FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 19
by Brian P. Turner
The first step toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) came for a
small field of five three-year-olds on Saturday as they contested the eight-furlong LeComte S. (G3). The Dallas Stewart-trained STORM SURGE (Storm Cat) was
sent to the gate as the even-money favorite off of his impressive 2 ¼-length
score in the Sugar Bowl S. here on Christmas Eve. Though the dark bay finished
second in his first try against graded stakes company in the Bashford Manor S.
(G3) at Churchill in July, his last two attempts against that level of
competition had left something to be desired as he finished well up the track in
both the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga and the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) also
at Churchill.
In his favor though was the fact that there were no
monsters in here like he had been facing in Kentucky and New York. The most serious
threats appeared to come from Remington MEC Mile S. winner Smooth Bid (Rubiano)
and Kansas City Boy (Boston Harbor), who was coming off of a devastating 8 ¼-length maiden score at Churchill in November.
As the field left the gate though, it was Major League
(Magic Cat) who quickly bounded to the lead and guided the field through tepid
early fractions of :24 3/5 and :49 3/5 but despite the easy going, he gave way
easily at the top of the stretch and faded to last.
Storm Surge rallied from next to last to pick up the
victory, but not without giving the chalk players out there a few anxious moments
as his margin of victory upon hitting the wire was only a neck. Smooth Bid and
Kansas City Boy put in a valiant effort through the stretch, even exchanging
bumps along the way, and crossed the wire in second and third, respectively, with
only a head separating the pair.
Those who had backed the favorite had their nerves
stretched even further when Carlos Marquez Jr., the jockey aboard Kansas City
Boy, filed a claim of foul against the top pair for alleged interference in the
stretch drive, but his claim was disallowed by the stewards.
Three-year-old fillies also had their day on Saturday as a
field of six contested the eight-furlong Tiffany Lass S. The Steve Asmussen-trained Punch Appeal (Successful Appeal) was sent to the gate as the
overwhelming favorite off the fact that five of her six lifetime victories have
come against stakes company. The biggest threat in the field appeared to come
from Enduring Will (Arch), who was making her first start since her impressive
10-length score in the Silver Spur Breeders’ Cup S. at Lone Star Park in
October.
When all was said and done though, it would be neither of
these fillies in front at the wire as 11-1 outsider THE BETER MAN CAN (Lord Avie),
who stalked the early pace, made the lead in deep stretch and held on gamely at the end to hit the wire a neck in
front. The dark bay had faced fellow Bayou-breds in each of her first four
starts, picking up three wins in the process, but made the most of her first try
against open company by picking up the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse.
Punch Appeal was the victim of some bumping upon leaving
the gate but recovered well enough to guide the field through early fractions of
:24 1/5 and :48 3/5. The bay even responded when she was headed in the stretch, but
she really seemed to tire badly late and settled for the show, a half-length
behind Enduring Will in second.
Also on Saturday, there was a pair of turf stakes that
kicked off with the $100,000 Dr. A. B. Leggio Memorial H. for fillies and mares,
four-year-old and up, going 5 ½ furlongs on the grass. A field of 13, including
one coupled entry, went to the post and was headed by multiple stakes winner
Dyna Da Wyna (Doc’s Leader) who was sent off as the slight favorite. After
moving into contention late though, the five-year-old mare faltered badly and
staggered home a well beaten 11th.
In the end, the day belonged to 21-1 outsider AMBITION
UNBRIDLED (Unbridled’s Song), who took the lead out of the gate and vied for the
top spot throughout before holding on gamely at the end to hit the wire a half-length in front. Tara’s Touch
(SAf) (Tara’s Halls), who was making her
first start in North America after arriving from South Africa, stalked the pace and got up for the place, a head
in front of Our Love (Combat Ready) in third.
Finally, a salty field of 11 four-year-olds and up went to
the gate for the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley H. The race was littered with
well known stakes runners and included such graded stakes winners as Candid Glen
(El Gran Senor), Honor in War (Lord At War [Arg]), Colorful Judgement (Diesis
[GB]) and False Promises (Jules).
Despite this fact, it was Horse to Watch AMERICA ALIVE
(American Chance) who was sent off as the slight 3-1 favorite and rewarded his
backers by rallying from dead last, closing with tremendous strides, to pick up
the victory by a head. Grade 1 hero Honor in War put in a strong effort
to pick up the place, a nose in front of Rapid Proof (Fast Play) in third.
Steve Asmussen still sits atop the trainer standings as his
22 winners leave him four ahead of Tom Amoss in second. Gamaliel Vazquez has
moved into third having saddled 14 winners thus far. Robby Albarado continues
to widen his lead in the jockey standings having booted home 53 winners. Corey
Lanerie is a distant second with 31, followed by Lonnie Meche and James Graham
with 26 winners apiece.
Horses on or near the pace dominated the sprint races on
the main track this week and held a slight advantage in the routes. Thursday’s
and Friday’s turf races were moved to the main track but as for those run on
their intended surface, all three sprint races were won by horses on or near the
lead but horses coming from off the pace held the edge in the routes.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (01/13)
5TH – SONGFEST (Unbridled’s Song) put in a solid effort in this her career
debut by rallying from off the pace and closing well late to finish second in
this maiden special event. Though she finished 1 ½ lengths behind the winner,
she was six lengths clear of the rest of the field.
Friday (01/14)
9TH – LOST CHEROKEE (Cherokee Run) was extremely impressive in this allowance
event as he stalked the pace early before making his move in the stretch and
pulling clear late to hit the wire three lengths clear of the field.
Saturday (01/15)
1ST – DYANAMIC STORM (Dynaformer) rallied from well off the pace to miss by a
half length in this maiden special event. The three-year-old colt was making his
first start on the grass and has an extremely solid pedigree for the surface so
expect a big effort from him in his next start now that he has a trip over the
Bayou lawn under his belt.
6TH – Tara’s Touch was extremely solid in the Leggio and could be a force to
be reckoned with in her next start.
8TH – America Alive continues to impress with his explosive closing move and
will undoubtedly pose a threat wherever the connections place him next.
Sunday (01/16)
8TH – RIDDLESDOWN (Ire) (Common Grounds [GB]) showed a bit of the old fire
that propelled him to stakes glory in his younger days by closing from well off
the pace to take this turf claiming event by 2 ½ lengths.
Monday (01/17)
9TH – WAVE THE SWORD (Sword Dance [Ire]) is making a return to the Watch List
after coming up a neck short in this optional claiming turf affair. The
seven-year-old horse loves the New Orleans lawn and probably won’t be denied
much longer.