Friday, February 8, 2013

Press Notes: Sunbean, Departing, Golden Soul, Irish Lute, Infrattini and More!

1751 Gentilly Blvd.,   New Orleans, LA 70119   www.fairgroundsracecourse.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com

Contact: Graham Ross, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, graham.ross@fgno.com

 

SUNBEAN to GET CHANCE TO SHINE IN RISEN STAR

 

·       Departing Probable for Risen Star; Possible for Rebel

·       Golden Soul, Irish Lute Being Prepped for Louisiana Derby Preview Day

·       Louisiana Handicap Hero Infrattini Now Likely for Mineshaft Handicap

 

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

 

NEW ORLEANS (Friday, February 8, 2013) – Brittlyn Stable’s Louisiana-bred Sunbean, an entire son of Brahms who broke his maiden on New Year’s Eve at Fair Grounds in the $106,000 Louisiana Futurity and made it two straight tallies on Feb. 1, will make his next appearance in the upcoming Grade II Risen Star Stakes on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Presented by Lamarque Ford on Feb 23.

 

“Sunbeam is going in the Risen Star,” trainer Al Stall Jr. confirmed Friday morning while speaking outside his barn during training hours.

 

The Brittlyn color bearer will be making his first appearance in open company in the $400,000 Risen Star – local prep for the 100th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby March 30. After breaking his maiden in the Louisiana Futurity at six furlongs, Sunbean successfully stretched out two turns in a mile and 70 yard-allowance and $30,000 optional claiming  race but that race was also restricted to horses that were accredited Louisiana-breds.

 

DEPARTING PROBABLE FOR RISEN STAR; POSSIBLE FOR REBEL – Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Departing, undefeated in two trips to the post, will make his next start in either the Grade II Risen Star Stakes on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Presented by Lamarque Ford Feb. 23 or the Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn March 16.

 

“Departing will run next in either the Risen Star or the Rebel,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said Friday morning during training hours. “He’s two-for-two right here on this track so that might help us when we’re making a definite decision.”

 

After breaking his maiden by 2 1/4-lengths on Dec. 22 when going six furlongs, the Kentucky homebred son of War Front out of a Pulpit mare won by 4 1/2-lengths in his first start going two turns in a mile and 70-yard race Feb. 1.

 

GOLDEN SOUL, IRISH LUTE BEING PREPPED FOR LOUISIANA DERBY PREVIEW DAY – Charles Fipke’s sophomore colt Golden Soul and Donarra Thoroughbreds’ 3-year-old filly Irish Lute, two Dallas Stewart trainees who both ran well in their respective races on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day Jan. 19, are both set to return on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Presented by Larmarque Ford Feb. 23.

 

“That’s the plan for both of them,” Stewart said Friday morning on horseback as he headed to the track during training hours.

 

Golden Soul, a Kentucky homebred son of Perfect Soul out of a Mr. Prospector mare, was the runner-up in the Grade III Lecomte at a mile and 70 yards and is expected to appreciate the added 1 1/16-mile-distance of the upcoming Grade II Risen Star Stakes as the final local prep for the 100th edition of the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 30.

 

Irish Lute, a Florida homebred daughter of Midnight Lute out of a Storm Boot mare, finished fourth in the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes after stumbling at the start and will attempt to make amends in the upcoming Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes as the last designed prep for the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks March 30.

 

LOUISIANA HANDICAP HERO INFRATTINI NOW LIKELY FOR THE MINESHAFT HANDICAP – Infrattini, the Z Thoroughbreds color bearer who bested Brereton Jones’s Grade II Peter Pan winner Mark Valeski by three-quarters of a length in the $100,000 Louisiana Handicap Jan. 19 at the local oval, is now set to return in the Grade III Mineshaft Handicap on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Presented by Lamarque Ford Feb. 23, trainer Paul McGee confirmed Friday.

 

Shortly after Infrattini’s win in the Louisiana Handicap, McGee had indicated he was inclined to skip the Mineshaft and run Infrattini next in the Grade II New Orleans Handicap on Louisiana Derby Day March 30.

 

“I said at that time that I was leaning toward skipping the Mineshaft,” said McGee Friday morning, “but I never did rule it out. Now we’re back in it.”

 

Infrattini breezed five furlongs last Saturday in 1:01.20 and will breeze again this Saturday, McGee indicated. 

 

Miguel Mena will breeze him when he goes again tomorrow,” McGee said.  

 

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 141st Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 31, 2013, highlighted by the milestone 100th running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Kentucky Derby hopefuls on March 30, 2013. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

 

-FG-

 

 

___ 
 
James J. Mulvihill
Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
A Churchill Downs Incorporated Company

1751 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA  70119

504.948.1233 [office]
504.481.8770 [cell]

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