Trainer Ken McPeek, who saddled KATHMANBLU (Bluegrass Cat) to win Fair
Grounds’ Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) February 19 and ROGUE ROMANCE (Smarty Jones)
to run third in the Risen Star S. (G2) on the same day, indicated Sunday morning
that both the filly and the colt would be returning to New Orleans to run back
in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and the Louisiana Derby (G2), respectively, on
March 26.
“Everything is fine with both of them,” McPeek said Sunday morning from South
Florida, “and we’re planning on coming back with both of them.”
Prior to the Rachel Alexandra, Kathmanblu had won Gulfstream’s Sweetest Chant
S. January 22 in her 2011 debut, but Rogue Romance had not raced since finishing
third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last November 6 at Churchill Downs.
Nine years ago, McPeek saddled Take Charge Lady to win the Fair Grounds Oaks
and Repent to capture the Louisiana Derby.
With the Louisiana Derby having its purse boosted to $1 million for its 98th
running in less than five weeks, it will become the richest Thoroughbred race
ever run in New Orleans.
On the morning after the Risen Star, winning trainer Kathy Ritvo estimated
that it would be about a week before a decision would be made about when and
where MUCHO MACHO MAN (Macho Uno) would make his next start, but on Sunday
morning she demurred.
“Mucho Macho Man is doing great today,” Ritvo said, speaking from South
Florida, “but we just need a couple of more days to decide what’s next. We’ll
probably have something decided by Wednesday.”
DECISIVE MOMENT (With Distinction), fifth in the Risen Star after making the
pace, has completely recovered from a slight soft tissue injury in his left
hind, trainer Juan Arias said Sunday morning at Calder.
“We X-rayed him and did an ultrasound on him and he came out clean,” Arias
said. “He’s back in training now and we’re looking for another race for him at
the end of March.
“The Louisiana Derby is definitely one of the races under consideration for
him,” Arias said of Decisive Moment, who won the Jean Lafitte S. two back at
Delta Downs on January 14. “We were treated very well by everyone at Fair
Grounds when we came down there for the Risen Star and would love to come back
to New Orleans.”
UPPERLINE (Maria’s Mon), heroine of Saturday’s Allen LaCombe Memorial H. at
Fair Grounds, came out of her race well and was doing fine Sunday morning,
according to trainer Mike Stidham.
“She looks good today,” Stidham said. “The Bayou H. (at about 1 1/16-miles
over the Stall-Wilson turf course March 26) is under strong consideration for
her next start.”
Asked about WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip) and GRAN ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky
Roberto), fourth and sixth, respectively, in the February 19 Fair Grounds H.
(G3) over the Stall-Wilson turf course, Stidham said, “As of right now, we’re
looking at the Mervin Muniz (Memorial H. [G2] March 26) for both of them.”
The Muniz, top turf race of the New Orleans Thoroughbred racing season,
offers a $300,000 purse and will be one of four Grade 2 stakes races carded on
Louisiana Derby Day March 26.
Gran Estreno won the Col. E.R. Bradley H. (G3) on the grass here January 22,
and Workin for Hops won the Grindstone S. on the grass here a year ago on
Louisiana Derby Day.