.

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