Fair Grounds Notebook

FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK

MARCH 2, 2005

by Brian P. Turner

A pair of listed stakes highlighted the week's racing action at Fair

Grounds and began Saturday with the $125,000 Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup

H. for four-year-olds and up going nine furlongs on the lawn. Warleigh (Lord At

War [Arg]) was sent to the gate as the post time favorite off his extremely

impressive performance on Fat Tuesday, when he stalked the early pace before taking

over near the stretch drive for a solid 2 ¾-length score in the Mardi Gras H.

The chestnut found the competition to be a little tougher here than in his

previous start though. After being on or near the pace through moderate early

fractions of :25 2/5 and :52 2/5, Warleigh faded in the stretch to finish fifth,

beaten by four lengths.

In the end, the day belonged to G P FLEET (Northern Afleet), who was coming

off a disappointing 11th-place finish in the Sunshine Million Turf S. at Santa

Anita. Prior to that effort though, the five-year-old gelding had reeled

off three victories in a row, including a victory in the River City H. (G3) at

Churchill Downs in November where he defeated Warleigh by 9 ¼ lengths.

G P Fleet stalked Warleigh through the early stages of the Fair Grounds

Breeders' Cup before challenging for the lead in the second turn and pulling

clear in the stretch with a stiff and determined stretch drive to cross the

finish line 1 ¼ lengths in front. Honor in War (Lord At War [Arg]) rallied

gamely from off the pace to pick up the place, a neck in front of Rapid Proof

(Fast Play).

On Sunday, a field of nine Bayou-bred fillies, including one coupled entry,

contested the six-furlong Battler Star H. THE BETER MAN CAN (Lord Avie) was sent

to the gate as the prohibitive even-money favorite and rewarded chalk players by

rallying from off the pace and opening up in the stretch drive for a decisive 7

¼- length victory. Maid in China (B. J.'s Mark) held on for the place, a

half-length in front of the fast-closing My Foriels On (My Mike) who picked up the

show as the longest shot on the board at odds of nearly 60-1.

Horses on or near the pace held the advantage while racing on the main track

this week whether they were going short or long. As for the turf, Thursday's,

Friday's and Sunday's races were moved to the main track but, as for races run

on their intended surface, horses racing on or near the pace seemed to hold the

advantage in both sprints and routes.

Steve Asmussen and Robby Albarado appear to have their respective titles all

but sewn up. Asmussen's 55 winners in the trainer standings are 24 better than

Gamaliel Vazquez and Tom Amoss, who are tied for second. Albarado's 88

winners in the jockey standings towers over Donnie Meche and Corey Lanerie, who

are battling it out for the second spot with 60 and 59 winners, respectively.

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (2/24)

7TH – THUNDERDOLL (Thunder Gulch) is now a perfect two-for-two in her brief

career. After breaking her maiden on the turf in her first career start, the

three-year-old filly was forced to try the dirt when this optional claiming

event was moved to the main track. The dark bay responded well by stalking the

pace early before taking over in the stretch for an easy 1 ¼-length victory.

Friday (2/25)

8TH – LEMON MAID (Lemon Drop Kid) made her career debut an impressive one by

stalking the pace early before taking over near the sixteenth pole and claiming

this maiden special event by 3 ¼ lengths, posting a solid 97 BRIS Speed rating

in the process.

Saturday (2/26)

4TH – FINEST JUELL (Finest Hour) took the victory in this state-bred maiden

claiming event with the greatest of ease. After breaking slowly from the gate,

the bay was forced to rally from near the back of the pack but really found her

best stride in the stretch drive, pulling clear for an easy 4 ½-length

victory.

5TH – COLORFUL KING (Kingmambo) put in a solid effort in his first career

start as he rallied from off the pace to miss by a neck in this maiden special

grass event. The chestnut has a solid pedigree for the lawn and should only

improve off this trip over the surface.

7TH – TRICKY STORM (Summer Of Storms) had been knocking on the door in each

of his first two trips over the Fair Grounds grass this meet but has been coming

up a bit short. The six-year-old horse really got over the hump in this event, leading the field from gate to wire for an easy 4 ¾-length victory.

Sunday (2/27)

5TH – SEA SIREN (Stormy Atlantic) had been getting close to winning her first

race in each of her last two starts on the lawn but when this maiden special

grass event was moved to the main track, it may have been a blessing in

disguise. After stalking the pace early, the bay made her move near the second

turn and opened up in the stretch for an easy 6 ¾-length victory.

9TH – JIMMY CRACKED CORN (The Name's Jimmy) took the lead out of the gate and

never looked back, cruising home to an easy five-length victory in this optional

claiming event. The four-year-old gelding now has three wins from four starts on

the Fair Grounds main track which qualifies him as a definite “horse for the

course."

Monday (2/28)

7TH – AMORAMENTE (Repriced) overcame a bit of solid bumping at the start of

this maiden special grass event and rallied from off the pace to claim the

victory by 2 ¼ lengths. The bay filly has a deceptively solid pedigree for the

grass.