News

Sunday Notes: Desormeaux Having Derby Dreams

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, February 24, 2013) – One day after Big Chief Racing’s Ive Struck a Nerve rewarded a few of racing’s eternally-grinning optimists with a $272.40 return on a $2 win wager in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots...

Complete Preview Day Stakes Quotes

Race 10-Grade II, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, 40th running Jockey James Graham (Ive Struck a Nerve, winner): “In the mornings he is being really aggressive in his work patterns with company so today and the last race he was aggressive around the first turn. ...

Mark Valeski, Optimizer, Snuggs and Kisses, Sunbean Win Undercard Stakes

By Jim Mulvihill & Graham Ross NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, February 23, 2013) – Overcoming a three-race case of “seconditis” at the Crescent City oval, Brereton Jones’s Mark Valeski broke out of it with a hard-earned one-length win in Saturday’s Grade II Mineshaft Handicap on Louisiana Derby...

Ive Struck a Nerve Pulls 135-1 Shocker By a Nose in Gr. II Risen Star; Unlimited Budget Wins Gr. III Rachel Alexandra

By Jim Mulvihill & Graham Ross NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, February 23, 2013) – In a huge upset that brought back memories of last year’s $1 million Louisiana Derby, Big Chief Racing’s Ive Struck a Nerve struck gold for his connections and longshot players, as well, when he lit up the tote...

Two Big Carryovers On Saturday's Preview Day Card

NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, February 23, 2013) – The two biggest carryovers in the country today are on the Louisiana Derby Preview Day card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The Black Gold 5 – a Pick 5 on the last five races which pays out the entire pool only if there is a single winning...

Deceptive Vision Wins Starlight Feature

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (Friday, February 22, 2013) – Sam-Son Farms’ Deceptive Vision justified her role as the choice in Friday’s Starlight Racing feature at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots when she got up for a half-length score in the last strides of the $47,000...

Friday Notes: Court Going for Stakes Quartet On Preview Day

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS(February 22, 2013) – Gentleman Jon Court.That could eventually become the, ah, more courtly nickname for this talented veteran jockey with more than 3,700 victories in more than 30 years of riding, even though a high national profile still eludes him...

Wits End Wins Turf Feature Thursday

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, February 21, 2013) – Todd Dick’s Wits End, away alertly and always well placed, took clear command approaching the lane and held sway in the late stages to hold Big Chief Racing’s Congo Cat safe by 1 1/2-lengths in Thursday’s $41,000...

Thursday Notes: Ive Struck a Nerve a Risen Star Longshot to Consider

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, February 21, 2013) – An enterprising hanicapper looking for a longshot play in Saturday's Grade II Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots need only go back to last year's Grade II Louisiana Derby to obtain the...

Daisy Devine, Sunbean Favored in Preview Day Undercard Stakes

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS (Wednesday, February 20, 2013) – James Miller’s Daisy Devine, already twice an easy winner this winter in New Orleans, has been installed as the looming 2-5 morning line choice in Saturday’s $75,000 Bayou Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course &...