Fair Grounds opens Thanksgiving Day

Asmussen will attempt to earn his fifth straight trainer’s title  (Horsephotos.com)

As usual, the $60,000 Thanksgiving H. for three-year-olds and

up ushers in the meet. Grade 2 winner BEAU’S TOWN (Beau Genius)

will carry top weight of 122 pounds, including jockey Tracy

Hebert. The Steve Asmussen-trained MOUNTAIN GENERAL (Mountain Cat),

who set a new track record in the six-furlong event two years

ago, running the distance in 1:08, will tote 118 pounds.

The original stakes schedule was revamped this year to create

four days with four or more stakes races on the schedule. Those

days have been strategically chosen on Saturdays about one month

apart. The first, the 14th annual Louisiana Champions Day, will

be held December 11, with an all-stakes card and $1 million in

purses for state-breds.

In addition, Fair Grounds will hold the Road to the Derby

Kickoff Day, which will feature the $100,000 Lecomte S. (G3) for

three-year-olds at one mile on January 15.

Louisiana Derby Preview Day will highlight three graded

contests, including the $150,000 Silverbulletday S. (G2) for

three-year-old fillies, the $150,000 Risen Star S. (G3) for three-year-olds,

usually a prep race for sophomores pointed towards the Louisiana

Derby, and the $100,000 Mineshaft H. (G3) for four-year-olds and

up. All three events will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main

track on February 12.

The highlight of the 82-day meet is the March 12 Louisiana

Derby Day, which will include the $500,000 New Orleans H. (G2)

for four-year-olds and up and the $300,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2)

for three-year-old fillies as well as the 93rd running of the

Louisiana Derby, the 1 1/16-mile headliner for three-year-old

Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls. Louisiana Derby Day will offer a

total of $1.5 million in purses.