1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
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Contact: Graham Ross, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, graham.ross@fgno.com
vicar’s in trouble rules again in Louisiana derby; leads wire-to-wire in $1 million showcase race
By Graham Ross, Staff Writer
With his impressive Saturday score that puts him once again in the national spotlight in this spring’s Kentucky Derby picture, the Mike Maker-trained Vicar’s in Trouble became the first Louisiana-bred to win the Louisiana Derby since the Timphony family’s Heaven Again accomplished the same feat in 1990. The win earned Vicar’s in Trouble 100 points and a position in the Kentucky Derby starting gate at Churchill Downs five weeks from now on May 3.
After establishing early fractions of :23.56 and :47.86, Napravnik kept the small but compactly-built son of Into Mischief going with good handling and the eventual winning result was never seriously in doubt. Vicar’s in Trouble accomplished the nine-furlongs in 1:50.77, returning mutuels of $8.60, $4.40 and $3 and increased his lifetime earnings to $788,900 with three wins from five trips to the post.
“You know he’s a tiny horse but he’s got a great big heart,” said Napravnik.
Starlight Racing’s favored Intense Holiday, who won the Grade II Risen Star Stakes here five weeks ago, was void of early foot, commenced a rally approaching the lane, ducked in sharply almost hitting the rail in the stretch run to lose momentum and could not threaten the winner while clearly second best by 1 ½-lengths in front of West Point Stable’s Commanding Curve.
“The inside horse jumped out, right on me, but the race was over at that point,” said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who rode Intense Holiday.
Intense Holiday returned $3.20 and $2.60 while Commanding Curve paid $5.20 in the show position.
In Trouble finished fourth and Albano fifth, but that order was reversed by the stewards for In Trouble’s bumping incident with Albano leaving the backstretch.
Flat Gone, King Cyrus, Gold Hawk, Louies Flower and Rise Up completed the order of finish.
Racing resumes Sunday on Closing Day with a nine-race card with a 1:25pm first post.
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 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 142nd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby - will run from November 22, 2013 through March 30, 2014. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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