Friday, November 13 2009

Classy Deelites Tepid Choice in Saturday’s Mr. Sulu Stakes

NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, November 12, 2009) – Moran Racing Stable’s Classy Deelites, hero of last summer’s $100,000 Attaway Darbonne Memorial at Evangeline Downs on the Fourth of July, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line choice in Saturday’s $60,000 Mr. Sulu Stakes at Fair Grounds.

The Mr. Sulu, observing its second running, is restricted to accredited Louisiana-breds and is to be contested at about 1 1/16-miles over the Stall-Wilson turf course as a prep for the upcoming $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf on Dec. 12. Named in honor of one of only two Thoroughbreds to win three times on Louisiana Champions Day, last year’s inaugural edition had to be taken off the grass and run on the main track due to inclement weather.

Tuesday, November 10 2009

COREY CARVES OUT SEASON’S FIRST RIDING TRIPLE at fg

NEW ORLEANS (November 09, 2009) – Jockey Corey Lanerie will celebrate his 35th birthday Friday by riding seven straight races on the nine-race Fair Grounds program, but he gave himself an early birthday present on Sunday by recording Fair Grounds’ first riding triple of the 2009-2010 meeting on opening weekend at the New Orleans oval.

“That was really great,” said Lanerie when congratulated on his hat trick Monday morning. “It’s always good to get off to a good start here, because if people start seeing you win a lot they start using you on their horses. There are so many good riders here that the competition gets really tough very quickly, so it’s very important to get people to notice how well you’re doing right at the beginning.

Monday, November 09 2009

Hard day, night for Fair Grounds photo department

NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, November 08, 2009) – Four years ago, Fair Grounds photographer Lynn Roberts won an Eclipse Award for one of her finish line shots at the local oval, but she probably would have made a deal with the devil to give it back in the first anxious moments following Saturday’s fifth race on opening weekend here.

That was when her daughter – apprentice jockey Anna Roberts – was scarily unseated after her mount Kelly’spremonition clipped heels with a rival approaching the stretch.

Saturday, November 07 2009

Stakes Recap: Sellers Rules Again in Pontalba; Comedero Wins Old Hickory

NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, November 7, 2009)–After riding a winner on Friday’s opening day at Fair Grounds, Louisiana native Shane Sellers, once a nationally-known riding star who returned to the saddle last summer following a 4 1/2-year retirement, continued his Fair Grounds comeback Saturday by returning to the winner’s circle in the 39th running of the $60,000 Pontalba Stakes aboard Christopher Bardasian’s Right to Rule for Eclipse-Award winning trainer Steve Asmussen.

“The race set up good for us,” said Sellers following the Pontalba. “The favorite (Greeley’s Rocket) kind of kicked off from us turning for home, but I had to go right after her. I got by her but she came again at us in the last part of it. Eddie (Martin, jockey aboard Greeley’s Rocket) is a hard rider to get by, but fortunately we were able to hold him off.”

a ‘redi made’ longshot kicks off fair grounds season

NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009) – What a way to kick off the 2009-2010 season at Fair Grounds on Opening Day, Friday, Nov. 6! In this 11th month of the year – the winner (Jenny Redi Made) was the #11 horse, followed by the #6 (Macho Mama) with the #9 horse (Blackberry Kisses) finishing third. That corresponded to the opening day date of 11-6-09.

Jenny Redi Made paid $70.40, $31.60 and $14.20, providing hunch players with an excellent start – and Macho Mama paid $28.20 to place. Jockey Trey Agilar, a newcomer to Fair Grounds this season, rode the winner who is trained by longtime local horseman Al Sider.

Friday, November 06 2009

MUCH OBLIGED BEST IN FG’S BLUSHING K. D. ON OPENING DAY FRIDAY

NEW ORLEANS (Wednesday, November 06, 2009)–-Favorite players could say “Thank You” to Pin Oak Stable’s Much Obliged when she prevailed by a half-length in Friday’s featured second running of the $60,000 Blushing K. D. Handicap.

As the odds-on choice in the wagering, the 4-year-old daughter of Kingmambo, trained by Malcolm Pierce, returned mutuels of $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10 under jockey Francisco Torres after courageously gaining the lead well in the final strides. She accomplished the about 1 1/16-mile distance over a firm Stall-Wilson turf course in 1:45.79.