While Southern Equine Stable's Moreno (Ghostzapper) sports stand-out credentials among the nine older males set to square off in the GII New Orleans H., he'll have to navigate a tricky pace scenario if he's to come through at likely short odds. Last year's GI Whitney H. winner was second to familiar foe Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron) in the GI Woodward S. at the end of the Saratoga meet, but finished fourth in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Sept. 27 before being disqualified to last for interference. He was last after getting roughed up at the start of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1, but reemerged in the Mar. 7 GI Santa Anita H. to find only leading older horse Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) too tough. That bounce-back effort also happened to be the first time Moreno made the early lead since the Woodward, but with speed demon Mystery Train (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}) and several other quick runners signed on, there's no guarantee that the chalk will work out his preferred trip.
Mystery Train faded in three tough spots in California last season, but nearly blew up the tote at 17-1 in the GIII Mineshaft H. here Feb. 21. Third that day was November's GII Hawthorne Gold Cup hero Red Rifle (Giant's Causeway).
Brereton Jones homebred Albano (Istan) sports a 6-2-2-1 record in New Orleans and was second in both the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Risen Star S. here last term. He took June's GIII Pegasus S. at Monmouth, and was a distant second to Bayern (Offlee Wild) in the GI Haskell Invitational S. Third in Parx's GIII Smarty Jones S. Sept. 1 and in the local Louisiana H. Jan. 17, the bay returned to winning ways with a 6 1/2-length romp in the Maxxam Gold Cup S. at Sam Houston last time Feb. 28.
Afford (Street Sense) carries the silks of the late Jim Tafel off a 5 1/2-length drubbing of Go Go Rocket (Tapit) and Call Me George (Point Given) in a Mar. 1 optional claimer here.
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