|
|
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.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
