Classy Clairiere Wins Impressively in 4-Year-Old Debut

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Classy Clairiere Wins Impressively in 4-Year-Old Debut
Connections consider Apple Blossom

(New Orleans, Louisiana – Sunday, March 16, 2022) Emerging from her stall at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Stonestreet Stables’ Clairiere made her 4-year-old debut in Wednesday’s allowance optional claiming race, going 1 mile 1/16 and winning by 6 ½ lengths. Jockey Joel Rosario came to town for a front-row seat of this impressive filly’s performance–his first trip around the track aboard the 2021 Rachel Alexandra (G2) and Cotillion (G1) winner.

“It looked like it was easy for her,” Rosario said. “When I got to the 1/8th pole she got really quick to the horse in front of her. I just wanted to be there and come with the run, which she did. I am very excited and happy to be on her.”

Running from behind in a field of 6, the Asmussen-trained .10-1 favorite made patient strides as Marylou Whitney’s homebred Super Quick, the 6.30-1 second favorite trained by Norm Casse and ridden by Joe Talamo, kept her backers on the edge of their seats leading through the first two sharp calls of 23.71 and 46.90. At the 1/4 pole eventual second-place finisher, Tizafeelin sent out by Tom Amoss, headed Super Quick who faded to finish 5th, while Clairiere rallied off heels and began picking off foes to lead by 1 ½ at the stretch. Clairiere glided away to make a mile and validate her fanfare in 1:43.21.

“That was a good place to get started,” Scott Blasi said, the trainer on grounds for Steve Asmussen. “She got to walk out of her own stall, walk over here, and get a nice start to her year. We’re looking forward to big things from her throughout the rest of the year–no more easy spots after today. It’s great to have her back.”

Oaklawn’s Apple Blossom (G1) in April is circled as a potential next start for the royally bred daughter of Curlin out of the multiple graded stakes-winning mare Cavorting. Beaten just ¾ of a length, behind the longshot March Lorraine in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on November 6, a year older, wiser, stronger, and in the right hands, Clairiere could be in line for a monster campaign.

“In all honesty, all we need to do is be a length better than we were last year,” Asmussen said prior to Wednesday’s race. “She couldn’t be giving us any more confidence with the way she’s training. It’s worked out really well for Stonestreet, having two nice fillies in Pauline’s Pearl and Clairiere. With an ideal spot to start Clairiere in a conditioned allowance race, we will see which one of the two gets to run in the Apple Blossom.”

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 150th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 109th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 25, 2021 through March 27, 2022. More information is available online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.