Trip Notes for March 9: Gotham, Tampa Bay Derby, and more

Weekend graded stakes trip notes for Saturday, March 9, 2019

Aqueduct

Tom Fool (race 8)

COMMENT: Do Share rallied for second to Skyler’s Scramjet in this race last year. After 8 1/2 months off and then chasing crack sprinter Uncontested twice at Laurel this winter, including a fourth in the Grade 3 Gen. George on Feb. 16, he returned here and got his revenge on ‘Scramjet, rallying for a dominant win. From post 2, he lagged back as Skyler’s Scramjet dueled with Syndergaard through fast splits, moved closer going to the far turn, came with a smart run into the lane to grab the lead and drew off to win in a romp. The Grade 1 Carter here April 6 could be next, though that will surely be a tougher spot. Life in Shambles, ninth in the Gen. George and fourth in this last year, rebounded as from his rail post he broke a bit awkwardly but recovered to race inside and just behind the eventual winner, didn’t move as early or as strongly as that rival, came off the rail into the lane and finished gamely for second, though he was never a danger to the winner. Bavaro, facing open foes after three straight big wins over N.Y.-breds, stalked in third, just off the dueling pacesetters, was getting the better of them into the lane, only to see Do Share surge past while staying on decently to only lose second in the final strides. Skyler’s Scramjet, the defending champ and coming off seconds here in the Gravesend on Dec. 23 (first start in six months) and the Grade 3 Toboggan on Jan. 19, broke sharply to go right to the lead while grabbing the rail, was immediately confronted by Syndergaard to his outside, set fast splits while dueling with that foe and paid the price in the lane as he tired to fourth. Syndergaard, moving into open company after back-to-back seconds in N.Y.-bred stakes here this winter, dueled from the start with Skyler’s Scramjet while to that foe’s outside, stayed engaged with that foe into the lane but had no answer when passed by a few others in the lane while racing in tandem with Skyler’s Scramjet. Fully Vested, stepping up after a dazzling first-level allowance win here Jan. 5 in which he earned a big 100 Beyer Speed Figure, broke open the gate prior to the start, came out and bumped Bon Raison at the start to be toward the back and never made a move.

Gotham (race 10)

COMMENT: There were questions to be answered in this edition: Is Instagrand really a beast? Does Haikal have what it takes at this longer trip to be a Kentucky Derby horse? Can Much Better make a splash while maybe only the sixth-best 3-year-old male in the Bob Baffert barn (Game Winner, Improbable, Mucho Gusto, Roadster, Dessman)? And can Mind Control continue to use his speed to full effect as the water gets deeper? Well, the most affirmative answer came regarding Haikal, as the son of top-class miler Daaher was impressive, blasting home in the final furlong to get the win. Coming off back-to-back neck victories here over maidens Dec. 15 and then in the Jimmy Winkfield Feb. 9, the colt lagged far back as a quartet of rivals volleyed up front through sizzling splits, was still well back when starting to advance inside turning for home, came off the inside into the lane to be widest of all and powered home to blow past the battling trio of leaders in the final strides. There’s every reason to believe the Grade 2 Wood Memorial here April 6 is next, though he almost surely won’t get the pace setup that he got here. Mind Control, a winner of three of his first five, including the Jerome at this same trip here Jan. 1, again ran well as the son of Stay Thirsty bided his time inside as Much Better shot out to a clear lead, setting sizzling splits, came through along the inside into the lane to contend with that rival to his outside and Instagrand wider out, was getting the better of those two inside the eighth pole while staying on the rail, only to have the winner blow past in the final strides widest of all. While he ran well, you wonder if more distance would be pushing it, at least at this level. Surely, chasing the sizzling pace (the half-mile split was faster than what graded stakes sprinters did earlier in the Tom Fool) didn’t help. He will still reportedly target the Wood as well. Instagrand was the big story as the $1.2 million son of Into Mischief, a winner by 10 and 10 1/4 lengths in his first two starts out West and making his first start since Aug. 11, broke alertly to go right to the lead, soon relinquished pacesetting duties to Much Better, continued to chase that rival’s fast splits, moved up to challenge at the top of the lane widest of the remaining three, continued on gamely with Much Better to his inside and Mind Control farther inside on the rail, only to have the winner blow past to his outside. He didn’t run badly at all considering the layoff and the pace, though Haikal blowing past him in the final half-furlong and his inability to catch Mind Control make you wonder about his distance prospects. He was to return to his SoCal base, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said the horse should certainly be considered for the Derby trail, though he wasn’t sure where his next stop would be. Much Better, a $600,000 son of Pioneerof the Nile who added blinkers and then whipped optional claimers in a sprint at Santa Anita last time out Feb. 9, showed good speed from the start, soon took a clear lead while setting sizzling splits, dispatched with Knicks Go going to the far turn, battled back gamely when confronted by Mind Control to his inside and Instagrand to his outside and fought gamely to the wire. Considering how fast he went from the start, his finish was quite credible. Knicks Go broke well, tried make a run at Much Better down the backstretch but couldn’t get to him and gave way. It’s starting to look as if his Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity win at Keeneland Oct. 2 and second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill on Nov. 2 were anomalies, as this marks his third straight outing where he was no factor in the lane.

Oaklawn

Honeybee (race 9)

COMMENT: Morning rain resulted in the main track being listed as “muddy/sealed,” but it was upgraded to “good” for race 4 and upgraded to “fast” for this race. Chocolate Kisses hinted at ability when fourth in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 5 but then lost her rider in the Rags to Riches at Churchill on Oct. 28. The $410,000 daughter of Candy Ride got some time off, came back with a smart turf win at Fair Grounds on Jan. 18 and now appears on the road to the Kentucky Oaks with a smart win here. She was slow into stride and far back early as even-money favorite Motion Emotion set a solid pace, started a wide run on the far turn, swung to the inside for clear sailing and came home with good energy to reel in Motion Emotion and edge past for the win. The Grade 3 Fantasy here April 12 could be next. Motion Emotion, stepping into the stakes ranks after romping wins in her first two starts here this winter, shot right out to a clear lead, maintained a clear advantage, setting a solid pace while saving ground, still had a clear lead by the eighth pole as if poised to go on to victory but had no answer for the winner’s charge. Bizwhacks, an invader from Southern California off a big maiden win at Santa Anita on Feb. 3, sat in midpack from the start while saving ground, angle out into the lane to make a run, finished decently but was never really a threat to the top two while finishing far clear of the others. Power Gal, the smart, rallying winner of the Martha Washington (her first route) here Feb. 2, was disappointing as the daughter of Empire Maker lagged back from the start while saving ground but never mustered a run.

Turfway Park

Jeff Ruby Steaks (race 11)

COMMENT: Somelikeithotbrown showed his quality when a sharp third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill on Nov. 2. In his first start this year, in the Battaglia here Feb. 16, he was racing on synthetic for the first time and flourished, posting an easy win. Well, it was déjà vu all over again as he again proved easily best as the 3-5 favorite. He broke well from his outside post and used his speed to get over, dueling early with Five Star General, soon took over the pacesetting duties from that rival, established a strong pace while maintaining a narrow lead, was asked for run into the lane, moved to the rail, opened up and was never really in danger in the stretch, winning geared down. While he looked good, he remains a question mark for the Triple Crown. After all, he’s never run on dry, fast dirt (ran seventh in his debut, a race washed off the turf and onto a sloppy main track at Saratoga last July 23). His sire did win the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness, all on dirt, and dam-sire Tapit is among the game’s elite dirt sires, so it’s far too soon to say he can’t handle dirt. He’ll get his chance next time, possibly in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 7. The other question is the quality of opposition as he beat, basically the same group here that he’d defeated in the Battaglia. The water gets much deeper after this. Dynamic Racer, second to Somelikeithotbrown in the Battaglia, filled that slot again as from his rail slot he stalked in third, bided his time there, came out a bit on the far turn, tried to go after the winner in the lane, proved no match but stayed on well for the place. Moonster, a nonthreatening eighth in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay on Feb. 9, was well back early, got shuffled farther back on the far turn but pitched very wide coming into the lane and finished well, though he was no real danger to the top two. Five Star General, the winner of a stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 22 before fading to sixth in the Davis, broke alertly to go right to the lead, was immediately joined by the eventual winner, stayed in close attendance to the far turn but then couldn’t keep pace. Skywire, a romping winner over optional claimers in a race washed off the turf and onto a sloppy main track at Gulfstream on Feb. 13, got bumped going into the first turn while in midpack, still seemed to be in position to make a run turning for home but came up empty.

Tampa Bay

Hillsborough (race 9)

COMMENT: The Chad Brown turf distaff machine continues to roll as Rymska proved best here. The 5-year-old mare is capable of big things when on her game and came into this off a second in the Grade 3 Suwannee River at this same distance at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 9. She stalked in third as Hawksmoor moved out to a clear early lead, remained in stalking mode while saving ground, started to advance on the far turn, came with her run in the lane, angled off the inside, hit top gear to roll past Hawksmoor and clear for the easy win. Brown already has the likes of champion Sistercharlie and top-class Rushing Fall pointing for Keeneland’s Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 13, so this girl could target something like the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby card May 4, though he may have Precieuse pointing for that as well. They could always await the Grade 3 Beaugay at Belmont on May 11. Regardless, his riches in the division continue, and he obviously has lots of options. Hawksmoor was a smashing winner of the Grade 3 Endeavour here Feb. 9 and did herself proud in her swan song here as the 6-year-old daughter of Azamour went right out to a clear lead, remained clear while setting a modest pace, still held a clear lead into the lane as if primed to go on to victory but then had no answer for the winner’s charge while staying on gamely to just hold second. She’s off to be a mommy and will reportedly be bred to grass champion and top turf sire Kitten’s Joy. Onthemoonagain, yet another talented turf distaffer from the Brown barn who was making her first start since a good second in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont on Oct. 7, lagged well back from the start, started to advance on the turn while wide, pitched wider still in the lane and finished smartly to just miss getting second. This was a solid comeback run, and she may prefer more ground, meaning something like the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay at 1 3/8 miles at Belmont on May 4 could be a target. Phantom Opening, stepping into stakes for the first time off a big optional-claiming win here Feb. 16, wasn’t disgraced at all as she chased the pacesetter from the start and kept to her task gamely all the way around and, while unable to finish with the top trio, stayed on gamely for fourth.

Florida Oaks (race 10)

COMMENT: Concrete Rose was dazzling in winning her first two starts but then had the misfortune of running into all-world Newspaperofrecord in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, fading to eighth after chasing that rival. She faced no such foe here as the daughter of Twirling Candy got back on track, winning for the third time in four starts. She showed the speed to stalk as Mega Fortune set a modest pace, remained in stalking mode to the top of the lane, came out for room, moved up smartly to engage the leader by midstretch and then gamely got to the line before a hard-charging Blowout. Trainer Rusty Arnold said they might pass on the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland as it might be coming back too quickly off what had to be a grueling race and instead target the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill on May 3 – though that race may also mark the reappearance of Newspaperofrecord. Blowout, from the ever-dangerous Chad Brown barn, rallied to win her debut here Jan. 23 and showed she’s the real deal as in just her second start and first vs. winners here, the daughter of Dansili sat in midpack from the start, remained there, just behind the eventual winner, to the far turn, didn’t accelerate as quickly or as strongly as that rival but found her best stride late to finish well, nearly catching the winner. Winter Sunset, a smart winner of her first two starts on turf at Fair Grounds, dogged the pacesetter from the start, moved up to challenge into the lane but then couldn’t quite finish with the top two. La Feve, another from the Brown barn who did well in France before coming to the U.S. and finishing third in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream on Feb. 3, stalked while saving ground, had to wait a bit for room into the lane when the field bunched up but found a seam between horses and finished well. Stellar Agent, third to Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 2 Ms. Grillo at Belmont on Sept. 30 and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, sat in midpack from the start while wide, remained wide to the far turn and into the lane and came up empty.

Tampa Bay Derby (race 11)

COMMENT: It had been reported that last fall, trainer Bill Mott felt Tacitus, a regally bred son of Tapit and champion distaffer Close Hatches, was his Derby horse, but the emergence of Hidden Scroll and Country House pushed Tacitus to the background. That isn’t the case now as the colt, making his first start since his maiden win at Aqueduct on Nov. 10, showed what the fuss was all about as he punched his ticket to bigger things with a smart, rallying win. He bided his time early in midpack, just a couple lanes off the rail, as Zenden set a very fast pace, remained there to the far turn, came with his run into the lane smartly between horses to grab the lead by the sixteenth pole and edge clear, setting a stakes record. The Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 6 may be his bridge to the Kentucky Derby, and he’s certainly bred to run on, though the Grade 2 Wood Memorial the same day at Aqueduct or Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 13 are options. Outshine, who added blinkers and was a smart optional-claiming winner at Gulfstream on Feb. 10, stalked in third, well behind pacesetter Zenden and pace presser Well Defined, moved closer into the lane, came with a wide run, only to have the winner drive through to his inside while keeping on well for second. The $625,000 son of Malibu Moon figures to target a Kentucky Derby prep, most likely the wood Memorial. Win Win Win, routing for the first time after setting a track mark when romping in the seven-furlong Pasco here Jan. 19, sat well back, just behind the eventual winner, was wide going to the far turn, wider still on the turn and into the lane and finished well, though it never really appeared he was going to get to the top two. This wasn’t a bad first route at all, and he’ll reportedly stay on the Derby trail, with the Wood or Blue Grass his primary options. Well Defined, the easy, front-running winner of the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis here Feb. 9, showed speed again but wasn’t as quick as Zenden, had to be content to chase that rival from the start while to his outside, continued to chase Zenden through fast splits, moved up ominously to challenge that rival turning for home as if ready to mount a bid but then fell away. Dream Maker, the smashing optional-claiming winner at Fair Grounds on Feb. 9 in his first start in four months, was the big disappointment, though it wasn’t all his fault as the son of Tapit got bumped hard at the start and had to steady, ending up last at the first margin call, tried to improve his position down the backstretch but had to steady again turning for home and was unable to get involved. He’ll reportedly go for the Blue Grass and get blinkers.