Fair Grounds Notebook

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.