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FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 7, 2008 by Steve Collison Steve Asmussen, who holds a commanding lead in the local standings as he seeks a seventh Fair Grounds training title, seems to be holding all the cards in the upcoming stakes jamboree. He'll send out the strong duo of PYRO (Pulpit) and Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]) in Saturday's $300,000 Risen Star S. (G3). The former, who has been training with stablemate and Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike), will be making his first start since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Z Fortune exits a victory in the Lecomte S. (G3) here on January 12. Speaking of Curlin, there was a possibility of an appearance by him in Saturday's $150,000 Mineshaft H. (G3), but his connections shifted gears and will send him overseas to Dubai later this month with the $6 million World Cup (UAE-G1) as his main target. While it would have been nice to have the champ racing here this weekend, Dubai makes sense as he looks for new objectives. As for the past week, SHAEBAT (Dynaformer) rallied in the late stages to capture Sunday's allowance feature for fillies and mares on the turf. The odds-on favorite covered about 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.59. Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Ralph Nicks, she paid $3.80, $3.20 and $2.60 and increased her career earnings to $69,200 with her second victory in seven lifetime starts. TRACK SURFACE Thursday's racing was taken off the green after rains earlier in the week although the main oval remained fast. Unlike most Thursdays, the track played evenly for all comers instead of being slanted toward the speed. By Sunday, however, the main oval reverted back to being kind to early speed with five-of eight runners taking their respective fields in wire-to-wire fashion. The other three events were also won by horses who were able to lay close to the early tempo. Perhaps that was just an aberration as come Monday it was playing more evenly again with front runners still capable of holding their own. NOTES As we suspected, jockey JULIEN LEPAROUX has started picking up steam since coming back to the Fair Grounds following a brief and disappointing stay out west. The talented Frenchman has now won 11 races from just 46 mounts and as we also suggested, his biggest impact is coming over the lawn. That was evident when winning with Shaebat over the lawn in Sunday's feature. Enter PATRICK VALENZUELA! After a long and troubled career in California, Valenzuela now brings his circus act to the Fair Grounds after wasting yet another chance out west due to a drunken driving charge. How long he'll be here is yet to be seen, but the shame of it all is that he could've been arguably the greatest rider of all-time under better circumstances. Valenzuela is named to ride a pair of runners on Friday's card. TRAINER PROFILE MICHAEL MAREINA has quietly been enjoying a very productive Fair Grounds meet having won with 7-of-16 starters for a strong 43-percent win rate. Mareina is different from many of his rivals as he wins at a much higher clip going with colts as opposed to fillies. Those numbers are enhanced even further with his two-year-old first time starters, which while not relevant currently is something to keep in mind down the road. What also makes this conditioner unique is that he does better moving runners from the claiming ranks to allowances when conventional wisdom would expect just the opposite. He also does extremely well with his new acquisitions, hitting nearly 30 percent, although he ironically doesn't do well with recent claims. I would also be wary of his runners stretching out in distance as that's another weak spot. RECENT CLAIMS TO WATCH Thursday (1/31) 1ST -- Jockey Shawn Bridgmohan attempted to restrain OFFICER WOODY (Officer) with a hammerlock and she responded by sulking, eventually turning in a subpar performance. The filly was claimed for a hefty $50,000 by trainer Paul McClelland, who we expect will wheel her back on the upswing at a price. 5TH -- CHEYENNE SPIRIT (Richter Scale) was asked to sprint today and although he grabbed the place spot, he is much better when going long. Was claimed by trainer Michael Campbell, who doesn't hit a high percentage but has been known to surprise with his first-off-the-claim runners. Watch for the stretch out with success. Friday (2/1) 2ND -- E'CARTE (Deputy Minister), an expensively bred gelding, was claimed today by trainer John Fahey III, who has a knack with runners by this regal sire. Fahey also claimed this horse sight unseen as gelding had been down at Sam Houston which leads us to suspect he had some inside insights. 3RD -- GUFUS (This Picture) was claimed by Asmussen from a stable that is currently zero-for-44 this year, and common sense dictates that huge improvement is in the cards next time around. 9TH -- DR SCHWARTZ (Smoke Glacken) was taken by trainer Ed Johnson, who isn't having a very solid meet right now but is still an overall high-percentage conditioner with plenty of know how. Johnson took this gelding for $35,000 and although this horse didn't perform well for current connections, believe he'll rebound for new operation. Sunday (2/3) 2ND -- WE WANT IT ALL's (Two Punch) jockey, Bridgmohan, must not have gotten the memo on how this surface was playing as he allowed this filly to lay back far too long. When asked to move, she did manage to make up some ground which wasn't easy to do today. Claimed by trainer Michael Mariena, the filly should be able to knock out her non-winners of two condition. Monday (2/4) 6TH -- STREAKING PINE (Pine Bluff) stepped up considerably in class to the $12,500 level after winning easily for a nickel. Despite the hefty hike, trainer Cody Autrey saw fit to claim him, which says he believes this horse has much more improving to do. And Autrey is typically right in his assessments. HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (1/31) 6TH -- WAR VETERAN (Combat Ready) may have been overmatched going against allowance company today and it didn't help that he was rank early. Turned in unreasonably quick fractions and it was no surprising to see him fade from the exertion. Can do better when back in the claiming ranks. Friday (2/1) 1ST -- SAM HE BE (Strategic Intent) is trained by Pat Herbert, who I don't believe really knew what he had until the three-year-old colt demolished this field in his career debut. Watch for this colt to stretch out successfully in near future as won today sprinting but is bred to go longer. Sunday (2/3) 3RD -- GAIL GOLDEN (Gold Tribute), who after turning a pair of poor efforts going against maiden special weight runners, was dropped by trainer Larry Robideaux to $25,000 where she could be competitive. This filly responded with a solid effort when gaining the place against a deserving odds on choice. Can graduate next time around. Monday (2/4) 2ND -- NAME UNSOLVED (Gold Tribute), a modestly bred first-time starter, never had much of a chance after getting mugged coming out of the gate. Still didn't turn in a bad performance and we can expect Robideaux to keep this young filly moving forward in her next couple of starts. 5TH -- WOODFORD GIRL (Honour and Glory) came flying through the lane today to win in impressive fashion despite having to overcome soft early fractions. Trainer Josie Carroll isn't a household name, but she's a capable conditioner who can keep this horse on a winning track. BEWARE OF THESE Thursday (1/31) 2ND -- KIKI SIMONE (Devil His Due) has been in the money in seven-of-10 starts thus far and always appears to be on the verge of winning. Today as the even money favorite, she appeared to have a bad trip when being forced to race wide before finishing third. This will prompt many to assume she'll be winning with a better trip next out, but she isn't worth the risk at low odds. Sunday (2/3) 10TH -- CINDERELLA CHUTO (Belek), the even-money favorite, was able to sit in perfect position just behind a front runner setting extremely soft fractions. Should have been able to overtake that rival but instead showed little and must wonder if a win is anywhere to be found in this faint hearted filly. Monday (2/4) 3RD -- CLASSIC EMILY (Bernstein) looks to be on a roll having won her last two starts but upon reflection, the four-year-old filly has done so under the most optimum of conditions. Both time out she won on the front end over speed favoring tracks while setting plodding fractions. Would just keep this in mind when comes up again for new trainer Bernie Flint.
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