The late-developing MORNING LINE (Tiznow) ended his sophomore campaign on a
high note with a gutsy score in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and a narrow defeat
in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and the Nick Zito trainee will attempt to keep
his good form going in the early days of 2011 when he heads a field of seven in
Saturday’s $100,000
Hal’s
Hope S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
The Hal’s Hope, a one-turn mile, is the leading prep for the February 5 Donn
H. (G1) at 1 1/8 miles. Both races were swept last season by Quality Road.
Morning Line, who has run first or second in six attempts since a
fourth-place effort in his career debut, will bring a lot of speed to the Hal’s
Hope. In that respect, he will be joined by two other newly-turned
four-year-olds who brought attention to themselves at various times during the
season just past.
RULE (Roman Ruler) was among a deep bench of three-year-olds owned by WinStar
Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher at this time a year ago. While the stable
ultimately celebrated a victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Super Saver,
Rule’s campaign was cut short early after winning the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) by
three lengths and running third in the Florida Derby (G1). Rule will make his
return from a layoff of more than nine months without regular pilot John
Velazquez, who will instead be on Morning Line.
TACKLEBERRY (Montbrook) began to make noise after most of the season’s major
racing was completed last fall. While he did not defeat the deepest fields in
either the Jack Dudley Sprint H. or Fred W. Hooper H. (G3), the Luis
Olivares-owned/trained gelding enters on the rise with a record of consistency
comparable with Morning Line and Rule.
The multiple Grade 3-placed stakes winner SOARING EMPIRE (Empire Maker) would
be one of the likely beneficiaries of a hot pace. Trained by Cam Gambolati, of
Spend a Buck fame, the four-year-old won the Rutgers S. two back then finished
sixth in a tough renewal of the Cigar Mile H. (G1).
The most accomplished of the older runners is DREAM MAESTRO (Concerto), who
has won three times and placed second or third 24 times in his 39-race career.
The gelding appeared to be on his way to winning his first graded stakes in the
December 11 Hooper at Calder, but unfortunately reverted to his old tendencies
and allowed Tackleberry to re-rally along the inside for the narrow victory.
The Hal’s Hope will share the spotlight Saturday with the $100,000
Spectacular Bid S., a six-furlong dash for three-year-olds. Only two of the
nine entrants are multiple winners, and both figure to be higher prices than
several last-out maiden winners.
Among these recent graduates are the Rick Violette-trained LEAVE OF ABSENCE
(Harlan’s Holiday), the Wesley Ward-conditioned GANGSTERONTHERUN (City Zip) and
the Stanley Gold pupil GRANDE SHORES (Black Mambo). The latter needed six starts
to earn his Calder diploma, but came close to winning the Dr. Fager division of
the Florida Stallion S. in his penultimate start.
The stakes-placed DETERMINATO (Closing Argument) exits a dull performance in
the Jack Price Juvenile and is capable of rebounding, as is CANE GARDEN BAY
(Rockport Harbor), a Keeneland maiden winner who exits a fifth in the Kentucky
Jockey Club S. (G2).WINCHILL (Tapit), WAR FOR GUS (War Front) and DUAL EXHAUZT (Alke)
are others to consider in a wide-open race.