The 57th running of the $100,000 Sugar Bowl S. for two-year-olds highlights a
package of four stakes races at Fair Grounds on Saturday. The inaugural running
of “Santa Sprint Saturday” also features the $100,000 Letellier Memorial S. for
juvenile fillies at six furlongs; the $100,000 Bonapaw S. for turf runners,
three and up, at 5 1/2 furlongs; and the $100,000 Esplanade S. for distaffers at
5 1/2 furlongs.
The Bill Mott-trained SAADA (Thunder Gulch) is a top contender in the
six-furlong Sugar Bowl. A maiden special weight winner at Saratoga, the dark bay
colt finished third in the Grey Breeders’ Cup S. (Can-G3) next out. The Zayat
Stables colorbearer exits a runner-up finish versus allowance/optional claiming
company at Aqueduct. Robby Albarado, a six-time leading rider in New Orleans,
will pick up the mount, and they’ll meet seven rivals on Saturday.
SOK SOK (Trippi), a debut winner at Churchill Downs for conditioner Steve
Asmussen, finished fourth in the Sanford S. (G3) his second time out and will enter
the Sugar Bowl off a fourth in the Iroquois S. (G3), finishing 4 1/4 lengths
back of eventual Remsen S. (G2) hero Court Vision (Gulch). The chestnut colt
captured the Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile S. two starts back at Presque
Isle Downs. Sok Sok will keep Shaun Bridgmohan in the saddle.
Evangeline Downs stakes winner MIKIMOTO’S MOJO (Hold That Tiger) and recent
Churchill maiden special weight victor LIBERTY BULL (Holy Bull) are also in the
field.
HARLANS FORTUNE (Harlan’s Holiday), a recent allowance runner-up at Delta
Downs, will lead the call to the post under 116 pounds and Joseph Patin. Next
comes Mikimoto’s Mojo, Corey Lanerie, 122; PALMERSTOWN (Awesome Again), Eddie
Martin Jr, 116; Sok Sok, 122; Saada, 116; BEN AND THE TWIN (Storm Boot), Jamie
Theriot, 120; NOBLE HERO (Vindication), Lonnie Meche, 116; and Liberty Bull,
Miguel Mena, 116.
LA WILDCAT (Forest Wildcat), winner of the Miss Power Puff S. at Hawthorne
last time out, is among the top draws in the
Letellier Memorial. The Bernie
Flint runner has also placed in the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S. and N.A.T.C.
Futurity S. Schuylerville S. (G3) third-placer BLITZING (Montbrook), who hails
from the Asmussen stable, will draw wagering support, and a pair of debut maiden
winners — the Neil Howard-trained WISCONSIN LADY (Stephen Got Even) and Larry
Jones-conditioned APPENZELL (Johannesburg) — merit respect in their stakes
debuts.
The Bonapaw
attracted nearly a full field of 13, and STORMIN BAGHDAD (Stormin
Fever) will make his second appearance of the meet after winning the
Thanksgiving H. on opening day. Five-time stakes hero ALL WIRED UP (Wire Me
Collect) and seven-time stakes victor MYSTERY CLASSIC (Mystery Storm) are also
in the line-up. The former exits a score in the Zydeco S. at Delta Downs, and
the latter was last seen taking the Spirit of Texas S. at Sam Houston.
Ten fillies and mares will contest the
Esplanade. ATLANTA HIGHWAY (Chief
Seattle), an impressive winner of the Stonerside S. in May, is the possible
favorite. Conditioned by Andrew Leggio Jr., the sophomore lass recently returned
from a layoff with a smart victory over allowance/optional claiming rivals at
Fair Grounds on December 1. Other contenders include VALID LIL (Valid
Expectations) and INDIGO GIRL (Leestown).