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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.
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