FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
MARCH 30, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
With the coming of spring, so comes to an end another outstanding winter of
racing at Fair Grounds and horses stabled here in the Big Easy will begin to
spread out all over the country. While quite a few will stay here to compete in
Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, many will head for Kentucky, New York or Southern
California so horses that have appeared on the Watch List as of late could show
up anywhere across the country.
Though it was the last week of the meet, there was still some business that
needed to be tended to as there were four stakes races scheduled. The action kicked off on Friday as a field of eight, including
two coupled entries, went to the gate for the Vulcan S. for three-year-old
Alabama-breds going six furlongs on the main track. WEST SCOTTIE (Go West)
stalked the pace early before surging clear in the stretch drive for an easy 4 ¾-length romp. Commited Right (Casey On Deck) set the early pace and held on late
for the place, a nose in front of Pops Return (Red Hammer) in third.
On Saturday, a field of 10 went to the post for the Sarah Lane’s Oates H. for
three-year-old Bayou-bred fillies going eight furlongs on the lawn. The Beter
Man Can (Lord Avie) was sent off as the heavy favorite off of her stellar
performances at Fair Grounds this meet which included an upset in the Tiffany
Lass S. against open company in January. Though this was to be her first try on
the grass, the betting public held the opinion that she would be more than
capable of living up to the task and they were close to being right. The dark
bay took the lead out of the gate and held it until the stretch when she was finally
run down by long shot MIRIAM L. (Kipling), who rallied from well off the pace to
win by a neck. It was another half-length back to Blueyed Lass (Sky Classic) in
third.
Sunday’s stakes action kicked off with the six-furlong Magnolia State H. for
three-year-olds and up. Even-money favorite SMALLTOWN SLEW (Evansville Slew)
lived up to the betting public’s faith by rallying from off the pace to hit the
finish line three parts of a length in front. Long shot Cherry Hour (Finest
Hour) picked up the place, a neck in front of Driftwood Lodge (El Prado [Ire])
in third.
Finally, a field of 10 state-bred fillies and mares went to the post for the Red Camelia
H., contested at one mile on the lawn. Destiny Calls (With Approval) was sent
off as the heavy favorite due to the fact that she has absolutely been
dominating over the course of her last 10 starts having visited the winner’s
circle eight times. The coupled entry of MERRY MARY (Leestown) and Autobesarah
(Autocracy) were not to be intimidated though as the pair rallied from off the
pace to finish first and second with Merry Mary crossing the finish line a
length in front of her stablemate. Destiny Calls set the early pace and held on
to finish third, a half-length in front of K Brown (Alphabet Soup) who completed
the trifecta.
The main track played fair this week in both sprint and route races. As for
the turf, two of the three sprints were won by horses coming from off the pace
and this same running style absolutely dominated the route races.
Steve Asmussen has claimed yet another training title to add to his ever
growing list of titles around the country. His 67 winners were 24 better than
Gamaliel Vazquez in second. Tom Amoss was a close third with 41 winners for the
meet. As for the jockeys, Robby Albarado easily claimed another Fair Grounds
riding title by a score of 101-82 over James Graham in second. Donnie Meche was
third with 72 winners for the meet.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed the
Fair Grounds Notebook through this meet and wish you nothing but winning wagers
until next fall when it is time to return to New Orleans and another great
winter of racing at Fair Grounds.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (03/24)
3RD – THIS IS CRAZY (AUS) (Nuryev) put in a solid performance in this maiden
special grass event by rallying from off the pace to miss by a half-length. The
bay mare has a solid pedigree for the lawn and could definitely move forward off
of this effort.
8TH – BLUSH (Menifee) veered sharply at the start of this 5 ½ furlong turf
sprint which left her trailing the field early. The bay closed with a rush in
the stretch drive though to come up a neck short.
Friday (03/25)
11TH – STORMY CAJUN (Constant Demand) took the lead out of the gate and
improved his position in this Bayou-bred maiden special event, opening up in the
stretch to hit the wire seven lengths clear of the field.
Saturday (03/26)
9TH – TRICKY INTRO (Announce) is now a perfect three-for-three since moving
into the barn of Amoss. The four-year-old gelding closed from off the pace in
this six furlong claiming event to cross the finish line three parts of a length
in front.
10TH – The Beter Man Can put in a solid effort in her first attempt on the
lawn and should loom a solid threat next out on whichever surface she shows up
on next.
Sunday (03/27)
2ND – CAT MAN (Storm and a Half) put in an impressive performance in this
state-bred allowance event, closing from dead last with a striking turn of foot
to cross the finish line 1 ½ lengths in front.
3RD – HOPKINS (Menifee) is now two-for-two in his short career after taking
this claiming event by a widening seven lengths.