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Masterful performance in New Orleans

Master Command never had an anxious moment in the Big Easy (Photo Courtesy of Lou Hodges Jr.) Aaron and Marie Jones' MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy) tracked pacesetter Good and Lucky (Wild Rush) to the far turn and seized control in the stretch, easily drawing clear to a 3 1/2-length decision in Saturday's $485,000 New Orleans H. (G2). The withdrawal of Liquor Cabinet (Ire) (Hennessy) resulted in Master Command being bet down to 1-5, and the overwhelming favorite did not disappoint his legion of fans with miniscule payoffs of $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10. The Todd Pletcher-trained five-year-old garnered his second straight victory at Fair Grounds after taking the February 10 Mineshaft H. (G3) by six lengths. Breaking on top under John Velazquez, Master Command settled about a length back of Good and Lucky as the pacesetter established moderate early fractions in :25 and :48 4/5 along the rail. Master Command closed the gap to a half-length through three-quarters in 1:12 3/5, and he easily moved past to open a three-length advantage through a mile in 1:37. Under only mild urging from his rider, the chestnut horse completed 1 1/8 miles over the fast track in 1:49 4/5. "He grabbed a hold of the track right out of the gate," Velazquez said. "Not much else you can say -- it was pretty easy."

Patriot Act (A.P. Indy), the 9-2 second choice in the six-horse field, edged out the late-running Smokeyjonessutton (You and I) for the place by a head and returned $2.80 and $2.40. Show was good for $3 at 6-1. Good and Lucky, Sandburr (Sandpit [Brz]) and More Than Regal (More Than Ready) rounded out the order of finish. The exotics totaled $6.60 (exacta), $13.60 (trifecta) and $32 (7-1-4-2) superfecta.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Brushwood Stable, Master Command sold for $650,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August sale and is the first stakes winner out of the winning Lady Lochinvar (Lord at War [Arg]), who is also the dam of Spinaway S. (G1) third-place runner X Star (Pulpit) and a yearling Pulpit filly. Lady Lochinvar hails from Lady Winborne (Secretariat), making her a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Al Mamoon (Believe It) and a full sibling to Grade 1 victress La Gueriere (Lord at War [Arg]). Grade 1 hero Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]) is also a close relation.

Master Command moved closer to millionaire status with the $300,000 payday, increasing his lifetime earnings to $959,018 from a 14-7-2-2- line. He earned his first graded win in last year's William Donald Schaefer H. (G3) and also captured the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup S. (G2).

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