Fair Grounds Notebook

FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK

MARCH 22, 2005

by Brian P. Turner

The final graded stakes event of the meet was contested on Saturday as a

field of 11 went to the post for the $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H.

(G2). Contested at nine furlongs over the lawn, the Muniz drew a talented field

led by the Bobby Frankel-trained Burning Sun (Danzig), who came up only

2 ¼ lengths short in last year's running of this event.

Despite the presence of Jerry Bailey in the saddle, Burning Sun never

fired his best shot. After being in contention throughout, the bay seemed to

have no late kick in the stretch drive and finished fifth, beaten by 3 ¼

lengths.

In the end, the day belonged to long shot RAPID PROOF (Fast Play) who rallied

from off the pace and gained the lead late to hit the wire a head in front,

lighting up the boards with an extremely generous $65.20 win mutuel. The

five-year-old gelding was making his sixth turf start at Fair Grounds and though he

had never finished off the board in any of his starts, this was his first visit

to the winner's circle in any of his trips around the course in New Orleans.

Second choice A to the Z (Benchmark) rallied from the back of the pack to

pick up the place, a nose in front of America Alive (American Chance) in third.

In Saturday's other stakes action, a full field of 10, including one

coupled entry, contested the Gentilly H. for Bayou-bred three-year-olds going

eight furlongs on the grass. Crimson Stag (Glitterman) was sent to the gate as

the favorite despite the fact that this was his first attempt over the lawn and

the change of surface didn't appear to set with him very well because after

leading the field through the early stages of the race, he flattened out badly

late to finish a disappointing eighth.

PRINCE T. (Royal Anthem), who was also making his first start on the grass,

stalked the pace early and finished well late to claim the victory by 1 ¾

lengths. Encinal (Victory Gallop) rallied from well off the pace to pick up the

place, a half-length in front of Betnow (Pine Bluff) in third. Given that the

second and third place finishers were the coupled entry, the fourth place finish

by Z Storm (Storm and a Half) completed the trifecta.

In Saturday's final stakes event, a small field of five contested the Duncan

F. Kenner Breeders' Cup H. for four-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the

main track. GOLD STORM (Seeking The Gold), who was coming off of a solid 2 ¾-length victory in the Colonel Power H. here in early January, was sent off as

the heavy favorite and rewarded his backers with a stiff and determined stretch

drive to his the wire a head in front. Ole Rebel (Carson City) rallied from off

the pace and put in a game effort for the place, 4 ¼ lengths clear of Premier

Performer (Conquistador Cielo) in third.

The final stakes event of the week came on Sunday as a field of 10 contested

the Fair Grounds Sales S. for three-year-olds going eight furlongs. Long shot

PRESSED (Chester House) put in a stellar performance by rallying from well off

the pace for a solid three-length victory, paying a solid $29.60 in the process.

Favorite Catquit (Toolighttoquit) picked up the place, 1 ½ lengths in front of

Drew Lil Slew (Arch) in third.

Horses on or near the pace dominated the sprint races on the main track this

week but the routes tended to play pretty fair. As for the turf, horses coming

from off the pace held the advantage whether they were going short or long.

Steve Asmussen is set to pick up another training title as his 67 winners

have left the rest of the field in his wake. Gamaliel Vazquez is second with 43

followed by Tom Amoss with 39 winners for the meet. Robby Albarado has the

riding title locked up with 96 winners for the meet. James Graham is in second

with 74 followed by Donnie Meche who has booted home 72 winners.

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (03/17)

9TH – DRAMA KING (Distorted Humor) had a horrible break in this 5 ½-furlong

turf sprint, which left him trailing the field early. The four-year-old gelding

closed with a nice turn of foot though, rallying late to pick up the place.

Friday (03/18)

1ST – LIGHT UP THE BOARD (Nelson) reeled off his third victory in a row in

this state-bred claiming event. The bay took the lead out of the gate and never

looked back, crossing the finish line 2 ½-lengths clear of the field without

being asked for his best. A return against similar could yield parallel results.

8TH – LADY CARMEN (Yankee Victor) returned from a lay off of nearly seven

months in fine form to take this optional claiming event by a half-length.

Saturday (03/19)

4TH – JIMMY CRACKED CORN (The Name's Jimmy) returns to the Watch List after

taking the lead early in this optional claiming event, posting swift early

fractions of :22 1/5 and :45 and holding on late to hit the wire a half-length

in front for his fourth win in five tries at Fair Grounds.

10TH – ROAD SHOW (Chester House) put in a stellar performance in his career

debut, rallying impressively from the back of the pack and exploding through the

stretch drive to miss by a neck in this 5 ½-furlong turf maiden special event.

The dark bay could be devastating once he stretches out to a route.

Sunday (03/20)

5TH – LEGISLADY (Down the Aisle) rallied from last and closed impressively to

take this maiden special turf event by 4 ¼ lengths.

8TH – Pressed found the turf to dirt move to be exactly what he needed to

find the winner's circle in the Fair Grounds Sales S. and posted a respectable

93 BRIS Speed rating while doing so.