1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
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Contact: Brian W. Spencer, Racing Analyst/Racing Communications, 504.948.1233, brian.spencer@fgno.com
ALBARADO, ASMUSSEN TEAM FOR FOUR WINS SATURDAY AT FAIR GROUNDS; ALBARADO BAGS BOTH STAKES
NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, December 20, 2014) – It took jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Steve Asmussen little time to begin their march towards a big Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots when they teamed up for a victory by Corrine and William Heiligbrodt’s Grade III winner Cinco Charlie ($2.80) in the day’s first race, the $50,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes.
The pair completed a sweep of the early double when Albarado guided the Asmussen-owned Esscalator ($3.60) to victory in the day’s second event, a conditioned $5,000 claimer. With neither Albarado nor Asmussen participating in the day’s third race, a different set of connections visited the winner’s circle.
Albarado and Asmussen teamed up again in the fourth race with Corrine and William Heiligbrodt’s maiden claiming winner Pummill ($4.20) and then took another when springing a starter optional-claiming upset on the turf in race five with Council Oak ($31.00), another runner owned by Asmussen. The team compiled a four for six record on the day’s card.
“I liked the group we had in today,” said a pleased Asmussen. “Whenever you get to start off the day with a horse like (Cinco) Charlie, it’s pretty easy to feel good about the day.”
Albarado, who added a fifth winner on the card in the $50,000 Letellier Memorial with the undefeated Promise Me Silver, said, “I looked at the (Daily Racing) Form last night and liked them. I don’t like to do that to myself and think I’m going to have a big day, but I thought with the right trips I was going to be on five or six live ones.”
Albarado’s five-win day was the best single-day mark by a rider this season, besting leading rider James Graham’s four-win performance on November 29. Asmussen’s four tallies matched Tom Amoss’s standard, also set on November 29 when he teamed with Graham for a quartet of scores.
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 143rd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 102nd running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2014 through March 2015. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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