Fair Grounds

We're still in the early part of the season where the rankings are largely based on juvenile form and a hefty dose of speculation. As we segue into February, the forecast calls for "frost heaves" that will likely shift the balance of power just enough to keep things interesting. But at 15 weeks out, everyone on the GI Kentucky Derby trail is still allowed to dream big. 1) ARABIAN KNIGHT (c, Uncle Mo--Borealis Night, by Astrology) 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales...

Al Gold had a few things to look forward to Saturday at the Fair Grounds. Earlier Saturday morning, his multiple Grade I winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) turned in the final work of his career ahead of next Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., while his Instant Coffee (Bolt d'Oro) was looking to further cement his status as a leading light for this year's GI Kentucky Derby in the GIII Lecomte S. Cyberknife confirmed that he is on song for his career finale next weekend, and Instant Coffee followed suit...

After romping by seven lengths to break her maiden at third asking over this same track and distance Dec. 1, The Alys Look checked in second behind 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous in the Untapable S. Dec. 26. Going for her third straight effort at a mile and 70 yards Saturday, the Brad Cox trainee hung a length back outside of pacesetter Hayunevano through fractions of :24.37 and :48.08. As that leader began to fade past the quarter pole, The Alys Look got the first jump to take command as...

Gunned to the front from a middle gate by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, First Defender (3, c, Quality Road--Love And Pride, by A.P. Indy) withstood pressure on all sides and a contested early pace at the Fair Grounds to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Off sharply, the colt found himself sandwiched between horses from the opening strides with Pinfire (Bolt d'Oro) to his inside and Golden Nugget (Mendelssohn) off his outer flank. The trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field as they sped through an opening quarter...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-FG, $65k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:30 p.m. ET EVERGRANDE (Uncle Mo) cost Don Adam's Courtlandt Farms $1.1 million at Keeneland September in 2021, the priciest of the operation's 12 purchases (for $7.55 million) over the course of the opening week of the sale. Produced by a winning Forestry mare, the Apr. 6 foal is bred on the exact cross as champion and GI Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and hails from the deeper female family of Grade I-winning juvenile Greenwood Lake (Meadowlake). A then-yearling full-brother...

And so we begin anew. The GIII Lecomte S. always warms the heart: it's like noticing the first buds on the bare trees, as the quiet midwinter promise--familiar, expected, miraculous--of another spring to come. In trees, each new cycle is nourished by past decay: by roots extending into soil enriched by the leaves discarded at the end of the previous one. And actually it's not dissimilar with selective breeding, so that each generation can recycle its speed, stamina, beauty, bravery. The world may be a very different place, on and...

On Saturday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, the age-old wager known as the Daily Double will encompass a pair of Grade III races late on the card. The GIII Louisiana S. for older males will give way to a group of youthful 3-year-olds in the GIII Lecomte S., as they look to chase Kentucky Derby points that have expanded to 20-8-6-4-2 for the top five finishers. Calhoun Looks to Continue Louisiana Hot Hand Bret Calhoun continues to lead in the trainer standings during the meet for an award...

Fasig-Tipton will be the title sponsor of Fair Grounds Race Course's 2023 series for 3-year-old fillies. The "Fasig-Tipton Tremé Triple" consists of the Silverbulletday S. on Jan. 21, the GII Rachel Alexandra S. on Feb. 18, and the GII Fair Grounds Oaks on Mar. 25. The name of the series is a tribute to the historic Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans that borders Fair Grounds Race Course. "We are very excited to expand our partnership with Fair Grounds Race Course to sponsor the Louisiana's 3-year-old filly series that leads to...

There are better, faster horses in the sport, but there's not another one like Beverly Park (Munnings). In an era where five or six starts a year is considered a normal campaign for a horse and many trainers look for seven or eight weeks between starts, the 5-year-old made of blood, flesh and iron continued to laugh at conventional wisdom. In his 30th start of the year, he won Saturday's third race at the Fair Grounds by 3 3/4 lengths, paying $3.80. The race was a starter optional claimer and...

Following excessive rain overnight and throughout the morning and after a consultation between track management and the stewards, a joint decision was made to cancel Friday's card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Live racing will resume on Saturday, Dec. 31 with the regular post time of 1:15 p.m. CT. The 10-race card features a quartet of stakes including the $100,000 Woodchopper, $100,000 Pago Hop, and a pair of $100,000 Louisiana Futurities.

Pretty Mischievous made it a clean sweep of the afternoon's two-turn juvenile stakes for 'TDN Rising Stars' with a good-looking success in Monday's Untapable S. at the Fair Grounds. Made the 8-5 second pick off a third behind the promising Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) in the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 26, the Godolphin homebred broke well from the rail draw and enjoyed the run of the race from just in behind. Allowed to take a two-path run passing the 4 1/2-furlong marker, Pretty Mischievous had a...

'TDN Rising Star' Jace's Road (Quality Road) took advantage of a bit of a stumbling start from favored Determinedly (Cairo Prince) to lead past every pole for a maiden stakes success in Monday's Gun Runner S. at the Fair Grounds. Sent off the 14-5 second favorite off a forgettable and forgivable eighth-place effort as the favorite in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 30, the $510,000 Keeneland September graduate found his way to the front as Determinedly--off at 4-5--bobbled slightly and though pressured,...