Trip Notes for May 17, 2020: Desert Stormer

May 17
Santa Anita
Desert Stormer (race 8)

COMMENT: Bellafina was sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the Carousel on April 28 at Oaklawn, her first start after back-to-back seconds in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Grade 1 La Brea, but after blowing the start she rushed into contention to be third by the far turn, only to die on her run, ending up a well-beaten fourth. She returned to her home turf here and got back on track, rallying smartly for the win. She broke a bit better this time, was able to establish position in third as Fighting Mad set a strong pace under pressure from Artistic Diva, bided her time there a couple lengths behind the dueling leaders, came with a smart wide run into the lane, challenged for the lead by midstretch, took command, edged clear, and had enough of a buffer to keep hard-trying Hang a Star at bay in the final sixteenth. The $800,000 daughter of Quality Road has won seven times, five of them here so you know this is her sandbox. There’s nothing left for her here this meet, though her connections have shown a willingness to ship, so even if something at Del Mar doesn’t work, a trip to New York or Kentucky could well be next. Hang a Star, who rallied strongly to easily win an optional claimer here March 15, was making her first stakes try, at 42-1 no less. She lagged well back off the strong pace, came with a nice run between horses on the far turn, was still a ways behind the eventual winner, but ran on well to close the gap while ending up well clear of the rest. Mother Mother, third behind Bellafina and who was second in the aforementioned La Brea and second to top-class Hard Not to Love in the Grade 2 Santa Monica here last time out Feb. 15, clipped heels soon after the start to get away poorly, bided her time while saving ground, came out into the lane as she started a run, and kept on decently for fourth, though she was never a danger to the top two. (She was moved up to third via disqualification of original third-place finisher Fighting Mad). Fighting Mad, making her first start since being a smashing eight-length winner of the Grade 3 Torrey Pines last Aug. 17 at Del Mar, broke sharply from her rail slot but came off the inside soon after the start, forcing Mother Mother to her outside to steady sharply. Fighting Mad set a strong pace under pressure from Artistic Diva to her outside, continued to duel with that foe, was getting the better of that gal into the lane when challenged by the eventual winner to her outside, was no match for that foe, but kept on decently inside to hold third (was disqualified to fourth for coming out so sharply after the start). First Star, fourth in the La Brea and back to sprinting after being a well-beaten second in an optional claimer route here Feb. 14, was a bit slow into stride, saved ground while remaining toward the back, but never mustered a run in a disappointing outing.