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nelson duo odds-on in south miss. owners stakes
· Surely Grand Set to Scratch Out of Breeders-Restricted Event
By
The Delta Downs-based duo is trained by Eric Nelson Jr. and that conditioner has successfully invaded Fair Grounds twice this season in three attempts.
“Both of these horses look pretty good to me coming into this race,” said Nelson earlier this week when speaking from his western
“Mr. Bandini’s Band had won two straight until I put him in that ($125,000 Premier Night Prince) stakes last Saturday, but in that race he
Prior to the Premier Night Prince, Mr. Bandini’s Band had crossed under the wire first in the $100,000 Big Drama Stakes at Delta Jan. 5, but was subsequently disqualified and placed fourth.
“That race is kind of a sore sub
“Maybe the most important thing is that he thinks he won,” Nelson said. “In his race before that one, he won by 5 ½ lengths, and I think he’s ready to run another big one on Friday.
“Rock Time was very immature when I first got him,” said Nelson, “but lately he’s starting to figure things out. He didn’t run very well when I brought him over there for the ($100,000)
Nelson, incidentally, was born in
Owner Gilmore won this race two years ago with One Pretty Penny, but that horse was trained by Ray Sibille.
Trainer Tom Amoss has saddled two out of the last three winners of Friday’s restricted affair – Pop-A-Top’s Raiseanothergator last season and Pop-A-Top’s Red Hot Buddah three years ago, and that owner-trainer tandem will be represented by Always Broke on Friday.
Always Broke has been pegged as the 9-2 second choice in the early line after breaking his maiden for a $20,000 tag at Delta Downs last November.
Completing the field Is Howard Alonzo’s Valentine Eddie, 10-1; Baronne Farms’ Surely Grand, 6-1; Earnest Stovall’s Fi
SURELY GRAND SET TO SCRATCH OUT OF BREEDERS-RESTRICTED EVENT – Baronne Farms’ Surely Grand, third choice at 6-1 in the $40,000 South Mississippi Owners/Breeders Stakes, is expected to be scratched from the restricted sprint.
“I think I’m going to take her out of that race,” trainer Michelle Lovell said Thursday morning during training hours. “The race came up a little tougher than I expected it to be. Also, she’s a filly who would be running against the boys, and I think that’s a little more than I want to ask her to do right now.”
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
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James J. Mulvihill
Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
A Churchill Downs Incorporated Company
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504.948.1233 [office]
504.481.8770 [cell]
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