FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 19, 2008
by Steve Collison
Talk about an early Christmas. That’s what Fair Grounds had last Thursday
when the snow began falling and forced the cancellation of that day’s
racing activities. Snow began falling in the metro New Orleans area Thursday
morning, putting the city of New Orleans under a winter storm warning for the
rest of the day.
“Safety, both for equine and humans, is always going to take first priority,”
Fair Grounds President Austin Miller said
It is Fair Grounds’ first winter weather cancellation since 1989 and one
that obviously wasn’t welcomed. However, Fair Grounds Racing Secretary Jason Boulet said Thursday’s canceled races would be brought back as extra races
beginning December 18, with horses entered Thursday receiving priority. In addition,
the track will offer 11-race cards from December 18-22 to make up for Thursday’s
canceled races.
Louisiana Champions Day
One major upset and the matching of two long-standing career records
headlined the 18th running of Louisiana Champions Day here on Saturday.
Ten of the 11 winners in the $1.1 million, all-stakes program dedicated to
Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses were priced at less than 6-1,
but the one exception was a big one. BREAK UP (Sunday Break [Jpn] lit up the
board by paying $138.40 to win in the $100,000 Champions Day Juvenile.
Jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Tom Amoss, who have combined for 15 career
Fair Grounds titles, each added another line to their list of achievements.
Albarado won two races Saturday, the Lassie on MASTER LINK (Dance Master) and
the Sprint on STAR GUITAR (Quiet American), for his 11th and 12th career
Champions Day wins, tying Calvin Borel for the most in the event’s history.
Amoss’ win in the Turf with WILD RALLY (Wild Event) gave him seven career
triumphs on Champions Day, matching Bobby Barnett and Donald Cormier for the top
spot among trainers.
Other Racing Action
On Sunday, GROOVY LUCK (Groovy Jett) was able to make the pace and
held on willingly to capture the featured $46,000 turf sprint allowance here. Ridden by Colby Hernandez and trained by Norman Miller III, the five-year-old
gelding finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Cya Later Bert (Grand Slam)
The winner paid $6.20, $3.40, and $3, while Cya Later Bert returned $5.40 and
$3.60.Groovy covered the about 5 1/2 furlongs over a “good”
Stall-Wilson turf course in 1:04.94 after setting early splits of :22.37 and
:46.85.
Track Surface
On Wednesday before the foul weather, the surface was acting about as fairly
as anyone could expect. The best horses were running as they should and the
results were honest. On Friday, however, after Thursday’s races were cancelled due
to the snow, the strip had clearly been given added winterizing as it had become
slow while favoring those who were able to come from off the pace. Any runner
who performed well on the lead can be given added credit when coming back next
out. Conversely, those who won from off the pace need some added scrutiny to
distinguish who may have had that extra push.
Just as clearly by Saturday, management obviously agreed with my assessment as they had rolled the surface
much tighter for the big Louisiana Championship Day. The result was a much
faster surface that became fair and balanced with runners prevailing from all
over. Sunday was more of the same with four horses winning in front-running
style.
RECENT CLAIMS TO WATCH
Friday (12/12)
5TH — BOUND TO (Boundary) goes from the Bill Mott barn
into Cody Autrey’s. The three-year old filly is the type of horse who’ll do very well under a
claiming trainer’s care as opposed to that of a Hall of Famer. While Mott is
undeniably one of the best, it takes a different kind of approach with some
horses and that’s where Autrey excels.
Sunday (12/14)
2ND — BANDITS TO RICHES (Time Bandit) is a type we don’t usually like — runners who have
worked their way down to the bottom — but this time we’ll make an exception.
Three-year-old filly is an underachiever coming from a low-percentage barn. She
was claimed by the astute Steve Klesaris and can easily begin working her way
back up that same ladder.
8TH — PAPA (Mizzen Mast) showed absolutely nothing
today while being claimed by trainer Tim Glyshaw. We suspect that the
three-year-old gelding just tossed
in one of those dull efforts that happens from time to time, and new
surroundings could act to revive a stalled career. After all, up until now he
had spent his entire life under the care of the Dallas Stewart operation and a
new regimen may work wonders.
HORSES TO WATCH
Saturday (12/13)
4TH — JOE’S MAJESTY (Raffle’s Majesty) was in tough
against this starter allowance field yet never wavered. Despite being behind
traffic and in constant trouble, the four-year-old gelding still finished third in a game effort. Watch
him next out wherever he may land.
6TH — FOREIGN PRODUCTION’s (Run Production) defeat can be
placed squarely onto the shoulders of jockey Lonnie Meche. Why he choose to
chase the speed, who was setting blistering fractions, aboard the odds-on
favorite is beyond this guy’s
comprehension. Whatever, Foreign Production gets a pass here and will prove troublesome
next out.
Sunday (12/14)
6TH — TEMPLAR’S CUP (Devil His Due) had the misfortune of trying to
overcome an amazingly plodding pace but not surprisingly was unable to overtake
the leaders. Can do much better with some realistic fractions ahead of him.
BEWARE OF THESE
Saturday (12/13)
5TH — CALMED (Belek), a hard-hitting mare with back class, came off the shelf prior to
her last start and showed little. Today, she was rank during the post parade while
showing visible signs of washing out. She then reared at the break, which all
adds up to a runner who has lost that zest for running. This typically happens
with older mares when they’re given time off away from the track on a farm in
the country. They regress and then rebel. Watch her during the post parade next
out for signs of more revolution.
Sunday (12/14)
6TH — LUDWIG (Lasting Approval) had the dream trip of a lifetime as
he was able to sit behind fainthearted speed setting agonizingly slow fractions.
Basically unless he fell down there was no way he was going to lose. Keep this
in mind next time he appears in the past performances.
YOUNG BLOODS
Friday (12/12)
1ST — ROYAL DESIGN BABE (Royal Empire) was matched against the
boys to begin her racing career, which is one of many reasons why trainer Darrell
Jackson wins at a meager 5 percent rate. The juvenile filly also had to overcome the rail
post which she did in hearty fashion to run third against two heavy favorites. This was quite an effort especially considering she’s actually bred
to go long.