Rail Trip impressive in defeat
Rail Trip suffered his first loss in six career starts in Saturday's $150,000 Grade II Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park, but it might have been the 4-year-old gelded son of Jump Start's most impressive race to date.
Ball Four, trained by Patrick Biancone, went gate to wire to post a 1 1/4-length victory under Joe Talamo over Rail Trip, ridden again by Jose Valdivia Jr. The 8-year-old gelded son of Grand Slam traveled the 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in a swift 1:41.58 to win the 30th running of one of the major preps for the $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 11.
Rail Trip's trainer, Ron Ellis, thought his horse was ready to go by the winner turning for home, but Ball Four, who went postward at 16-1 after finishing ninth in the San Pasqual Handicap at Santa Anita in January, had enough left in the tank to turn away both Rail Trip and third-place finisher Dakota Phone, who was a half-length back of Rail Trip.
"I thought he had that horse anytime he wanted around the turn -- it looked like it to me -- but obviously (Ball Four) had something left," Ellis said. "The winner ran a great race, I underestimated him a little bit. I wasn't going to go out there and put a lot of pressure on him, but we were tracking him perfectly . . . there were no excuses."
But Ellis had to be happy with his gelding's effort, considering it was his first graded stakes try and he ran his heart out. Ellis said he will consider the major prep for the Gold Cup -- the $250,000 Californian on June 13 -- for Rail Trip's next start.
"It's the first time he kind of got in a dog fight at all," Ellis said. "It's probably a new thing for him. He was finishing. Time-wise, they were coming home faster than they started out. The winner ran a really nice race. Biancone's done a great job to turn him around because he hasn't been running that good."
If he continues to improve the way he did Saturday, Rail Trip figures to be one tough customer in the Gold Cup.
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How much did Rail Trip really improve is the question I have? His last race before Saturday wasn't even a 100 Beyer and I know his first two races (maiden, allowance) were both in the 104 range. I'm curious to see his number from yesterday. I do agree he fought hard, I just want to know whether his speed may be going downhill.
Gordon,
You're right ... it will be interesting to see his Beyer from Saturday's Mervyn LeRoy. But I was impressed with his sub 1:42 clocking, and I think they came home in a pretty good final quarter. In my opinion, I don't think we're going to know just how good Rail Trip is until maybe The Californian or the Hollywood Gold Cup, if he makes it that far.
I don't know yet what Rail Trip's Beyer was, but Ball Four's was 105, the co-highest of 2009 on any synthetic surface. Given that, I'm guessing his Beyer was just a few ticks off that and that would be impressive. We'll see how if bettors jump off the bandwagon in his next race. If so, he's probably going to be a good bet.
Gordon,
Yeah a 102 or 103 Beyer for Rail Trip would be impressive indeed for his first try against graded-stakes types. Given how the local handicap division doesn't appear to be too strong at the present, he could be a major player this summer if he continues to improve. He's going to be fun to watch.