Fresh off her score in last Saturday’s off-the-turf Furl Sail H., Grade 3
heroine CULINARY (El Amante) has been entered to face seven other fillies and
mares in Saturday’s $75,000 Truly Bound H. at the Fair Grounds at Louisiana
Downs meet. Although the Michael Stidham-trained sophomore has been installed as
the 5-2 morning-line favorite under Carlos Marquez Jr., she is not certain to
run back on such short rest in the 1 1/16-mile test.
The 119-pound highweight and 7-2 second choice is BALLROOM DEPUTY (Silver
Deputy), exiting her first stakes success in the Maple Leaf S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine.
However, the four-year-old had also put up a tremendous performance in the Ontario
Matron H. in June, finishing second by only a head to three-time Canadian
champion older mare One for Rose (Tejano Run). Conditioned by Josie Carroll, who
historically enjoys lucrative meets at the Fair Grounds, Ballroom Deputy will be
ridden by Tracy Hebert.
Horseman Neil Howard sends out the beautifully bred PRIVATE GIFT (Unbridled),
a half-sister to 2000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1) queen Secret
Status (A.P. Indy) and to multiple Grade 3 victor Alumni Hall (A.P. Indy). The
three-year-old filly has not made an impression in her previous attempts in
stakes company, but she is coming off a sharp Churchill Downs allowance score
over Culinary. She will carry 117 pounds along with jockey Robby Albarado.
Other notable contenders include veteran Grade 2 victress LA REASON (Labeeb
[GB]), most recently fourth to the supremely impressive Indian Vale (A.P. Indy)
in the Falls City H. (G2); multiple stakes winner SLEWPY’S STORM (Storm Creek),
who captured the Delicada S. over this distance at this track in July; and
California stakes winner LUCKY SABRE (Lucky North), a transfer to the barn of
trainer Steve Asmussen.
The complete field in post position order is Private Gift; La Reason, Corey
Lanerie, 118; GO GIRLFRIEND GO (Demidoff), John Keith Lejeune, 113; Slewpy’s
Storm, Larry Taylor, 116; FREEI (Honor Grades), James Graham, 114; Ballroom
Deputy; Lucky Sabre, Roman Chapa, 115; and Culinary, 118.