Trip Notes for Nov. 22: Tropical Turf, Delta Downs Jackpot and more...

Saturday, Nov. 22

Gulfstream Park West - Tropical Turf Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: Lubash, known primarily for so much good work versus NY-breds in New York, showed he could take his show on the road as the veteran became a millionaire with a game tally. He sat fourth as Reporting Star went out to a long early lead. That advantage quickly diminished as the field moved closer to Reporting Star, and Lubash remained in stalking mode, angled out into the lane, and came home resolutely to get the win. Trainer Christophe Clement said plans were for the veteran 7-year-old to run again in 2015. For now, Clement said he’ll get a break and return in New York in the spring. Reporting Star zoomed out to a big early lead, but it was short-lived. He held a narrow advantage from there, however, gamely rebuffed his rivals, and only succumbed to the winner late in the game in a fine try. Grand Tito was in closest pursuit of Reporting Star, continued to dog that foe throughout, but was never quite able to get past and also had no answer to the winner’s charge. Lochte, a Grade 1 winner on this course last winter, sat near the winner from the start, but couldn’t accelerate with that foe when it mattered.

Gulfstream Park West - My Charmer Handicap (race 9)

COMMENT: Daring Kathy utilized her speed and love for this course to defeat elders for the first time and win for the fifth time in her last seven starts. The 3-year-old filly went right out to the lead, took some pressure early first from Angelica Zapata, and then from Lilbourne Eliza to the top of the lane when she shot out to a clear lead by midstretch, and while her advantage narrowed had no trouble keeping the hard-charging Cushion at bay in the final half-furlong. She’s now a perfect 4 for 4 on this course. Cushion, coming off a decent fourth in Belmont’s Grade 3 Athenia last month, was away slowly to be last early, remained there to the far turn, found room between horses, and came with a strong run to just get up for second, though she never really appeared a danger to the winner. Lilbourne Eliza, winner of the Wasted Tears here Sept 27, stalked the early pace, moved closer to the winner going down the backstretch, still pressed that gal turning for home, but couldn’t keep up in the lane. Magic of Reality sat back early, moved closer going down the backstretch to be in a good stalking position in third, made a mild move into the lane, but couldn’t sustain it. Angelica Zapata, favored off a close second to Lilbourne Eliza as the favorite in the Wasted Tears, pressed the early pace, took back to sit midpack going into the backstretch, but was fairly one-paced thereafter and unable to muster a threatening run.

Churchill Downs - Cardinal (race 9)

COMMENT: Strike Charmer was no match for I’m Already Sexy when second to that gal in the mile grass stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 13, but a freshening since and longer trip today helped her turn the tables and post the upset. She stalked in fourth as I’m Already Sexy, the favorite, bounced out to a big early lead. She followed Pappascat as those two closed the gap on I’m Already Sexy and put in a strong run through the lane to easily go past a tiring I’m Already Sexy and pull away from Pappascat. She’ll reportedly get a freshening and eye a return at Fair Grounds this winter. Pappascat was in closest pursuit of I’m Already Sexy, moved closer turning for home, came with her challenge into the lane, but was unable to finish with the winner while a clear second. Antonia Autumn lagged well back, swung wide into the lane, and finished smartly, though she was never really a threat. I’m Already Sexy, favored off that big win at Kentucky Downs and then a nice fourth (DQ’d to fifth) in the Grade 2 Goldikova at Santa Anita, bounced right out to a clear lead, as expected, held a sizeable advantage going into the backstretch, had that gap narrowed considerably by the far turn, tried to battle back into the lane but had already spent her fuel, couldn’t stay with the top two, and had no answer for the rally of Antonia Autumn.

Delta - Delta Downs Princess (race 6)

COMMENT: It wasn’t the strongest field she defeated but this win, on the heels of her big Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies win, may have given Take Charge Brandi a leg up for year-end division honors. As in her Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies win, she used her speed, but she also showed she is not a need-the-lead type. She stalked in second as Vivian Da Bling proved quicker and set the early pace, took over from that rival going into the far turn, and stayed on gamely, keeping her rivals at bay. Again, she may have swayed some voters with this second graded stakes win of the month, though there likely remains plenty of support for turf star Lady Eli. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas did say a shot at the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos in a few weeks is not out of the question, too. Skipalute, a maiden who last ran second in the Grade 2 Matron at Belmont Oct. 5, stalked the pace, came with a steady run through the lane, and while a threat to the winner just couldn’t get to her. Majestic Presence, ninth behind Take Charge Brandi in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, sat midpack early after being quite wide on the first turn from her far outside post and kept to her task decently, though she was no real danger to the winner. Danessa Deluxe, routing winner of an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park West Oct. 29 to earn her shot at this, was well back early and finished well, but had left herself with far too much to do. Vivian Da Bling, romping eight-length winner of the traditional local prep for this, the My Trusty Cat here Oct. 24, bounced out to the early lead, took some pressure from the winner, and faltered once that foe moved past on the far turn.

Delta - Delta Downs Jackpot (race 7)

COMMENT: Ocho Ocho Ocho was biting off a lot here – it was his first time shipping, first time racing somewhere other than Santa Anita, first time routing, and first time facing graded stakes competition. And yes, he was still favored as his first two impressive sprint wins at Santa Anita showed he’s got quality. He displayed it again here with a gritty win under a fine ride by Mike Smith. He did also have to survive an inquiry and claim of foul from third finisher Far Right. From his outside post, he showed enough speed to get a stalking trip and was able to get over to the rail by the first turn. He moved closer going down the backstretch, came with his challenge on the far turn, was quickly engaged by Mr. Z and gamely outfought that foe to the line. Trainer Jim Cassidy said he’s probably done for the year, with an early 2015 target being the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita Feb. 7 as a steppingstone to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 4. Mr. Z, fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was just in front of the winner from the start while also saving ground, moved up to join the vanguard on the far turn, battled with the eventual winner, and just missed in a fine try. He may target the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 20. Far Right had to steady going into the first turn, ending up well back. He started a run on the far turn and into the lane, had to check and steady again, losing his momentum, recovered and got going again, but it was too late. His rider claimed foul on the eventual winner for his trouble on the far turn, but it was not allowed. Wake Up Nick, winner of his first five before running second at Santa Anita Nov. 1, sat midpack but never made a move. It may be back to sprinting for this guy. Prime Engine, the top 2-year-old male at Emerald Downs off two powerful wins, dueled early with Conquest Tsunami, dispatched that foe going into the far turn, was still in the battle on the far turn but then gave way. Golden Actor, easy winner of the local prep for this, the Jean Lafitte, here Oct. 25, lagged back and never mustered a run.

Del Mar - Red Carpet Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Three Hearts flashed talent in 2013 when third in the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks but then came a year layoff and three so-so outings at Belmont and Saratoga (two). However, a freshening, the move to the West Coast, and removal of blinkers snapped her back to life as the filly posted the big upset. She sat fifth early as first Luscious Lonna and then Bee Brave set the pace, moved closer while saving ground to the far turn, took the lead between horses into the lane, and gamely persevered to fend off three threatening rivals. Her connections said they want to keep her racing long on grass, and with limited options for that versus distaffers, it may mean a venture or two against the boys. Lady of Gold, who ran second when Three Hearts was fourth at Saratoga Sept. 1 before finishing seventh in a grass Laurel grass stakes and second in a Grade 3 on Woodbine’s Polytrack, was just behind the eventual winner early, didn’t accelerate quite as quickly on the turn, but launched her bid into the lane and gave the Three Hearts fits but just couldn’t get to her. Lady Pimpernel lagged back, had to steady going into the far turn and again into the lane, but got going again late to finish well. Scooter Bird, coming off a smashing win at Santa Anita last month, broke slowly, sat well back early, and finished strongly but simply left herself with too much to do. Appealing Cat, the favorite, lagged back early while saving ground but continued to run into walls of traffic and was never able to let loose in a very unlucky run.