Horse racing newsletter: Life Is Good is great in San Felipe

GOING GLOBAL (IRE) angled to the inside early then moved out a bit on the backstretch, swung four wide exiting the far turn then five wide in upper stretch, drew alongside the leader at the eighth pole, drifted inward and drew clear near the sixteenth pole and held safely late. CLOSING REMARKS tucked inside early, saved ground off the pace then came a bit off the rail leaving the second bend, tipped out and brushed rival in upper stretch and finished well to earn the place honors. QUATTROELLE (IRE) settled in the two path then moved out three wide, angled back to the two path around the far turn, steered out in the drive and gained the show. SWEETEST ANGEL controlled the pace while pressured from outside, showed the way along the inside to the stretch, shook free of rival at the top of the lane, clung to a short lead with a furlong to go and weakened. GOLDEN settled off the pace, came three wide into the lane, brushed with rival in upper stretch and lacked a late bid. BLEU BALLON stumbled leaving the gate, prompted the pace from outside to the stretch, lost contact with the leader at the top of the lane and weakened.

MASTERING threw his head at the start and came away a bit slow, chased inside then moved out into the two path around the first turn, steered out on the second bend and came four wide into drive, bid outside the leader inside the eighth pole and proved best late. BOLD ENDEAVOR dueled outside SHOOTERS SHOOTERS to the lane, cleared that rival in upper stretch, fought with the winner through the furlong grounds and yielded grudgingly. KERSHAW sat off the pace three wide up the backstretch, went between rivals around the far turn then two wide into the stretch, came out some at the top of the stretch and summoned a mild rally for the show. MULTIPLIER was unhurried in the early going and steered to the inside, saved ground throughout then moved out into the two path in the drive and improved position. TWO THIRTY FIVE traveled three to four wide around the clubhouse turn, stayed off the rail then went three deep around the far turn, came out and entered the drive five wide and proved no menace. SHOOTERS SHOOT dueled from inside with BOLD ENDEAVOR to the stretch and gave way. INDIAN PEAK stalked the top pair outside a rival, traveled three wide into the far turn then angled four wide into the stretch and faded.

ANNANGEL (IRE) sped clear to take command early, sat all the pace while saving ground into the stretch, responded when challenged by STORMING LADY at the eighth pole and turned away rival in deep stretch. STORMING LADY settled along the inside, came out into the stretch, bid outside ANNANGEL at the eighth pole but lacked the needed late kick in the final sixteenth. GUITTY (FR) stalked outside rivals early, entered the turn three wide outside a rival, exited the five wide, chased widest through the lane and got up for the show. BEGUILED stalked three deep then moved into the two path, angled out on the turn and came four wide into the stretch and got edged for the show. LOVE AND PEACE (FR) stumbled badly leaving the gate, steered to the inside, saved ground around the bend and kept on through the late stages. GYPSY SPIRIT (GB) chased four deep early then went outside a rival into the turn, exited the bend three wide then weakened between rivals in the drive. QUERIDA DUBAI (ARG) stalked two then three wide around the turn and tired.

RACE JUDICATA away quickly from the gate and sped to the front, dueled for the lead from outside, pressured from both sides around the turn, put away inner rival at the quarter pole, fought with PISTACHIO PRINCESS in the drive and gamely prevailed. PISTACHIO PRINCESS chased from outside, bid three deep around the turn, fought with the winner through the lane, dug in late and missed. MEDUSA'S GAZE brushed with outside rival at the start, forwardly placed along the inside, moved out into the two path around the turn, came out a bit further in the lane and finished willingly for the show honors. OUR LITTLE TIGER chased outside a rival early, drifted out around the turn and finished evenly. ENSLEYS DREAM went up to duel for command form inside, lost contact with rival approaching the quarter pole, saved ground into the drive and gave way. PREMIUMONSATURDAY tracked off the inside, took the turn four wide, had the rider lose his whip past the eighth pole and never threatened. ELA CALIMERA MOU came away slow and brushed with inside rival at the start, saved ground to the lane and was never a factor. ROYALLY COMMAND bobbled at the start, entered the turn three wide, moved to the four path then steered back in leaving the bend and had little left for the drive.

NIMBOSTRATUS (FR) bumped leaving the gate, tracked from off the rail, went three wide into the turn, came out into the stretch, rallied and prevailed over the runner-up. BRILLIANT CUT traveled along the inside, cut the corner into the stretch, bid along the fence in the lane, fought with the winner late and missed. DANCING CRANE shifted in and bumped rival at the start, sped clear then came in early, saved ground into the stretch, led to the eighth pole then yielded to the top pair. SQUARED SHADY stalked the speed along the inside with a pair of rivals to the outside, moved into the two path around the turn, chased three wide in upper stretch and needed more in deep stretch. PLUM SEXY raced near or at the back of the pack outside a rival, took the turn two or three wide, came out into the stretch and never threatened. LITTLE VICKY stalked the pace from between foes to the stretch and weakened. FREEDOM FLYER bothered from outside leaving the gate, stalked the leader outside a pair of rivals and came four wide into the stretch and weakened.

LIFE IS GOOD sped to the front from inside, inched away on the backstretch, remained unchallenged into the drive, drifted out through the lane and widened under mild hand urging and ridden out late. MEDINA SPIRIT chased three wide early then stalked off the rail, exited the far turn two wide and bested the rest. DREAM SHAKE stalked the pace in the two path then angled in and saved ground around the far turn, chased the winner with MEDINA SPIRIT to the outside and got outkicked for second. ROMAN CENTURIAN trailed early then passed a rival on the backstretch, went three then two wide around the far turn and kept on for a minor share. THE GREAT ONE broke in and bumped rival, chased outside foes then came four wide into the stretch and weakened. NONE ABOVE THE LAW bumped leaving the gate, tracked the pace from inside, saved ground into the lane and proved no menace. GOVENOR'S PARTY took the first turn three wide, remained off the rail to the stretch, eased through the lane and walked off.

WHISPER NOT (GB) sped clear early and opened up around the first turn, remained well clear up the backstretch, carried a comfortable lead into the drive, urged right-handed in the final furlong and held safely. RIP CITY was closest in pursuit early, chased two wide and cut into the lead around the second turn, whittle the gap late but could not threaten the winner. TRIPOLI raced three then two wide around the first turn, angled in a bit on the second bend and raced a bit off the rail into the stretch and finished evenly to best the rest. TIBERIUS MERCURIUS went two to three wide around the first turn, traveled outside a pair of rivals leaving the backstretch, entered the lane three wide and never produced a bid. GAUGUIN (GER) was unprepared, tossing his head prior to the start then stumbled when the gates opened, trailed the field to the far turn, went around a rival then exited that bend two wide and lacked further response. CLUB ASPEN tracked the pace from inside to the lane and lacked a rally. VANTASTIC angled in early, pulled and checked into the first turn, saved ground to the stretch and came up empty.

BRICKYARD RIDE cleared the field to set the pace, padded the lead up the backstretch, showed the way in the two path into the drive and won easily under left-handed encouragement. TIGRE DI SLUGO stalked off the rail, raced three wide then angled five wide into the stretch and outkicked EXAULTED for second. EXAULTED settled off the pace, traveled four wide into the turn, angled out and exited the bend six wide, fought with TIGRE DI SLUGO in the late stages and got outfinished for the place honors. MAJOR CABBIE got bumped from inside at the start, raced mid-pack up the backstretch and moved to the inside, saved ground around the turn, moved into second approaching the eighth pole but flattened out in deep stretch. STORM THE COURT closest to the leader early, went three wide around the turn and weakened. MANHATTAN UP sat at the back of the pack early inside STRONGCONSTITUTION, raced along the rail to the turn, came out into the stretch, angled back to the inside in the lane and never threatened. STRONGCONSTITUTION traveled at the back of the back outside a rival, entered the turn two wide then angled five wide into the stretch and was never a factor. EXTRA HOPE broke out and bumped rival at the start, raced off the rail then angled into the two path entering the turn, steered back out and came four wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive. LOUD MOUTH stalked outside a rival and four wide around the bend, then faded in the lane.

HIT THE ROAD stalked the pace from inside, waited for room in the two path leaving the far turn, bid between rivals in upper stretch and edged a pair of foes late under a drive. SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT forwardly placed in the two path, bid outside around the far turn, gained command in upper stretch, challenged from both sides in the final furlong and finished gamely to the wire. COUNT AGAIN traveled at the back of the pack outside a rival, went three wide into the lane, angled widest in the stretch and was closing fast. FLAVIUS stalked outside a rival then exited the far turn three wide, bid four wide in upper stretch but got outkicked. ROYAL SHIP (BRZ) chased two wide through both turns, produced a late effort and finished well to the wire. CASA CREED tracked the speed outside a rival, went three wide into the drive, finished willingly but needed more late. RIDE A COMET bumped with outside rival at the start, sat off the pace from off the inside, went three to four wide into the stretch, tipped out and lacked a rally. SPIRIT ANIMAL reserved in the early going and angled to the inside, steered out in upper stretch and never made an impact. FLYING SCOTSMAN bumped with rival at the start, sent for the lead from outside, cleared and crossed over to the inside, challenged around the far turn and fought back from inside, lost command in upper stretch and gave way in the final furlong. SOCIAL PARANOIA tracked the speed along the fence, entered the stretch two wide and weakened.

IDOL sat off the pace through the early stages, went five wide around the second bend, rallied from outside and got up in the closing moments. EXPRESS TRAIN stalked off the inside, bid three deep around the far turn, led past the five-sixteenths, cleared inside rival and led to deep stretch and got caught late. MAXFIELD traveled off the inside, took closer order four wide into the far turn, stayed in the four path to the stretch and finished willingly for the show. INDEPENDENCE HALL rank into the first turn, stalked along the inside then moved out and exited the far turn three wide, chased within striking distance through the lane and got edged for the show. TIZAMAGICIAN checked behind the leader and altered out into the first turn, stalked off the rail then bid between rivals into the second turn, led briefly then lost command, chased the the leader into the drive and weakened. KISS TODAY GOODBYE unhurried in the early going, entered the stretch four to five wide and never made an impact. COASTAL DEFENSE traveled off the inside then shifted in nearing the first turn, moved out into the two path and remained there to the stretch and weakened. KING GUILLERMO away quickly from the far outside, sped to the front and led in the two path into the first turn, controlled the pace up the backstretch.

DEFUNDED content to sit off the pace early, raced five wide nearing the turn, angled into the three path around the bend, bumped rival at the three-sixteenths pole, tipped out and surged to the front mid-stretch and won going away under hand urging. FOLLOWING SEA came in and bumped rival twice early, chased from outside then four wide around the bend, bid between foes mid-stretch and gained the place. MR. IMPOSSIBLE was pinballed between rivals early, chased between foes then bid three deep around the turn, led into the stretch and yielded to the top pair. CHAOS REIGNS stalked outside a rival well off the rail, went four wide around the bend, got bumped by the winner at the three-sixteenths and kept on for a minor award. FIRST CLASS DAD broke in and bumped rival then steadied early, tugged his way up between rivals into the turn, went two wide around the bend and lacked a serious bid. PATRON D'ORO got bumped from outside early, dueled for the lead up the backstretch then vied between rivals around the turn, moved inside at the top of the stretch and faded in the late stages. CHERUBIC FACTOR hopped slightly and got bumped at the start, went four wide through the bend and never threatened. VANTAGE POINT raced near the back of the pack, took the turn three wide and could not make an impact. SAL N LOUIE dropped back early, traveled along the inside then two wide into the lane and was never a factor. EPIDEMIC dueled for the lead from inside, vied with a of rivals around the turn, could not keep up entering the stretch and gave way in the final furlong. AURELIAN MAN was knocked into rival at the start, steadied briefly early, took the turn two wide and came up empty. WINHAPPY tossed his head and came away a bit slow, went up to chase the speed in the two path then moved inside, dropped back around the turn, eased in the stretch and walked off. FOLLOWING AN INQUIRY, THE STEWARDS DISQUALIFIED FOLLOWING SEA FROM SECOND TO THIRD FOR CROSSING OVER ON MR. IMPOSSIBLE EARLY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE AND COST MR. IMPOSSIBLE A CHANCE A BETTER PLACING.