Gulfstream upsets: Jaywalk to improve next time; Hidden Scroll undone by pace

Despite all the great racing we had last weekend, beginning with WINX winning her 31st straight race early Saturday morning, there were some shocking upsets as well. The fireworks began in race 12 at Gulfstream Park, the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) for three-year-old fillies going a one-turn mile on the dirt. Last year’s champion juvenile filly JAYWALK drew post one for the long run down the backside. Next to her was the speedy COOKIE DOUGH and at the start, Jeffrey Sanchez was able to make the lead and get over to the rail aboard COOKIE DOUGH while Joel Rosario had to get to her outside and stalk. The pace of 24.21 and 47.41 seconds was about to be expected for this caliber filly and the pair went into the far turn. Until the three-furlong pole, it did not seem like anything was wrong with JAYWALK. But then, COOKIE DOUGH was still going forward and JAYWALK suddenly looked in trouble. Her cruising speed was gone and she struggled to finish fourth. COOKIE DOUGH won the battle but lost the war when JELTRIN ran her down by a head at 51-1. Maybe it was a main track that was playing slow, maybe she wasn’t cranked up enough for this engagement with bigger more lucrative races down the road and maybe her rivals have caught up to her. I have to blame it on the track and she will be super tough next time out. No sooner had the dust settled at Gulfstream, the horses were in the paddock for the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Despite being burned in the Davona Dale, the chalkplayers were out in force as they bet 14-length debut winner, HIDDEN SCROLL, down to 6-5 favoritism. Joel Rosario was aboard and it was if he learned nothing from the Davona Dale. While that race might have had a sensible pace, the pace of the Fountain of Youth was torrid and there was Rosario duking it out. After being bumped at the start, Rosario put the pedal down but once he made the lead, he had an out-of-control colt beneath him. The first quarter mile was run in 22.80 seconds and the first half mile was run in 45.69 seconds. There was no going back at this point and it made little sense since the horse he battled was 132-1. When he put that one away, Johnny Velazquez had CODE OF HONOR in a strong drive after saving ground around the far turn. There was no denying CODE OF HONOR who finally lived up to an impressive debut at Saratoga. I would have bet Shug McGaughey would have taken him off the Triple Crown trail and point for these new turf races for three-year-olds in New York but there he was, winning the Fountain of Youth and staying on the classic trail. Like JAYWALK, HIDDEN SCROLL faded to fourth but did not set up the boxcar show prices at 6-5. I can’t imagine Bill Mott will persevere with him on the Triple Crown trail but will try to get him to relax out of the gate before he jumps back in against the best of the crop on dirt. He didn’t run bad in the Fountain of Youth but showed he is not quite ready for prime time. The third big upset on the weekend did not come in a stakes race but a first-level allowance race for three-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Saturday. Interestingly, we can’t blame regular rider Joel Rosario for this one as he was 2,500 miles away at Gulfstream. FLOR DE LA MAR was sensational breaking her maiden by five lengths at 1-5 in her career debut going six furlongs. Part of a new Godolphin contingent in the Baffert barn, she was stretching out to seven furlongs here with Dryden Van Dyke in the irons. On a sloppy (sealed) track, Flor de la Mar got away third and Van Dyke eased her to the outside for a stalking trip. The 3-5 favorite tried to engage the leaders on the turn but you could see it wasn’t coming without a lot of effort. A half-mile in 44.35 seconds should have set it up for her but like stablemate Coliseum, a Baffert runner for Godolphin that looked great in his debut but failed next time out, FLOR DE LA MAR had nothing to offer in the drive and checked in fifth of seven. The track might have been a legitimate excuse but it looks like it might be back to the drawing board for this daughter of Tiznow who should have relished the wet track. Jeltrin upsets the Davona Dale (c) Coglianese Photography