Hal's Hope outgames High Yield to score for 88-year-old trainer

The ovation that shook Gulfstream Park started deep in the grandstand.

Florida Derby (G1)
Gulfstream Park, March 11, $750,000, 11/8 miles, fast, 1:51.49
1-HAL'S HOPE, c. 3, Jolie's Halo-Mia's Hope, by Rexson's Hope.
2-High Yield, c. 3, Storm Cat-Scoop the Gold, by Forty Niner.
3-Tahkodha Hills, c. 3, Prospector's Halo-Appella, by World Appeal.

Heartfelt and affectionate-a mixture of nervous energy and exhilaration-it built late in the afternoon of March 11 from deep in the corners and moved like a wave toward the clubhouse. From the cheap seats to the grill terrace, from the beer stands to the turf club, this joint was suddenly rocking and rolling.

As daylight was surrendering to dusk, a crowd of 28,033 had attached themselves to a balding journeyman rider, an 88-year-old trainer, and a horse with Hope in his name. And they rode them all the way to the finish line.

In what will be remembered as one of the most popular victories in the 49-year history of the Florida Derby (G1), Harold and Elsie Rose's Hal's Hope outfinished favored High Yield to win the $750,000 race and stamped himself as one of the favorites for the big show, the Kentucky Derby (G1), on May 6.

Battling head and head down the stretch, Hal's Hope and jockey Roger Velez turned away the challenge of Fountain of Youth Stakes (G1) winner High Yield and Pat Day to win the Florida Derby by a head. It was another ten lengths back to What a Pleasure Stakes (G3) winner Tahkodha Hills, sent off at 57.40-to-1, in third, while 69.60-to-1 longshot Settlement finished fourth.

Left in the leaders' wake were Laurel Futurity (G3) winner Scottish Halo (sixth), Hawthorne Juvenile and Cradle Stakes winner Deputy Warlock (seventh), and Rhythm Stakes winner Elite Mercedes (eighth).

Hal's Hope, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and runner-up in the Fountain of Youth, led gate-to-wire and covered the 1 1/8 miles of the Derby in 1:51.49. A son of Jolie's Halo out of Rose's former stakes winner Mia's Hope (by Rexson's Hope), Hal's Hope has now won 4-of-8 races and $582,160.

The victory set off celebrations in many areas of the track. The Roses, fixtures on the South Florida racing scene for decades, are quite popular for their charm as well as their loyalty to friends and stable help. The first couple of Florida racing-they've been married 65 years-Harold has been a trainer for nearly 40 years while Elsie has written and published three books about their life on the racetrack.

But this victory took on even more significance since just eight months ago Harold had survived heart failure and quadruple bypass surgery. For him, Hal's Hope was motivation to get healthy again.

"One reason I came back from surgery as quickly as I did was Hal's Hope," Rose said. "I always thought he was special. I knew he was at the barn and I wanted to get back. And I was back three weeks (after surgery)."

While Velez also had returned from setbacks-an admitted drinking problem in the 1980s and a time in 1996 when his wife, Patty, had to talk him out of retiring-he was beaming after riding the Roses' homebred colt to victory.

"I kind of wanted to cry because it's such a beautiful story," said Velez of Harold Rose's comeback. "He was so sick, but the Lord gave him a horse to let him keep going."

Even D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of High Yield, did not seem too unhappy with the result of the race. "Heck, if I was going to lose, there is nobody I'd rather lose to than Mr. Rose," Lukas said.

The beautiful story began with a beautiful trip in the race. Unlike the February 19 Fountain of Youth-when Hal's Hope was a bit washy, broke sideways, and never could get in front of High Yield-Hal's Hope bounced out of the gate sharply in the Florida Derby and Velez sent him right to the front.

"The last time, my horse was a little edgy and (High Yield) outjumped me," Velez recalled. "But I knew my horse was really ready when he warmed up. He was really in the bridle."

Pressed past fractions of :23.49, :47.02, and 1:10.86 by Day and High Yield, Hal's Hope looked comfortable on the front end. In fact, entering the far turn, Day backed off the leader and guided the even-money favorite to the outside of Hal's Hope before entering the stretch.

Suddenly, the two had left the rest of the field in the dust and the race was on. And so was a study in contrasts.

Lukas and Day both are Racing Hall of Famers. Rose and Velez are barely known outside South Florida. High Yield is a $1.05-million Keeneland sale yearling by Storm Cat. Hal's Hope is a homebred.

Despite the differences, Hal's Hope and High Yield entered the stretch heads apart; Hal's Hope on the rail, High Yield on his right shoulder. Velez waved his stick at Hal's Hope, while Day, as usual, was still sitting chilly and seemed as though he was preparing to sweep by the leader.

"I wouldn't have traded places with anyone on the turn," Day said.

"I thought we had it entering the stretch," Lukas added.

But Velez knew he had plenty of horse left under him. After drawing alongside High Yield midway down the stretch in the Fountain of Youth, Hal's Hope bled and Day and High Yield took off to win by 3 1/4 lengths. But this time, when High Yield appeared ready to shoot to the lead, Hal's Hope refused to give way.

In fact, when Velez switched hands with the whip and tapped Hal's Hope left-handed, "he just exploded again," Velez said.

"He likes the challenge if a horse comes to him," Rose said. "He digs in and tries harder."

While others in the field tried, they were no match for the top two.

Elite Mercedes, third in the Fountain of Youth, was rank heading into the first turn under Jerry Bailey. Despite making a little bit of a middle move, Elite Mercedes finished more than 14 1/2 lengths behind Hal's Hope while eighth in the ten-horse field.

"It's pretty disappointing," said trainer W. Elliott Walden. "It's only his second start of the year, and he may want to run a little freer." Added Bailey, "He made a nice run on the turn, but he had nothing left. He came up empty too soon."

Meanwhile, John Oxley's Scottish Halo, making only his second start of the year after running fifth in a grass allowance race against older horses, was compromised at the start. "He stumbled leaving the gate and (jockey Jorge Chavez) said it took a while to get his action together," said trainer Paul Rizzo. "We needed this race, and we have a lot of different options."

Meanwhile, Lukas said he was satisfied with High Yield, whom many believed was helped in the Fountain of Youth by an inside speed bias.

"I was pleased with his effort," Lukas said. "I thought we had (Hal's Hope) when Pat looked back É but maybe Pat thought he had a little more left. This was a different surface than the Fountain of Youth, and I liked the fact he was able to handle it and showed he can come from off the lead."

Lukas said High Yield will have his final Kentucky Derby prep on April 15 in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. As for the competition in Florida? "Those two (Hal's Hope and High Yield) look like they got these (others) beat."

In the end, however, this day clearly belonged to Rose, Velez, and Hal's Hope. Rose, who called the Derby victory the highlight of his career, said he had not made up his mind where Hal's Hope would run next. The Blue Grass, the April 8 Flamingo Stakes (G3) during the Hialeah-at-Gulfstream meet, and the April 15 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct, close to Rose's birthplace in New Jersey, are all possibilities.

But for now, Rose said, "All my expectations have been realized."

As for Velez, the jockey said, "I've never been to the Derby, but it looks like we're going this time."

Trippi still unbeaten

Dogwood Stable's Trippi not only remained undefeated on Florida Derby day, he clearly emerged as a contender for the Kentucky Derby.

Swale S. (G3)
Gulfstream Park, March 11, $100,000, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:23.43
1-TRIPPI, c. 3, End Sweep-Jealous Appeal, by Valid Appeal.
2-Ultimate Warrior, c. 3, Iroquois Park-Jodi Z., by Hard Work.
3-Harlan Traveler, c. 3, Harlan-Protostar, by Procida.

In his toughest test to date, Trippi made it three in a row by coming from off the pace for the first time in his career to win the $100,000 Swale Stakes (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths over the speedy pacesetter Ultimate Warrior. Harlan Traveler finished third.

Trippi, a son of End Sweep trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Bailey, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.43. For Bailey, it was one of five victories on the day, including three stakes wins.

"I think he'll go around two turns," said Bailey after the race of Trippi, who many believe will be best sprinting. "But it's too early to say whether he can go (the Kentucky Derby's) mile and a quarter."

While Ultimate Warrior set quick fractions of :22.16, :44.41, and 1:09.57, Bailey rated Trippi in second, never more than two lengths off the lead. It was the first time Trippi had not been on the lead at the quarter pole. Approaching the sixteenth pole, Bailey asked Trippi to take command and the colt responded.

"We thought it would be a good day to try him from off the pace, especially if that other speed horse (Ultimate Warrior) gunned it out there," Bailey said. "He rated nice for me and he responded when I asked."

While some are skeptical of Trippi's ability to get a distance, Pletcher appears optimistic. "He's such a gifted, natural, speed horse," Pletcher said. "He's a very kind horse. He's a speed horse and he'll place himself forwardly, but he's not one-dimensional speed."

Pletcher said he would talk with Dogwood's president, Cot Campbell, about where Trippi would run next. But with several Derby prep races coming up, it's likely Trippi will be tried around two turns.

"We have a lot of options," Pletcher said. "He's done nothing wrong so far and we'll keep testing him."

Richter Scale's triumph

He has a bad back and bad feet, and trainer Mary Jo Lohmeier cannot remember how many different kinds of shoes she has used to prevent quarter cracks. But when Richard and Nancy Kaster's and Nathan Fox's Richter Scale is right, "he's a real tough horse," Lohmeier said. And he was right on March 10 when he led nearly all the way to win the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship Handicap (G2).

Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Sprint Championship H. (G2)
Gulfstream Park, March 10, $200,000, 7 furlongs, fast, 1:23.30
1-RICHTER SCALE, h. 6, *Habitony-Devine Pet, by Bel Bolide.
2-Forty One Carats, c. 4, Tactical Advantage-Aly's Jul, by Alysheba.
3-Kelly Kip, h. 6, Kipper Kelly-Marianne Theresa, by John's Gold.

After breaking a step slow leaving the gate, Richter Scale, a six-year-old son of *Habitony, carried Richard Migliore to the front and never relinquished that position, covering seven furlongs in 1:23.30 while beating 1999 Pegasus Handicap (G2) winner Forty One Carats by a length. Hobeau Farm's Kelly Kip finished third, remaining winless in six career starts at seven furlongs.

Winner of the October 16 Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes at Keeneland and November 25 Fall Highweight Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct in his last two starts, Richter Scale showed he still has plenty of run in him by holding off Forty One Carats throughout the race.

"He took maybe one step to get his feet under him and then he just blitzed up there on his own," Migliore said. "Every time (Forty One Carats) came close, he seemed to let out another notch."

With total earnings of $831,122 and winner of 10-of-21 career starts, Richter Scale previously was under the shedrows of Patrick Byrne and Bill Mott before coming to Lohmeier's barn. Lohmeier said there was thought of retiring the horse to stud last year, "but he ran so well in the fall that we decided to try him again this year.

"I get on him myself in the mornings because I'm a little paranoid about him and a lot of time we train him on the turf because it's easier on his feet," Lohmeier said. "We'd like to get a Grade 1 win under him, and we're looking to run in the Carter Handicap (G1) in New York next" on May 7.

A winner for the Queen

Gulfstream's big weekend closed on a royal note when Queen Elizabeth II's filly Fictitious (GB) had little problem winning the $75,000 De La Rose Handicap (G3) on March 12.

De La Rose H. (G3)
Gulfstream Park, March 12, $75,000, 11/16 miles, turf, firm, 1:40.87
1-FICTITIOUS (GB), f. 4, Machiavellian-Trying for Gold, by Northern Baby.
2-Tres Coronas, f. 4, Chief's Crown-Scapegoat, by Forty Niner.
3-Dyna Two, m. 6, Dynaformer-Honorary Guest, by Bob's Dusty.

Trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Jose Santos, Fictitious remained undefeated in the United States. She drew away in the stretch to register a 1 3/4-length victory over Tres Coronas. Dyna Two was third.

Fictitious, by Machiavellian out of Trying for Gold, by Northern Baby, covered the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.87.

"The Queen has a nice little horse in (Fictitious)," Santos said.

Despite being a little nervous in the paddock, Fictitious was very professional on the course. Rated fourth behind a moderate pace of :24.58, :48.52, and 1:11.56, Santos encountered a bit of trouble entering the far turn when he had to check along the hedge.

"We did get bumped on the final turn when Robbie Davis's horse (Dead of Night [GB]) ducked in on us," Santos said. "I had to take her up, but she has a lot of heart for a little horse, and she was just playing with those horses in the stretch."

Clement, who has been winning at a clip of close to 30% during the Gulfstream meet, said, "She's a very good filly. She rated beautifully. She's a funny type of filly. She acts up in the paddock."

But not on the track.

NOTEBOOK-Bailey might have been feeling a little deja vu on Florida Derby day. Five years ago to the day, Bailey rode a record seven winners on Gulfstream's Derby program but failed to win the Derby. This time, Bailey rode five winners and, once again, failed to win the Derby. Along with his victory aboard Trippi, Bailey won two other stakes. In the $100,000 Fort Lauderdale Handicap (G3), Bailey rode Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's Beckon the King to a 2 1/4-length victory over Anstu Stable's Kettle Won. Missionary, making his first start in 14 months, finished third. A winner of 3-of-4 races since arriving in the United States from Ireland last fall, Beckon the King covered the firm 1 1/16-mile turf course in 1:40.36. Beckon the King is by Ghazi out of Our Locket, by Mr. Leader. ... Bailey also won the $75,000 Creme Fraiche Handicap (G3) with Frances Green's Dancing Guy. Trained by Newcomb Green, Dancing Guy covered the 1 1/16 miles on the main track in 1:44.94. A five-year-old gray gelding by Robyn Dancer out fthe Gold and Myrrh mare Dancing Myrrh, Dancing Guy won last year's Fred W. Hooper Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course ... Palm Beach Stakes (G3) winner and Tropical Park Derby (G3) runner-up Mr. Livingston will run on March 18 in the Everglades Stakes (G3) on the turf, according to trainer Bill Kaplan. If all goes well, Kaplan said he will put his colt back on the dirt on April 8 in the Flamingo Stakes (G3).

Fort Lauderdale H. (G3)
Gulfstream Park, March 11, $100,000, 11/16 miles, turf, firm, 1:40.36
1-BECKON THE KING, g. 4, Ghazi-Our Locket, by Mr. Leader.
2-Kettle Won, c. 4, Colonial Affair-Safe At the Plate, by Double Zeus.
3-Missionary, h. 5, Deputy Minister-Prayer Wheel, by Conquistador Cielo.

Creme Fraiche H. (G3)
Gulfstream Park, March 11, $75,000, 11/16 miles, fast, 1:44.94
1-DANCING GUY, g. 5, Robyn Dancer-Dancing Myrrh, by Gold and Myrrh.
2-Yankee Victor, c. 4, Saint Ballado-Highest Carol, by Caro (Ire).
3-Midway Magistrate, g. 6, Magesterial-Say Forever, by Little Current.