Inside the Trip: Calculator Tabs the Sham

Calculator gallops to a decisive triumph in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
It was an action-packed weekend on the major circuits in Florida and California with top races on both surfaces. Let’s dive into the data.
Calculator got on the board in a big way, finally landing his first career win after having shown much promise in some tough spots. Second in both the Del Mar Futurity and the FrontRunner behind American Pharoah, his win in the Sham Stakes brought plenty of attention to the son of In Summation. In the FrontRunner, Calculator covered 48 feet more than American Pharoah when beaten 3 ¼ lengths. That extra ground translated to roughly 5 ½ lengths, and was a compelling play had he made it to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
As it was, eventual Juvenile winner Texas Red was the only horse to close into the FrontRunner pace and matched American Pharoah with a final furlong in 12.06 seconds. But Calculator covered more ground against him too, going 33 feet more. Last Saturday, Calculator did it the hard, and long way, around Santa Anita, traveling the most ground in the Sham. While well clear of the competition, the heavy favorite covered 40 feet (about 4 ¾ lengths) more than second placer Rock Shandy and 63 feet (about 7 ½ lengths) more than fourth placer St. Joe Bay.
SHAM STAKES

The benefits of a perfect trip can be overstated or even underrecognized – and we’ll have to wait and see how the future plays out relative to Hoppertunity, the Clark Handicap winner who came back with a 1 ¾-length win in the San Pasqual Stakes on Saturday. There should be little doubt, however, that Hoppertunity took advantage of some lesser, and wider running foes in winning the Grade 2 affair.
SAN PASQUAL STAKES

Take note of the data from the first six finishers in the race.

Appealing Tale was beaten less than two lengths, but covered the equivalent of more than five lengths farther. Fourth placer Tonito M, who got to the rail late in the race, was the quickest closer, home in 12.50 seconds. Sixth-placer Bronzo, who was essentially as fast as the winner in the final section of the race, went an astounding nine lengths farther, but was beaten less than five lengths. It’s worth noting the second through fourth placers were drawn in gates 10, 9, and 11, respectively, while Hoppertunity broke from gate 2.
Gulfstream Park
Al Shaqab Racing’s Mshawish had an eventful trip en route to his second consecutive stakes win on grass at Gulfstream Park, this time annexing the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale. The son of Medaglia d’Oro covered the widest from the top four finishers when winning the listed El Prado back in December and came back to knock off graded company with a narrow win over longshots Grand Tito and Fredericksburg.
FORT LAUDERDALE STAKES

Javier Castellano had his hands full with Mshawish, tugging hard moving down the backstretch when engaged by Howe Great, then progressed from three-wide to five-wide, having trouble cornering in the latter part of the far turn, but dug in to win regardless. Mshawish covered 28 feet more than Grand Tito and 43 feet more than Fredericksburg, while fourth-placer Za Approval, the victim of Mshawish’s errant path on the far turn, went 17 feet farther.
Earlier on the card, Parranda was a well-backed three-length winner in her first start for trainer Christophe Clement, taking the Marshua’s River Stakes. The first three finishers in the race covered the three shortest trips, and were respectively drawn in gates 3, 1, and 2. The rest of the field after that covered at least the equivalent of 2 ½ lengths more than Parranda. It should at least be considered that the effort might not be as impressive and easy at it seemed visually. Watch the race below and judge for yourself.
MARSHUA’S RIVER STAKES

The widest runner in the field was ninth-placer Ready Signal, who covered 56 feet more than Parranda.
Donn Handicap winner Lea came back off an eleven-month respite to win the Hal’s Hope over the one-turn mile for trainer Bill Mott, an impressive effort considering the traffic issues he faced at the top of the stretch. While saving ground through much of the long far turn, Lea had to switch out across the back of rivals and close, running the final furlong in 11.79 seconds following a pedestrian early pace. Third-home Prayer For Relief was second-quickest late, home in 12.03 seconds.
Mackenzie Kirker-Head contributed to this report.