Race Recap: Nice 3-Year-Old Departing Wins Again in Starlight Feature

 

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

 

departing wins starlight racing feature

 

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

 

NEW ORLEANS (Friday, February 01, 2013) – Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Departing justified his even-money favorite’s role in Friday’s Starlight Racing feature attraction at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots by drawing off for a 4 1/2-length score in the final furlong of the $47,000 mile and 70-yard test for 3-year-olds.

 

Trained by Al Stall Jr. and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., the highly regarded Departing pressed the early pace, took command just before the eighth pole and then quickly drew off. The homebred son of War Front out of a Pulpit mare who had broken his maiden at first asking Dec. 22 with a 2 1/2-length tally increased his career earnings to $51,600 with his second victory in as many starts, accomplished the distance in 1:44.34 and returned mutuels of $4, $2.60 and $2.20.

 

“I don’t think you could ask any more for a horse in his second start, stretching out two turns, so we’re very happy with everything,” Stall said of the gelding, who is an Early-Bird nomination to the $1 million Louisiana Derby to be run March 30.

 

Diamond Racing and Volunteer Racing’s Johnny Handsome, allowed to settle early, closed in the stretch run to be clearly second best in Friday’s race while finishing 2 1/2-lengths in front of the pace-setting Parrain, owned by Gerald Romero and Sue Cook, who had set early splits of 24.90 and 49.76 before weakening in the final furlong.

 

Johnny Handsome paid $4.20 and $3.40 while Parrain returned $7.60 to show.

 

Racing resumes Saturday at Fair Grounds with an 11-race program beginning at 1 p.m.

 

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 141^st Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 31, 2013, highlighted by the milestone 100^th 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-

 

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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]

100th Louisiana Derby and Infield Festival March 30
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