Fair Grounds

Okay, so probably we're just running these animals in sufficient circles for the squeaking of the hamster wheel eventually, randomly, to yield something that seems curiously meaningful. But there are times when horses give the impression that they are participating in some mysterious wider scheme in human affairs. Last week, however inadequately, I joined the many in our community grieving the abrupt loss of one of its great horsemen, and gentlemen. The very next day, at Fair Grounds, a colt saturated with the legacy of John Shirreffs missed Olympiad's track...

Sprinters--dirt and turf--dominated the week's best female performances. 5--KAPOOR, GP, 2-19, Alw, 6f (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-90 (f, 4, Uncle Mo--Kareena, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-Bill Mott. J-Taylor Kingsley. Kapoor has rolled to three consecutive frontrunning sprint wins by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, and she practically snuck into this allowance in the cover of darkness: the conditions were for non-winners of $20k once other than maiden/claiming, and her winners' take from a Tampa allowance score four weeks earlier was $19,175. As expected, the Godolphin pedigree is strong, especially...

5 - BLACKSMITH, SA, 2/20-3rd, 1 mile (video) Beyer Speed Figure-82 (c, 3, by Liam's Map--Sweet Achiever, by Curlin) O-Wathnan Racing. B-Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings & St Elias Stables (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Florent Geroux. Distance has always been important for Blacksmith given his pedigree, and he was striding out nicely in this decisive 3 3/4-length score to make amends for a puzzling flop at odds-on six weeks ago. His unraced Curlin dam is a full-sister to former Baffert speed demon Cezanne, but her granddam happens to be Better Than...

Though she had risen rapidly through the ranks to become one of the sport's top trainers, Cherie DeVaux has yet to start a horse in the GI Kentucky Derby. That may soon be about to change. DeVaux unleashed one of the more impressive 3-year-old winners of the year last week at the Fair Grounds when her Reagan's Honor (Honor A.P.) destroyed a field of older horses to win an allowance at the Fair Grounds by 6 3/4-lengths. The colt earned a Beyer figure of 96. "I was obviously very impressed...

West Point Thoroughbreds, David Ingordo and Gabriel Duignan's REAGAN'S HONOR (c, 3, Honor A. P.--Rutile, by Medaglia d'Oro)--a horse with the fingerprints of the late John Shirreffs all over him--was forced to tackle older horses in his first go against winners Thursday afternoon at the Fair Grounds, but he passed the test with flying colors, leading past every pole en route to an easy 6 3/4-length victory. After touching 2-5 in the wagering, the $140,000 Keeneland September yearling was off to an awkward beginning as the 11-10 chalk, bumping with...

Five different tracks produced our fastest maidens this week, and the list includes nothing but winners - no runners-up. 5. CREED'S VISION, TAM, 2/14-2nd, 6 furlongs (VIDEO) Beyer Speed Figure-89 (g, 4, by Jimmy Creed--Moon Vision, by Pollard's Vision) O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Michael P. Lyden and CJ Stables. B-Country Life Farm and Moon Vision Broodmare (Md). T-Arnaud Delacour. J-Charlie Marquez. West Point could have another solid Maryland-bred on its hands. Jaxon Traveler was recently retired after a remarkable run of sprint stakes wins every year from age 2 to 7,...

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has added two additional  race dates to the 2025-26 meet, the track announced Tuesday. The additional days, which were "inspired by the strong performance of purse sources" according to the release, will be Monday, March 9, and Monday, March 16. "Following the purse meeting with the Louisiana HBPA and Racing Commission, all parties involved were confident that the addition of two race days fits within our current projections and reflects a shared commitment to the strength of the meet," said Jason Boulet, senior director...

With 11 weeks left to the GI Kentucky Derby, 'All Others' maintains a firm grip on favoritism in the future pool wagering as Paladin (Gun Runner) scooped up second-choice honors at 9-1 odds at the conclusion of Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW). The Gun Runner colt rose to the top of the named heap after a game victory in last Saturday's GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. The odds shifted on several contenders and the betting public displayed interest in a number of rising sophomores,...

Paladin (Gun Runner) needed the length of the stretch to get there, but surged late to reel in pacesetter Chip Honcho (Connect) by a half-length in the GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S. over a speed-favoring course at Fair Grounds Saturday. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Golden Tempo (Curlin), a last-to-first winner of the GIII Lecomte S., was third. Making his sophomore debut after defeating subsequent Sam F. Davis S. winner Renegade (Into Mischief) in the GII Remsen S. at the Big A Dec. 6, the 3-5 chalk raced in...

Godolphin knows a thing or two about prepping a filly for the Kentucky Oaks through the Fair Grounds meet. Just last year, the then-undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) rolled through the Rachel Alexandra and the Fair Grounds Oaks en route to the lilies on the first Friday in May. And in 2023, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) took the same route, capturing the Rachel Alexandra as well and settling for second in the Fair Grounds Oaks on her way to victory in Kentucky. Flash forward...

Last year's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) sat a little closer to the front than usual and just got up to nail the wandering pacesetter 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Accelerize (Omaha Beach) by a head in Saturday's GIII Mineshaft S. at Fair Grounds. Time to Win (Not This Time) was third. The even-money favorite tracked in a three-wide third through an opening quarter in :23.53. Back a spot into fourth through a half mile :47.04, Hit Show was asked to quicken three furlongs...

Louisiana native Shane Wilson netted the 1,000th win of his training career Friday in Race 4 at Fair Grounds when Eleven One Racing's Gypsan (Khozan) won by a half-length under Issac Castillo in the one mile and 70 yards claimer. Wilson, who got his start in racing walking hots as a teenager at Louisiana Downs for Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg and eventually served as assistant to trainer Sam David, Jr., hung out his own shingle in 1998. He won the Fair Grounds training title during the 2023-24 meet...