Fair Grounds Notebook

FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK

MARCH 13, 2008

by Steve Collison

The only real news for this week is PYRO, PYRO, PYRO. The three-year-old son

of Pulpit has now officially taken the racing world by storm and his fire

doesn't look to be cooling anytime soon. For the record, yes, there are other

horses pointing toward Louisville, Kentucky, and that mystical first Saturday in May. But

after watching this odds-on favorite solidifying his status among the nation's

best, it's hard not to envision him doing the same once again in the Kentucky

Derby (G1), especially going the added ground down that long Churchill Downs

stretch. It's going to take some kind of a runner to deny this awesome-looking

colt once he gets rolling through the lane on that day.

As for Saturday in the Louisiana Derby (G2), he took command in midstretch to

capture the $600,000 event by unleashing his now patented late run in what was

surely the highlight of the New Orleans racing season, just as he had four weeks

earlier in the Risen Star S. (G3). Predictably, Pyro produced a lukewarm return of

$3.60, $2.80 and $2.20 while touring the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.44. After

winning by three lengths, he became another equine millionaire, increasing his

earnings to $1,056,718 with his third victory from six lifetime starts.

A spot opened for him on the straightaway for home, and he went about his

business," jockey Shaun Bridgmohan said of the easy score.

Trainer Steve Asmussen's post race commentary echoed that point.

"It looks like he's right on target," said Asmussen, who was the winningest trainer in

North America in number of wins last season and is far in front on his way to a

seventh training title at Fair Grounds

A STAR IS BORN

Everyone loves a star, as the numbers this weekend clearly indicated. A record

all-sources handle and modern-era records in on-track attendance and handle were

all set Saturday's Louisiana Derby Day card. The all-sources handle of $12,962,024

on the 12-race card topped the record of $12,400,747 set last year on an 11-race

Louisiana Derby Day card, producing a 4.5 percent increase in the process. A

crowd of 9,971 -- the largest in the 11-year history of Fair Grounds'

grandstand-clubhouse facility -- wagered $1,027,467, the first $1 million

on-track handle at Fair Grounds in the simulcast era. Those numbers represent a

57.7 percent increase in attendance and a 13.9 percent in handle on-track over

2007, when 6,321 fans wagered $901,941.

MORE

Although it was certainly, and deservedly, overshadowed by Pyro's successful

performance, there was another stellar effort made on Saturday. In the New

Orleans H. (G2), CIRCULAR QUAY (Thunder Gulch), who had not won since

capturing last year's Louisiana Derby, returned to that winning form

by outgunning odds-on favorite Grasshopper (Dixie Union) by a neck following a

thrilling stretch duel. He thus became the fourth horse in history to win the

Louisiana Derby one year and the New Orleans H. the next year, and the

first since Peace Rules in 2003-04. The Michael and Doreen Tabor colorbearer toured the 1 1/8-mile distance over the main track in 1:49.80.

Also, PROUD SPELL (Proud Citizen) overtook two-year-old filly champion Indian

Blessing (Indian Charlie) in the stretch and went on to capture the $400,000

Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in Saturday's 8TH race. Proud Spell, trained by Larry Jones

and ridden by Gabriel Saez, hooked up with Indian

Blessing in a virtual match race throughout the 1 1/16-mile Oaks. Indian Blessing held the upper hand

until inside the eighth pole, when Proud Spell moved past and drew off to a 2

1/4-length victory. Previously, Indian Blessing had defeated Proud Spell by 3

1/2 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and by a length again

last month in the Silverbulletday S. (G3). This time around, Proud Spell turned the tables

on her rival and did so despite being at an early disadvantage as her Indian

Blessing

enjoyed the lead at a leisurely pace.

"I'm tickled to death," understated Jones. "We just had to stay the course.

Gabriel had her in the perfect spot."

TRACK SURFACE

If anyone is looking toward the track surface to diminish Pyro's impressive

win on Saturday they can stop now. This racing surface has been extremely fair

and balanced for some time, and remained so throughout this day. That was made

evident by CUSH's (Arch) wire-to-wire winning performance in the 2ND race even

after setting sizzling fractions.

NOTES

This lengthy Fair Grounds meet has produced an abundance of slumping trainers

who's name you normally wouldn't expect to be on such a list. A few weeks back,

we mentioned typically high powered John Fahey III, who at the time was one-for-40 but has subsequently managed to break out of the doldrums somewhat since

then. However, now we have Hall of Famer BOBBY FRANKEL who is currently clicking

at a robust one-for-27 here. That's followed by Tommy Tomillo's two-for-62 and

Joe Broussard's one-for-27 records. Others who have endured prolonged bouts of

losing here are Sherman Savoie (one-for-43) and Ray Sibille (one-for-24). Of

course, Frankel isn't personally here and obviously has his better runners still

out west, but since they are running in his name he is accountable. The

point? It is getting increasingly more difficult to win races at Fair Grounds with its purse structure spiraling upward.

Many stable's that have been

successful in the past have yet to make the adequate adjustments.

TRAINER PROFILE

Like the target of last week's profile Bill Mott, trainer DALLAS STEWART

can't be called exclusively a Fair Grounds conditioner as he has strings of

runners at numerous circuits around the country. Many of his patterns

have worth well beyond here, including his success with runners cutting back

from routes to sprints. This is unusual for someone with as many well-bred

runners as Stewart, who one would expect to excel when stretching those

bluebloods out. However, in something right out of the bizarre world, this barn

actually does nearly twice as well with cut backs, which is something that needs

to be kept in mind. Much of this success comes with runners who are obviously

above the field, resulting in a awesome winning percentage with favorites

going route to sprint. And like his former tutor, Hall of Famer Wayne Lukas,

Stewart doesn't fare that well with first-time starters, using debut

performances as public workouts to springboard his runners to their

second career start. This is where he excels, hitting at a near 20 percent rate, which is

higher than it may sound as many of these horses are winning going

short although they are bred to go two turns or longer. This stable

seldom tampers with the claim box, but it does exceedingly well with new

acquisitions who come over via private purchases or trainer changes due an

owner's whim.

RECENT CLAIMS TO WATCH

Thursday (3/6)

5TH--DOMINIC'S DESIRE (Afternoon Deelites) came off the

shelf following an extended six-month leave of absence. The lightly raced filly

turned in a good effort

while being claimed by trainer Tom Amoss and a first-off-the-claim win can be expected from this one.

Friday (3/7)

6TH--ANTE UP WHIT (Upping the Ante) looked to be overmatched by the Asmussen

runner GO ATM (Fifty Stars) but still turned in a solid performance to gain the

place. She was claimed by trainer Eddie Johnson and can win next out without much, if

any, improvement.

Saturday (3/8)

11TH--KING OF SPEED (Senor Speedy) was claimed back by trainer Bret Calhoun

for a different owner than the one who

originally lost him, and for a lofty $35,000, sending a powerful, positive message.

It means that the astute Calhoun liked this horse enough to talk anyone who

would listen into buying him. Even though the nine-year-old gelding ran poorly today, he's worth

a shot next time out at any price.

Sunday (3/9)

1ST--COWBOY POKER (Erlton) was taken back by previous conditioner Ricky

Bourque today after just one race for trainer James Hodges. This gelding had been on a roll for the Bourque stable and, since he's currently clicking on

all cylinders, there's no reason to expect a continued roll isn't likely.

5TH--EASILY SWAYED (More Than Ready) has never shown much over the

lawn, although for some reason that's where she keeps showing up. Watch for new

trainer Angel Montano to move her back to the main oval with improved success.

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (3/6)

6TH--LE ENTOURAGE (Smart Strike) turned in a huge effort

to gain the place for a stable that has been slumping since the beginning of

this Fair Grounds meet. Although she was in against an experienced field of

maiden special weight runners, this first-time starter wasn't intimidated and looks to have a bright

future.

Friday (3/7)

4TH--COTILE (Storm Day) blew the start and dropped completely out of

the running. However, she was able to overcome a slow pace scenario to come on with a

powerful late flourish.

Saturday (3/8)

1ST--STEPSISTER JONES (Cactus Ridge) is still learning

and took another step today along the experience lines. Although this lightly

raced filly was hemmed

in for most of her trip, which can be tough mentally on a young runner, she never

quit and showed good late run once moving to the outside. Watch for a

surprisingly good effort next time around.

4TH--POLO LOUNGE (Dynaformer) turned in an encouraging overall performance

despite being away for more than five months. This talented filly clearly looks to

be one on the move next time out.

7TH--BUFFALO MAN (El Prado [Ire]) is worth keeping tabs on although he is unlikely to come

back here at this Fair Grounds meet. This stakes runner is much

better than he looked today, as he failed to handle the yielding surface here and was

never asked for serious run once Prado understood what was transpiring.

Sunday (3/9)

2ND--TEMPERAMENTALSTORM (Storm Day) showed

plenty of late run along with an abundance of heart. Since her stable doesn't

win with debut runners anyway, it's easy to see this modestly bred first-time

starter stepping up after this effort,

especially if there's some added ground involved.

BEWARE OF THESE

Friday (3/7)

3RD--TROMP (Unbridled) was able to stalk an incredibly

slow plodding pace, yet could only go backward when asked for run. The

seven-year-old gelding threw in a disturbingly weak performance and figures to have only one way to go, which is

down, for new trainer Bernie Flint.

Sunday (3/9)

4TH--MATSUI'S MISS (Grand Slam) raised

some eyebrows when she was entered for a tag while making her debut last out.

That seemed suspicious enough, but then after running second she came back once

again at the same level, which was enough to sell me on the fact that something

was amiss. That was confirmed when the well bred three-year-old filly turned in a lackluster performance today

for an Albert Stall barn that does very well with runners going the second time

around. I hope to be wrong for the sake of trainer Albert Sider, who claimed her

today for $50,000, but unfortunately for him I don't believe I am.