Talamo Likes Guilt Trip in Strub

Good luck can mean the difference between winning and losing. Joe Talamo hopes a better journey will turn the tables on Fed Biz and Tritap when he rides Guilt Trip in Saturday’s Grade II, 1 1/8-mile Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds.

Fed Biz, Tritap and Guilt Trip were 1-2-3 in the 1 1/16-mile San Fernando Stakes on Jan. 12, a half-length separating the trio at the finish.

“Guilt Trip really had a good trip (in the San Fernando),” Talamo recounted. “Around the turn, I wish I’d have gotten him out a little sooner. He was in a good spot but I didn’t want to go five-wide around the whole turn, but I’d actually have been better off.

“He might have got up and won. He ran a good race. He’s going to be real tough in the Strub, I would think.”

The field for the Strub: Shadow Runner, Garrett Gomez, 20-1; Fed Biz, Mike Smith, 2-1; Guilt Trip, Joe Talamo, 5-2; Tritap, Corey Nakatani, 5-2; Groovin’ Solo, Alonso Quinonez, 30-1; Handsome Mike, Mario Gutierrez, 6-1; and Stephanoatsee, Julien Leparoux, 4-1.