FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 10, 2005
by Brian P. Turner
The city of New Orleans was in full swing this week as Mardi Gras reached its
pinnacle before concluding on Tuesday. Fair Grounds did its part in contributing
to the celebration by offering an additional day of racing on “Fat Tuesday,”
highlighted by the $50,000 Mardi Gras H. for four-year-olds and up
going 7 1/2 furlongs on the lawn. A field of 10 went to the post, headed by
Shiloh Bound (Cat’s Career) who was sent to the gate as the narrow favorite
despite the fact that several in the field were quite a bit more accomplished
against stakes-caliber competition.
The Steve Asmussen-trained WARLEIGH (Lord At War [Arg]) has been facing some
very tough turf runners over the past year with his most impressive effort
coming last May when he finished a very solid third, two lengths behind multiple
Grade 2 winner Mr. O’Brien (Ire) (Mukaddamah), in the Argent Dixie S. (G2)
at Pimlico.
Warleigh’s class definitely came to the surface in the Mardi Gras as he
stalked the pace early before taking over in the stretch drive and cruising home
to an easy 2 3/4-length victory. Shiloh Bound put in a game effort to pick up
the place, hitting the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of Social King (King Of Kings
[Ire]) in third.
On Friday a field of 10, including one coupled entry, contested the
six-furlong South Mississippi Owners and Breeders S. Heavily-favored BILOXI
BREEZE (Jules) proved himself well deserving of the betting public’s faith as he
stalked the pace early before taking over near the drive and widening his lead
through the stretch to hit the wire 14 1/4 lengths in front. Hello Mo (Cat’s
Career) claimed the place, 2 1/4 lengths better than Spiritridge (Esplande
Ridge).
The week’s other stakes offering came on Saturday as a field of five fillies
and mares contested the six-furlong Pan Zareta H., for four-year-olds and up.
The Steve Asmussen-trained SOURIS (Defrere) was sent to the gate as the slight
favorite off back-to-back stakes victories at Sunland Park and Oaklawn Park.
The five-year-old mare easily made it three in a row as she rallied from last to
hit the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front. Silver Crown (Distorted Humor) set the
early pace and fought gamely to the end to pick up the place, 8 3/4-lengths
clear of Crow Jane (Indian Charlie) in third.
Horses running on or near the pace held a solid advantage on the main track
this week, regardless of whether they were going short or long. As for the turf,
only Thursday’s races had to be moved to the main track. Horses coming from off
the pace held the advantage in both sprints and routes.
Asmussen still has a solid lead in the trainer standings as his 39 winners
are 14 better than Tom Amoss in second. Gamaliel Vazquez is maintaining his hold
on the third spot with 23 winners for the meet. Robby Albarado is still
dominating the jockey standings having booted home 68 winners thus far. Corey
Lanerie and James Graham are in a tie for second with 46 winners each.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (2/03)
9TH – DYNAREIGN (Dynaformer) is making a return to the Watch List after
gamely taking the victory in the optional claiming event that had originally
been slated for the lawn. The five-year-old horse looms as an even more solid
threat next out with a return to the grass.
10TH – MISTY’S HALO (Sunny’s Halo) put in a very solid effort in her career
debut by rallying from next to last to finish second in this state-bred maiden
special event. Though she crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, she
was four lengths clear of the rest of the field.
Friday (2/04)
5TH – WHEATY (Quiet American) closed with a tremendous turn of foot to miss
by three parts of a length in this starter allowance turf event. The
four-year-old colt has been a consistent performer since moving into the barn of
trainer Thomas Tomillo and should loom a threat in his next start, provided he
returns against similar.
9TH – NEW HAVEN HARBOR (Boston Harbor) is making his second appearance on the
Watch List. Though he finished second in this six-furlong optional claiming
event, the three-year-old colt really seemed to be finding his best stride late
and should loom a solid threat when the connections stretch him out to a route.
Saturday (2/05)
4TH – FIRE WOOD (Woodman) made his first try at running on the lawn a solid
one as he missed the win by only a nose in this maiden special event. With a try
over the surface under his belt, the bay stands a solid chance of finding the
winner’s circle in his next start.
Sunday (2/06)
4TH – BITTERSWEET BONNIE (Excavate) was forced to steady sharply at the start
of this state-bred claiming event which left her in the unenviable position of
trailing the field through the early stages of the race. The gray put in a
tremendous late rally though, closing with a solid turn of foot, to miss by a
length. A better trip next out could yield better results.
5TH – POLISH GROVE (Polish Numbers) made her first attempt over the lawn an
impressive one as she led the field from gate to wire to take this maiden
special event by a half-length.
Monday (2/07)
1ST – LESLIE’S RUNNER (Believe It) reeled off his second 9 3/4-length victory
in a row in this Bayou-bred claiming event. The chestnut gelding spent the first
eight starts of his career showing very little, if any, potential of ever
breaking his maiden, but he has really come to life as of late and should loom a
threat next out provided his connections don’t become too ambitious with
his placement.
9TH – KALAHARI CAT (Cape Town) is now a perfect two for two since moving into
the barn of Wayne Catalano. The dark bay began by breaking her maiden by four
lengths while going six furlongs on the main track on January 10 then followed
that up with an easy 2 1/2-length score on the grass in this event. Regardless
of the surface she shows up on next, Kalahari Cat definitely poses a threat.
10TH – SKIP IRISH (Skip Away) has now racked up a record of 7-5-1-0 since
moving into the barn of Asmussen last October. The gray looked extremely
impressive in this starter allowance turf event as he rallied from off the pace
to easily hit the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front.
Tuesday (1/08)
7TH – DOCTORATE (GB) (Dr Fong) made a solid North American debut as he
rallied from the off pace to take this optional claiming turf event by a length.