Olympiad Cruises to Two-Length Score in New Orleans Classic — Benson and Muniz recaps

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Kevin Kilroy

Notes Writer/Media Relations

[email protected]

 


Olympiad Cruises to Two-Length Score in New Orleans Classic

4-year-old son of Speightstown continues to progress & impress

New Orleans, LA (March 26, 2022) — Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods top older horse Olympiad continued his winning ways at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots with a two-length victory in Saturday’s $500,000 New Orleans Classic (Grade II).

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Olympiad completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.74, which was just .10 off the track record set by Nates Mineshaft in 2012. In his Mineshaft victory here on February 19, he ran 1:42.01 for 1 1/16th miles, shaving .01 off the previous track record set by Pie In Your Eye way back in 1994.

Promise Keeper and Tyler Gaffalione inherited the early lead from the rail while Olympiad tracked about two lengths behind in second. Promise Keeper was kept unchallenged in front through three-quarters of a mile while completing quarter-mile fractions of :23.69, :47.25 and 1:11.45. At the 3/16ths pole, Olympiad handily took over the proceedings from the tiring leader and was able to hold sway a late challenge by Proxy for a comfortable two-length win.

“I knew this horse could handle the distance perfectly fine,” Alvarado said. “I was just a passenger. Bill Mott has done an amazing job with this horse, I’m just glad to be on him.”

Olympiad was the 3-5 favorite and returned $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Proxy, under Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $3.80 and $2.60. Promise Keeper was able to hold third and returned $2.20.

With his win, 4-year-old Olympiad improved his record to 8-5-1-1 with purse earnings of $648,440. Olympiad is a son of Speightstown out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Tokyo Time. He was bred in Kentucky by Emory Hamilton.

Super Stock, Happy American and Chess Chief completed the order of finish in the New Orleans Classic.

New Orleans Classic Quotes

Junior Alvarado, jockey of Olympiad (1st): “I knew this horse could handle the distance perfectly fine. I was just a passenger. Bill Mott has done an amazing job with this horse, I’m just glad to be on him. My horse left running and put into a good spot. If no one wanted the lead he could’ve taken the lead but this way he had a target and worked out great.”

Bill Mott, trainer of Olympiad (1st): “This horse showed a lot of talent as a 2-year-old and we dealt with some frustrating injuries that set him back as a 3-year-old. When we got the opportunity to stretch out he really showed he could handle the distance. That’s the fun of it as the distances get longer how he can handle things. He’s taken great steps so far. We’ve won a Grade 3 and Grade 2 with him so far so we’d like to get a Grade 1 under his belt. He’s a very well-bred colt and could make a nice stallion prospect one day but we will worry about that for another day and let him do his talking on the racetrack first.”

 


Two Emmys Takes Them All the Way in Muniz Memorial Classic

English Channel gelding wins for the third time on Fair Grounds Turf

Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson’s front-running Two Emmys secured a comfortable lead shortly after the break and led the field gate to wire in the 30th running of the $300,000 Muniz Memorial (G2) presented by Horse Racing Nation at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Ridden by the meet’s leading jockey James Graham and trained by Robertson, Two Emmys completed 1 1/8 miles on firm turf course with the rails down in 1:49.83.

The speedy Two Emmys was unchallenged for the entire 1 1/8-mile journey in the Muniz with quarter-mile fractions of :25.94, :49.83 and 1:13.70. Favored Santin (2-1) tracked the early fractions of Two Emmys but when Graham asked his partner at the top of the Fair Grounds’ stretch, the duo opened a two-length lead and were unable to be caught.

Two Emmys returned $13.20, $6.60 and $4. Santin, under Tyler Gaffalione, paid $3.80 and $3.20. Cavalry Charge, with Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, finished third and returned $4.60.

This was Two Emmys’ fifth lifetime victory through 20 starts. His lifetime earnings were boosted to $765,708.

Sacred Life (FR) finished fourth followed in order by Devamani (FR), Forty Under, Captivating Moon, Another Mystery and Peacock Kitten.

Muniz Memorial Quotes

James Graham, jockey of Two Emmys (1st): “He broke sharp today. I squeezed him a little bit to go. I thought (Calvary Charge) would go a little bit but he broke slow. I let him lope along and he quickened down the stretch very nicely.”

Hugh Robertson, trainer of Two Emmys (1st): “He likes it down here. I don’t know why he ran a bad one last time (7th in Fair Grounds) but everyone’s due a mulligan. I knew it was over when he got into the turn and James never let him run. He’ll run all day if they let him gallop along.”

 

 

She Can’t Sing Scores Her Second Consecutive Stakes Upset in the Tom Benson Memorial

Bernardini mare has become a new mare since returning to two turns

Lothenbach Stable’s She Can’t Sing made a bold three-wide rally in the far turn and held off the late rally of come-backing Gam’s Mission for a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Tom Benson Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Trained by Chris Block, She Can’t Sing completed 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:44.21 under Jareth Loveberry.

In the early stages of the race, I Hear You and jockey Reylu Gutierrez were able to get a comfortable lead on the field of nine fillies and mares. The duo galloped through opening quarter-mile fractions of :24.18 and :50.02. Around the far turn, Loveberry tipped She Can’t Sing three-wide and made a bold rally passed tiring I Hear You. In deep stretch, graded stakes winner Gam’s Mission rallied between horses but was unable to reel in She Can’t Sing.

She Can’t Sing, the winner of last month’s Albert M. Stall Memorial at 24-1 in what was her first try around two-turns after 19 previous sprints, paid $20.60, $8.80 and $5.60 for her victory. Gam’s Mission, with Adam Beschizza in the boot, returned $4.60 and $3.40 while Clara Peeters (GB) and Mitchell Murrill paid $5.80.

Lake Lucerne completed the superfecta and was followed by Russian Mafia, Hendy Woods, Lovely Ride, I Hear You and Miss Tulsa.

She Can’t Sing earned $60,000 for her win in the Tom Benson Memorial, which improved her earnings to $471,938. She has an overall record of 28-6-6-4. She was bred in Kentucky by her owners.

Tom Benson Memorial Quotes

Jareth Loveberry, jockey of She Can’t Sing (1st): “Riding the turf early today I thought it was more firm than earlier in the week. She was aggressive on the bit today. I just let her gradually get into gear. I had such a tight hold on her early. Turning for home I was just able to pick it up with her.”

Chris Block, trainer of She Can’t Sing (1st): “The last time she ran (in the Al Stall Memorial) was just a shot to see what she’d do around two-turns. I got a little frustrated with the sprints running against top horses like Elle Z and Change of Control, so I tried two turns. I just told my crew what to do and they simply got it done. The credit goes to them. This is maybe a new life for her.”

 

-30-

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.

Olympiad with Junior Alverado at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots