FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 24, 2008
by Steve Collison
SPIRITED AWAY (Awesome Again) lived up to her name by making the pace under
jockey Miguel Mena and holding off a late charge by Unforgotten (Northern Afleet)
to win Saturday’s $60,000 Truly Bound H. at Fair Grounds. The winner, a daughter
of 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome Again trained by Paul McGee,
increased her career earnings to $133,683 with the 1 1/2-length win, her fourth
in eight lifetime starts. She toured the 1 1/16-mile distance over the sloppy
going in 1:45.81 after setting early fractions of :24.95 and :47.97.
“She likes to be in front,” jockey Miguel Mena said after the race. “Around
the turn, I said to myself, ‘I got a lot of horse here.’ I thought she ran
huge.”
Spirited Away returned $10.60.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Triple Crown trail picked up at least one new
contender when undefeated DENIS OF CORK (Harlan’s Holiday) won an allowance race
with jockey Calvin Borel coming in exclusively to ride this horse.
“He was struggling the whole way around, and there was no pace in the race,”
Borel said. “He was swimming the whole way, but that’s all right. He has a big
heart and he did the job.”
As the odds-on choice, Denis of Cork paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10 and toured
the mile and 40 yards in 1:40.37.
TRACK SURFACE
This week featured an interesting blend of surfaces, which is something
anyone betting serious money (which in my mind is any money) needs to keep
abreast of. Thursday started off favoring speed, as has been the pattern since
the beginning of this meet. However, even with five-of-10 winning in front
running fashion, the speed bias wasn’t as prevailing as it had been on previous
Thursdays. And, as has been the pattern on Friday, speed took a decided downturn
as only a pair of front runners were able to prevail the following afternoon.
After a sloppy main oval on Saturday, a drying out surface on Sunday produced
another speed-favoring strip in which six-of 10 were won by front runners. None
of this has been overwhelming, but it does have an effect on how future races
should be perceived.
JOCKEYS
After a brief stint riding in Southern California, jockey JULIEN LEPAROUX
will be returning to the Fair Grounds, which is very good news for handicappers.
Leparoux was scorching hot when the fall Churchill Downs meet ended and we would
expect him to pick up where he left off for several reasons. First of all, the
main oval here has been benefiting runners coming from off the pace, which is
one of Leparoux strengths. But what I would personally be waiting for is for him
to dominate the grass races here as there is no standout turf riders currently
here. Expect Julien to begin winning over the grass at an accelerated pace with
some surprising payoffs in the process.
Best wishes go out to jockey DONNIE MECHE, who was injured when being thrown
from his mount in Sunday’s 3RD race at Fair Grounds. Meche fell on his left hand
and wrist when his mount went down near the three-sixteenths pole. He was taken
to Tulane Medical Center for x-rays. Meche took off his four remaining mounts on
Sunday’s program. The 33-year-old rider currently has eight-wins here.
TRAINER PROFILE
Irish-born trainer DAVID CARROLL isn’t the type of conditioner who’s going
make you rich as he doesn’t start that many runners. But what he does do is win
with enough consistency to make him worth watching in certain situations. Thus
far at the Fair Grounds meet, Carroll has sent just 15 starters to post with
four of them winning, an excellent 27-percent success rate. Carroll excels with
his young colts especially when they’re competing in smaller stakes, which is an
area where he shows a positive rate of return.
Another aspect pertaining to his success with young runners is when he
patiently waits until their three-year-old season for their debut, at which time
he scores at a 24-percent rate with, again, a nice return for your trouble. To
make this pattern even more esoteric, watch for any three-year-old colt making
his career debut while starting out in the claiming ranks. Very potent. Finally,
coming from Ireland, you would expect Carroll’s runners moving to the grass to
be a strength, but in fact it’s the complete opposite. Carroll’s horses going
from turf to dirt win at a much higher rate.
RECENT CLAIMS TO WATCH
Thursday (1/17)
1ST — CALVARY (Najran) came off the shelf today to show good turn of early
speed before fading in what was still an encouraging performance. He was claimed
by trainer Francine Walder, and this colt looks to have a huge upside.
7TH — FORIZZIL (Yes It’s True) has been steadily improving with every effort
since coming to the Fair Grounds. Now gets claimed by trainer Michael Stidham,
who is underrated when it comes to his first off-the-claim runners.
Friday (1/18)
3RD — TIME IS CRUCIAL (Time Bandit), a modestly bred colt, has been running
well for the slumping Torey Blanchard stable and now gets clamed by the potent
Patrick Mouton barn. This horse broke his maiden today and figures to prove
tough going first time around for new connections.
Saturday (1/19)
1ST — LET’S FIGHT OVER (Fight Over) managed to turn in another solid
performance despite racing over a sloppy surface that isn’t his strong suit. The
five-year-old gelding is still eligible for non-winners-three lifetime for new
trainer Corales Richards and should be able to knock out that conditioned
claimer for new outfit.
5TH — OLD COLONY (Broken Vow) was claimed by Albert Stall, who doesn’t take
many but did see fit to claim this lightly raced five-year-old from the slumping
Keith Desormeaux barn.
Sunday (1/20)
3RD — STATE POWER (Quiet American) was claimed in his previous start for
$25,000, and it’s doubtful that trainer Alvin Sider expected to lose him today
for $35,000. He did however as Kelly Broussard took this hard-hitting gelding on
the rise and obviously has big plans for him down the road.
Monday (1/21)
3RD — BOUNCE HOUSE (Jump Start), a lightly raced four-year-old colt, has
been working his way down the ladder while going for a stable that has been
doing the same. Now gets claimed by trainer Tom Amoss and there’s no where to go
but back up.
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (1/17)
8TH — TEIXEIRA (Aptitude) won by four lengths and it was easy to be
impressed with the manner in which this colt did it. Not only did he beat a
solid allowance field, he did so under a hand ride after his rider lost the
whip. This well-bred runner appears to be on his way to stakes company and can
handle that level of competition.
Friday (1/18)
6TH — RIVER ROSIE (Gilded Time) returned from a three month leave of absence
and despite having a less then perfect trip, the four-year-old filly gained the
place today. The winner was an odds-on choice and this filly gave her all she
could handle while at the same time easily handling the rest of this field.
Saturday (1/19)
4TH — KILDERRY (E Dubai) caught a sloppy surface that was favoring those
near the front end. Nonetheless, the Michael Stidham first-time starter showed
ability and grit when coming from well out of it to gain the place. Would appear
to have a bright future for capable connections.
4TH — ZAKEDOR (El Corredor), a lightly raced gelding, turned in a
deceptively strong performance today going over a sloppy surface while coming
off a brief break. Would expect Amoss to find a winnable spot in the near future
for this one.
7TH — UNBRIDLED VICAR (Vicar), a honest running three-year-old gelding, had
been in the money in all five previous starts, and today made it six. Was forced
to race wide around both turns while just missing to odds-on choice Denis of
Cork.
9TH — UNFORGOTTEN (Northern Afleet), who after getting slammed at the
outset, was faced with the task of running down eventual winner Spirited Away,
who had gotten away with extremely soft fractions. Still managed to turn in an
impressive performance despite not winning.
Sunday (1/20)
4TH — HURRICANE LEIZA (Storm Boot), a four-year-old filly, made her belated
debut today at the $25,000 level for Mouton. Even though she lost by 12 lengths,
she was beaten by a field that contained nothing but runners dropping down
sharply in class, making this effort much better than appears on paper. This
horse can win next out at a inflated price.
BEWARE OF THESE
Saturday (1/19)
9TH — While not wanting to take anything away from Spirited Away, she was
able to set very soft fractions after the only other speed in the race failed to
fire. Adding to her victory was the fact that she’s superbly well-bred to handle
the off going, making this win not as impressive as may appear on paper.
Sunday (1/19)
2ND — BUMFOOJALUM (Grindstone) was the lone speed over a speed-favoring
surface while also being afforded the luxury of setting plodding fractions. She
was also the chalk after dropping down substantially in class and needs to be
scrutinized carefully next time around.