Fair Grounds Notebook

FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 12

by Brian P. Turner

Fair Ground's weekly offering of stakes races kicked off on Saturday as a

field of seven Bayou-bred three-year-olds went to the gate for the $75,000

Crescent City Derby. CRIMSON STAG (Glitterman) was the solid choice of the

betting public off of his impressive score last month in the Louisiana Juvenile

Champion's Day S. where he stalked the pace early before pulling clear late for

a commanding 3 ½ length victory. Prior to that, the Dallas Stewart trainee had

been facing some tough open company at Saratoga and Keeneland through the summer

and fall so he definitely appeared worthy of the favorite's role.

The main question mark revolving around Crimson Stag's chances of winning the

race came from the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Crescent City as he had never

been past 6 ½ furlongs in any of his six lifetime starts. The bay laid these

concerns to rest as he quickly took the lead out of the gate and guided the

field through early fractions of :23 2/5 and :46 4/5 before cruising home a

length in front. Long shot Zarb's Music Man (Zarbyev) rallied from last with an

extremely impressive effort to clearly prove second best, finishing 4 ½ lengths

in front of Prince T. (Royal Anthem) in third.

On Sunday, a depleted field of four contested the $60,000 Colonel Power H.

for four-year-olds and up going six furlongs on the main track. The field was

headed by GOLD STORM (Seeking The Gold), who was making his first start since

coming up four lengths short in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Lone Star at

the end of October. The five-year-old horse returned from his vacation in fine

form as he stalked the pace setter early before taking over before the half and

pulling clear late for a solid 2 ¾-length victory. Fellow Breeders' Cup Sprint

participant Clock Stopper (Gilded Time) was along for the place, 2 ½ lengths

clear of Ole Rebel (Carson City) in third.

Horses running on or near the pace dominated on the main track this week in

both sprint and route races. As for the turf, Saturday's and Sunday's races were

moved to the main track but as for those actually run on their intended surface,

two of the three sprints were won by horses coming from off the pace while the

routes tended to play pretty fair.

Steve Asmussen and Tom Amoss are still deadlocked atop the trainer standings

with 17 winners each. Stewart and C. W. Bubba Cascio are a distant third with 10

apiece. As for the jockeys, Robby Albarado is still maintaining a tight hold on

the top spot with 43 winners thus far. Corey Lanerie is second with 29, six

ahead of Lonnie Meche in third.

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (01/06)

2ND – QUEEN'S WAGER (Valid Wager) was moving nicely when she was forced to

steady sharply in the second turn of this 7 ½-furlong turf starter allowance.

The dark bay recovered nicely though and finished with good energy to pick up

the place. A better trip next out could yield better results.

3RD – NATIVE MALAGRA (Mr. Secretary) stalked the pace early in this

state-bred maiden special event and made a nice closing move in the stretch to

come up a half-length short of the winner but 9 ½ lengths clear of the rest of

the field.

4TH – SPRUCE HERO (Partner's Hero) ran his turf record at Fair Grounds to a

perfect three-for-three by rallying from last to take this optional claiming

event by three parts of a length. The five-year-old gelding definitely appears

to be a horse for the course as his only victories over the grass have come here

in the Big Easy.

Friday (01/07)

4TH – STORM'S DARLING (Storm Boot) absolutely demolished this optional

claiming field by taking the lead early and never looking back, hitting the wire

11 ½ lengths clear of the field. The four-year-old filly has been on a bit of a

roll as of late so it wouldn't be surprising if she shows up against stakes

competition in her next start.

5TH – CONNYWITHAY (Binalong) made a huge closing move in the stretch drive of

this 5 ½-furlong turf claiming event, closing from last with nice strides to

miss by two lengths. A few more jumps and the chestnut would probably have

picked up the win.

Saturday (01/08)

3RD – LADY'S LAST PUNCH (Pulling Punches) had run respectably in each of her

first two career starts but found a new gear in this event as she took the lead

early and improved her position to crush this state-bred maiden claiming field

by 14 widening lengths.

8TH – Crimson Stag makes a return to the Watch List due to his impressive

score in the Crescent City. The bay could possibly make a return to open company

in his next start.

10TH – I'M BLUFFING (Pine Bluff) made his career debut an impressive one by

rallying from off the pace to take this maiden special event by a neck and did

it while going a route distance.

Sunday (01/09)

5TH – BIG B IN THE LEAD (Defrere) found the move from turf to dirt to be

exactly what he needed to find his way into the winner's circle. In his career

debut on the grass, the three-year-old gelding put in a nice even effort to

finish a respectable fourth. He really came to life in this maiden special

weight event by rallying from well off the pace, closing with nice strides, to

claim the victory by a head.

Monday (01/10)

5TH – NEW HAVEN HARBOR (Boston Harbor) rallied from next to last to pick up

the victory in his career debut by three lengths, posting a respectable 92 BRIS

Speed rating in the process. The three-year-old colt comes from the barn of Neil

Howard, who is generally not known for having his runners ready to fire in their

first start, which makes this one all the more interesting.