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TIZAQUEENA, A SHE’S ADORABLE GIVE STIDHAM 1-2 FINISH IN BAYOU ’cAP
NEW ORLEANS (Friday, March 26, 2010) – Darley Stable’s odds-on favorite Tizaqueena held back a ferocious late bid by stablemate A She’s Adorable to win by a head give trainer Mike Stidham a one-two finish in Friday’s 41st running of the $99,000 Bayou Handicap at Fair Grounds. The 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares highlighted the Fair Grounds Oaks undercard action in
Tizaqueena, piloted by Fair Grounds’ leading rider Shaun Bridgmohan, was clocked in 1:50.29 over a “firm” Stall-Wilson turf course. The victory, worth $60,000, was the 5-year-old mare’s second stakes triumph of the 2009-2010 Fair Grounds meeting. Her career record now stands at seven wins, three seconds and a third from 12 starts with $538,956 in earnings.
Tizaqueena paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 3-5 favorite.
She tracked runaway longshot pacesetter Love to Tell through a quarter mile in :24.26, a half in :48.64 and three-quarters in 1:12.61. When the leader tired and faltered wide at the top of the stretch, Tizaqueena darted to the inside, took command and held off A She’s Adorable, who rallied from seventh to get the place.
A She’s Adorable paid $4.60 and $3 as the 8-1 third betting choice. Never Retreat, the 2-1 second favorite, was third and returned $2.20 to show.
Category Seven, Dancin Perfect, Apple Martini, Love to Tell and Nicksappealinglady completed the order of finish. Favorite Fantasy was scratched by the state veterinarian early in the day.
The Bayou Handicap was the fourth stakes win of Tizaqueena’s career. On Feb. 27, she prevailed in the Allen LaCombe Memorial. Last year, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Tiznow won the Fortin Handicap in advance of her lone graded stakes triumph in the Grade II Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby Day undercard.
Stidham indicated that Tizaqueena would defend her Distaff Turf Mile title. A She’s Adorable will be considered for the May 1 race in
In Friday’s 24th running of the $57,600 Bienville Stakes for older fillies and mares, the Todd Pletcher-trained West Ocean ran the fastest 5 ½ furlongs on turf in Fair Grounds history while stopping the teletimer in 1:02.73. The 4-year-old filly’s time eclipsed My Lord’s six-year standard of 1:02.90 established on March 27, 2004.
“She rolled out of the gate and I put her in a good spot to keep track of all the other horses,” Castellano said. “Turning for home, I asked her at the eighth pole and she took off. She finished very, very well today.”
Seeking Ms Shelley finished another 1 ¼ lengths back in third.
Daphne Angela Lugs Out But Chugs Home in
Despite lugging out in deep stretch, Daphne Angela narrowly hung on to beat late-charging Lunar Fest by a neck in the $60,000 Crescent City Oaks, the one mile and 40 yard turf test for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Daphne Angela rallied wide from third on the turn for home, grabbed the lead at the head of the stretch and was all out under strong urging from jockey E.J. Perrodin to hold off Lunar Fest in 1:42.13 over firm going. Ladyzarbridge, the 3-2 favorite in the field of 10, faded to third another 2 ½ lengths behind the runner-up.
Daphne Angela, conditioned by Pat Mouton, notched her second win in five outs. The daughter of 2004 Louisiana Derby winner
--By Darren Rogers
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in
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Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
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