After watching Rail Trip toy with three opponents in an allowance race at
Santa Anita Park on Friday, trainer Ron Ellis had one more reason to mention the
US$6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) on March 28 as a potential goal.
Now undefeated in four career efforts, Rail Trip is a special runner in his
trainer’s estimation and should be given a chance to prove it.
“He is a very gifted horse and is headed in the right direction,” Ellis
said, describing the performance by the four-year-old gelding as “awesome.”
Also a possibility for Rail Trip, who did not feel the sting of jockey Jose
Valdivia Jr.’s whip during his 1 ¾-length victory over Booyah, is the $1
million Santa Anita Handicap (Gr.1) on March 7.
Ellis plans to meet with co-owner Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess Stable early
next week to plot a course of action with the son of Jump Start. While he has
not started in a stakes to date, Rail Trip has given Ellis confidence in his
abilities, although the trainer wished aloud that Friday’s race had offered
tougher competition.
“The field came up a little softer than I had hoped,” said Ellis. “He
needed some seasoning to tackle the top horses.”
With multiple Grade 2 winner Dixie Meister a late scratch, Rail Trip was able
to take an early lead and keep it, cruising through moderate fractions of :48.56
and 1:12.32 before responding to Valdivia shaking the reins at him and finishing
the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.11. As he crossed the finish line, track announcer
Trevor Denman said Rail Trip “is just hand ridden to the easiest of wins.”
“He’s so receptive to whatever I want to do with him, it’s incredible.
Whenever I want a gear, he can give it to me,” Valdivia said. “He’s the
most exciting horse I’ve ever been on.”
Horses Valdivia has ridden in the past include Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr.1)
winner Val Royal.
“We’re going to enjoy this race, see how comes out of the race, and then
we’ll talk about what’s next,” said Siegel. “Dubai is a long way to go.
We’re just going to enjoy the win and try not to think about anything else
right now.”
Bred in Kentucky, Rail Trip was a $200,000 purchase at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton
Kentucky select yearling sale.
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