Mikolay's Plays

Sunday, April 1st (Day 84 of 84)

It's Louisiana Derby Day at the Fair Grounds! The 99th running of the richest event of the season will take place at approximately 4:55pm CT Sunday afternoon with fourteen contenders with hopes of competing in the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby!

Race 1:

AGENT DI NOZZO covered some ground late to finished third best in his first start in his life. Should see an improved effort second time out and has been working fast since his lone start be a serious threat. VERY LUCKY needs a clean trip for his third time out running for a sharp trainer and rider. BATTLE CALL was purchased for $140k and has a defiant workout schedule to be a player at good odds.

PLAYS 9-7-6

Race 2:

 

THE LOUISIANA KID tries hard everytime and may like the turn back in distance with blinkers on and leading rider retains the mount. STORMING JOHN set the pace last time ending up second to Event Center who competes in a stakes later in the afternoon. ALL ABOUT INTEREST gets a better draw to be more of a threat wearing the hood this time around. Nice exotics play.

Race 3:

 

CAT LORE may not get caught this time as she tackles a longer distance, which she may like today with sharp turf rider James Graham aboard. ANNACLONE was in over her head last time to dismiss and now she gets the leading rider in the saddle to help her case. RUSTICANA stopped over a yielding turf course when he was headed at the 3/16th pole. Barn makes a rider switch and could get a minor piece again like previous tries.

 

PLAYS 5-10-1

Race 4: The Duncan F. Kenner Stakes

 

GANTRY won his last two starts and beat a few of today's contenders to be a big threat. He is already four of four at the distance and if he's ready off the break then could score another win for top notch connections. SOARING STOCKS should be in stalking mode with a fast pace and could beat them all if he adapts quickly to the new venue for Pletcher. JOE HOLLYWOOD should be the speed of the race who could hang on for a victory and gets leading rider back aboard.

 

PLAYS 3-5-2

 

Race 5:

 

ATTENDANT was the beaten favorite in a similar spot last time and may find his way to the wire first second time on the grass for a sharp turf outfit. PARABELLUM has Street Sense on the top and EL Prado on the bottom and already showed a good account of himself first time out to be even more dangerous this time going to the grass. MAJOR HOPE finally gets a chance on the grass for the leading stable. He has been working sharply for this.

 

PLAYS 2-6-1

 

Race 6: The Crescent City Derby

 

LOOK AT THE TIME is undefeated leading into this race. He won the Gentilly Stakes in an impressive way with a stalking trip from the outside. He will try to repeat facing many of which he beat last time sitting a few lengths off the pace. BEANWAH'SMACHINE needed a break and returns fresh to capture his third stakes victory, although first time going long at Fg may be a tough task. HUD'S REBELLION runs his better races on the dirt and may find that late needed kick second going long.

 

PLAYS 7-8-9

 

Race 7:

 

FORBIDDEN FOREST has finished well in the last three starts with wide trips and could more of a contender drawn to the inside with a rider switch with hopes to finish on top before the meet ends. AVENSTOKE could set-up well again for him again to get back to back wins as he's a horse for the course and comes with a good price. WHY NOT BE PERFECT should be one of the early pacesetters amongst the field to be a threat early and has been sharp in previous turf races.

 

PLAYS 3-2-7

 

Race 8: The Grade II New Orleans Handicap

 

NEHRO won against lesser to get him back and ready to face stakes competition with confidence. He finished second in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont over the slop, which appeared to be too much for him. He's back to face Pants on Fire, which he lost a nose to last year and the race seems to set-up well for him. MISSION IMPAZIBLE has a solid record at the distance as he won this race last year and hopes to make his way back to the winner's circle laying close to the pace.

 

PLAYS 1-2-5

 

Race 9: The Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap

 

SLOW PACE has been a strong player across the pond who ran second his first start in the USA at the distance in a game effort for the Pletcher stable and should be forwardly placed with Castellano back aboard. SMART BID is two for two over the Fg's turf and won the Fgs Handicap last time by a head. A moderate pace will set-up nicely for him to punce when ready. WILLYCONKER leads into this race in peak form and may like the distance first time with a versatile running style.

 

PLAY 2-4-1

 

Race 10: The Grade II Louisiana Derby

 

MARK VALESKI is part of a strong entry who should be tougher going two turns for the second time and finished second to El Pradrino. He ran a game effort last time and looks like the one to beat over the Fg's main track. CIGAR STREET was well-rated and drew away to win last time scoring an impressive Beyer speed figure. He may not need the lead to be serious player as he steps up against winners. SHARED PROPERTY gets a better draw and runs with blinkers on to bounce back into sharp form third time out this season. WINDSURFER is a son of Speightstown who may continue may continue to move forward as he faces winners first time. He runs for Pletcher and should be in good position early to be a contender at decent odds.

 

PLAYS 1A-6-7-3

 

Race 11:

 

SPORTING HOLIDAY should be stalking with barn's go-to-rider aboard after running second in his most recent start. I AM THE SHERIFF may like the stretch out since he always finishes a few lengths behind the winner with late bid going short and James Graham gets the call today as Eramia stays with top choice. TRIPLE CHECK finished evenly first time off the break going short to be a good prep for his stretch out today plus he gets jockey Edgar Prado in the saddle to score his fifth win at the distance.

 

PLAYS 3-1-4

 

Race 12: The Southern Oak Plantation Costa Rising Stakes

 

STAR GUITAR attempts to make record breaking news as he hopes to win and break the record of highest earning La bred. He has twenty-two wins including a few victories with an outside draw. Will be short odds, but fun to watch. GET IN DA HOUSE won three consecutive races and could be top choice's biggest threat since he has tactical speed and 4yo faces him first time. POPULIST POLITICS won the Crescent City Derby last year, but hasn't been able to beat top pick yet to be around for a minor share.

 

PLAYS 9-8-7

 

Race 13: The Bayou St. John Stakes

 

SU CASA G CASA has been sharp as of late to be the one to beat, but race shapes up tough and he will have to run them down late second time grass this meet. KISSIMMEE KYLE won this race last year and should on or near the lead as he turns back in distance off the break. MY STAR RUNNER handle the change of surface well as he could be more of a player second over the grass this year. He has been a powerful contender in many stakes races last year and comeback is on the horizon at 10-1 odds to use in the mix.

 

PLAYS 8-10-7

 

Race 14:

 

GLAD TRIBUTE has been consistent the last few starts and flashed early speed last time to be a threat out of the gate from the inside. NO STRINGS is on debut for a 20% first time starter stable who has steady works, but curious why he's in for low tag first time out?? MR JESS E makes his second start off the break breaking from the rail with fast works to be a contender at long odds.

 

PLAYS 2-5-1

 

Thank you everyone for another enjoyable season as we come to an end for the 2011-12 season and hope to see you all next season for the first race on Thanksgiving Day!