Top 3-year-olds Texas Glitter, Cat Thief and unbeaten Bet Me Best square off today at Gulfstream Park in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes, a major steppingstone on the road to the March 13 Florida Derby and, beyond that, the Triple Crown.
Texas Glitter, coming off frontrunning daylight victories in the Huntington at Aqueduct in November and the Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Jan. 3, faces a battle for the early lead but holds an edge in conditioning over his two main rivals.
Cat Thief, who comes from off the pace, hasn’t run since finishing third beaten a length in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 7. Bet Me Best, whose five victories all came wire-to-wire by wide margins while racing in Texas and Louisiana, last started Dec. 12.
Also on tap today, at Santa Anita unbeaten General Challenge, one of several Kentucky Derby candidates from the Bob Baffert barn, heads the field for the Santa Catalina.
1ST RACE – Ariel Smith sent odds-on Silver Kipper to lead between horses down the backstretch, dueled The Mighty One into defeat on the turn, then held off late charge of Valid Victor, who rallied wide.
2ND RACE – Absalutely Royal, the 8-5 choice, took command on clubhouse turn under Heberto Castillo Jr., opened up on backstretch and cruised. Irish Oz rallied wide far turn, ducked out briefly midstretch, still held second. Make a Deal, three wide first turn while showing speed, dropped back backstretch and jogged home far behind the rest.
3RD RACE – Biogio’s Baby trailed early, saved ground turn, split horses midstretch and wore down Stacey Tracey late under heady ride by Jose Espinoza. Stacey Tracey went to lead backstretch, opened up turn and looked home free, swished tail in lane and could not last. Broomesse, very wide into turn, took back, dropped inside and finished strongly along rail for show.
4TH RACE – Watrals Flag Waver went to front early under Diane Nelson, let Mine’spro take short lead along rail, stuck head back in front on turn, put away Mine’spro in midstretch and kicked clear. In the Rain finished strong to get place in three-horse photo. Mine’spro held show over Slice of Light, who rallied but hung.
5TH RACE – Aaron ”leading rider” Gryder hustled Thepromonroe to front early and never looked back. Sunny Side chased pace far turn and finished well to get second over Moreno Grande, who rallied up rail.
6TH RACE – Even-money Her Secret saved ground rallying on turn under Chris DeCarlo, came off rail for stretch run, didn’t look as if she was going to get there mid-stretch but hunkered down and got there. Via Cavate set pace, opened daylight in stretch but was caught in final jumps. Princess Jubilee trailed early, came on late for show. Schmaltzy pressed pace wide turn.
7TH RACE – Be Accountable, Julio Pezua up, sat just off battling leaders backstretch and finished relentlessly to wear down Dawson City in final sixteenth. Dawson City dueled with Tattler early, put him away but failed to last. Good Man Sam went to nose at break almost unseating Gryder, rushed into contention and did well to get third. Tattler dropped back when checked heading into far turn, came again for fourth.
