FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 1
by Brian P. Turner
Though at first glance things at Fair Grounds appear the same as always, much
has changed at the venerable New Orleans track since last we left her at the
end of March. The most noticeable of these changes can be seen on the track
itself as a new logo adorns the starting gate and hangs from the rail at the
finish line. The familiar twin spires of Churchill Downs are in place to
announce that Fair Grounds has been added to an ever growing list of tracks
under the mantle of Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI).
For those who have not followed the story through the summer, CDI stepped in
to save Fair Grounds from bankruptcy due to a lawsuit filed by the
Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and, in the process,
was able to add a track to compete for the horseplayer’s dollar through the
winter months when the other racing venues under their control are shut down.
Another noticeable difference could be heard through the track’s speakers
when the horses went to the gate for the first race of the meet. Gone are the
familiar tones of track announcer Michael Wrona and in his place, the equally
talented voice of race caller Tom Dooley. The latter is best known as the voice
of Arlington Park so it isn’t really surprising that CDI would move him to New
Orleans for the winter months as Arlington is a major piece of the growing
Churchill Downs conglomerate.
For all the changes, there are still a couple of things that remain the same.
One is the presence of perennial leading rider Robby Albarado. Up until a couple
of days before the meet, his participation was up in the air due to the fact
that he was one of 14 riders banned from Churchill Downs after refusing to ride
on the November 10 race card to protest the lack of insurance available to
jockeys. Before being given the green light to ride at Fair Grounds, Albarado
had to meet with Fair Grounds racing officials to assure them that he would not
be a part of a similar protest in the upcoming meet.
The other constant is that the Fair Grounds will continue to offer
some of the finest winter racing North American has to offer. Over the course of
the 82-day race meet, the New Orleans track will offer 53 stakes races with
nearly $6 million in purses. In another slight change to operations, some of the
meet’s larger stakes races have been moved to the same afternoons to offer huge
single day events. The first of these will come on February 12 when the Risen
Star S. (G3), the Silverbulletday S. (G2) and the Mineshaft H. (G3) will all be
offered on the same card. The biggest will be on March 12 when the Louisiana
Derby (G2), the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and the New Orleans H. (G2) will all be
contested for combined purses of $ 1.4 million.
As usual, the meet kicked off on Thanksgiving Day with the 79th running of
the Thanksgiving H. for three-year-olds and upward going six furlongs on the
main track. A field of seven went to the gate with Grade 2 winner Beau’s Town
(Beau Genius) being sent off as the heavy favorite. In the end though, the day
belonged to OLE REBEL (Carson City), who was content to lay last through the
early stages of the race before making his move in the stretch drive and getting
up at the wire to take the victory by a nose as part of a thrilling three-way
photo finish. Wildcat Shoes (Forest Wildcat) came close to pulling off the upset
as the longest shot on the board but was forced to settle for second, a nose in
front of a determined Beau’s Town in third.
On the main track this week, horses on or near the pace held the advantage in
sprints, but horses coming from off the pace fared better in route races. As for
the turf, rain forced Saturday’s races to the main track, but the rest of the
turf routes were dominated by horses coming from off the pace. It paid to be
close to the pace in turf sprints.
Steve Asmussen and Tom Amoss appear ready to renew their rivalry for top
trainer honors as they have each saddled three winners through the first week of
the meet. Four trainers are currently tied with two each. As for the jockeys,
Albarado has already booted home eight winners through the first four days, but
Corey Lanerie and Gerard Melancon are hot on his heels with six and five,
respectively.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (11/25)
2ND – DIPLOMATIC AGENT (Deputy Minister) put in an extremely impressive
performance in his second try on the grass by rallying from nearly nine lengths
off of the lead before opening up in the stretch to hit the finish line 6 1/2 lengths clear of the field. The dark bay colt could prove to be any sort.
9TH – Beau’s Town seemed to be hanging a bit in the stretch drive but really
began to make up ground late to the point that with a couple of extra jumps he
might have won the race. Expect a return to the winner’s circle in his next
start.
Friday (11/26)
3RD – SURGEON OF CHOICE (Slew the Surgeon) was bumped solidly at the start of
this Bayou-bred maiden special event but overcame the early trouble to rally
from off the pace and score the victory by 2 1/4 lengths.
7TH – DEVIL’S DAMSEL (Devil His Due) stalked the pace early in this claiming
event and she was moving well along the rail late when she was forced to check
and alter course. The three-year-old filly re-rallied and was moving with good
energy late. A better trip next out could yield better results.
8TH – DYNABID (Dynaformer) was starting to make up some ground late in this
maiden special grass event when she was taken to the inside where she suddenly
found herself with no room and was forced to take up. Still, she crossed the
wire in fourth, beaten by only two lengths.
Saturday (11/27)
5TH – BREATHE (Boone’s Mill) was bumped around at the start of this maiden
claiming event, but the trouble didn’t seem to affect her at all as she rallied
from last to claim the victory by 4 3/4 lengths.
Sunday (11/28)
5TH – MR. SULU (Rail) has become a virtual fixture at Fair Grounds. After
spending the summer in Canada, the gelding made his return to the Big Easy a
triumphant one by rallying from near the back of the pack to take this
state-bred turf allowance event by three parts of a length.