Notes - Feb 15

Another debut winner for Pletcher at Gulfstream, as Starfish Bay ($8.20) took the 7th on Saturday. That's the 7th such winner out of 16 starters on the Calder/GP circuit since he shipped down in late December; and his third straight, and fifth overall at Frank's Folly this meet. Now that my friends is the Toddster we all know and love!

Starfish Bay started from the 12 post in this mile grass race with Prado, who gunned her towards the lead with the short run to the turn on this absurdly configured racetrack. She was carried even wider going into the turn and, after, stalking Ailbe throughout, bore out a bit turning for home. Still, she held that one off, getting the bob in a hugely impressive debut. This is a three-year old daughter of Elusive Quality, out of stakes winning Touch Love. That daughter of Not For Love was a winner on dirt. But second dam Smartenof is a half-sister to Crystal Moment, who won the G3 Fort Marcy on grass.

An inauspicious four-year old debut for Tale of Ekati in the G2 Richter Scale. A bit of an awkward start, but no excuse for not at least making some progress in the stretch as the leaders tired to a 13.79 final eighth after a quick opening half. Despite that half in 44.74, pretty shocking to see How's Your Halo ($96.20) ease by Ikigai after he lost to him by 12 last time out.

I mentioned the other day that Ken Ramsey had not claimed any horses during his current stint at Aqueduct, so, of course, on Saturday he took Temporary Saint from David Jacobson for 50K. The race was another disappointing effort for Icabad Crane as the 2-1 favorite, and he's now winless in five starts since his third in the Preakness; put him on your confirmed money burner list. Two wins in a row for Understatement ($9.60), for Pletcher.

Five races in a row at the Big A featured a favorite under even money on Saturday, and only one of them won. One of those beaten favorites was first-time starter May Day Now, one of those so-called fastest horses in the world, sent off at 3-4 for trainer Mike Hushion. Olympic Pegasus ($11.60) was also making his debut, for Ramon Dominguez and Bruce Levine, the latter just five for 81 with first-timers over the last two years coming in. This is a son of the faded stallion Fusaichi Pegasus. Wow, remember all the hype around him when he first went to stud? He got $150,000 a pop in 2005, and is available for a mere $30,000 this year. He's a Derby winner as you know, but still I'm surprised he hasn't been exiled to Turkey or Korea, or at least to Pennsylvania at this point. I can't even begin to guess when his last U.S. graded stakes winner was (though his Sumo was second, at 33-1, in the G3 Sam F. Davis yesterday).

Olympic Pegasus is a NY-bred out of a mare by Olympio, and descends from the direct distaff family of multiple graded turf winner Voodoo Dancer, and the likewise Singletary; so let's keep an eye out for this one on the green later this year.