Gun Runner, Venus Valentine exit Fair Grounds stakes in
good order; Songbird works
The winners and also-rans from Saturday’s Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair
Grounds appeared to exit their races well, according to the connections on
Sunday. Gun Runner is headed to the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) on March
26 following his Risen Star (G2) victory and Venus Valentine will get the chance
to prove her 74-1 upset in the TwinSpires.com Rachel Alexandra (G2) was no fluke
in the TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on the same day.
Zulu and Awesome Speed each worked four furlongs on Sunday to ready for next
Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Undefeated Zulu will
be making his stakes bow in the 1 1/16-mile contest and posted a half in :48.21
at Palm Beach Downs. Awesome Speed exits a pair of stakes victories and covered
four panels in :48.30 at Palm Meadows.
Japan hosted a pair of stakes contests on Sunday that could have international implications. Nonkono Yume,
nominated to the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), finished second to trace-record setting Moanin in
the February S. (Jpn-G1) while Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Lani could only finish fifth behind
Gold Dream in the Hyacinth S.