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Barn Notes: Friday, January 16, 2015
· Highly Regarded Exodus Stakes-bound
· Amoss Goes for Unprecedented Fourth Lecomte
· Broadway Show Always Expected to Be a Hit
HIGHLY REGARDED EXODUS STAKES-BOUND
Fox Hill Farm’s highly regarded Exodus exited his superb maiden victory on Jan. 4 in fine form and has earned himself a chance at stakes company, according to trainer Larry Jones. Purchased for $600,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga sale in 2013, the son of Medaglia d’Oro out of multiple Grade I winner Stop Traffic won his six-furlong heat in 1:10.08 under Kerwin Clark in what was his third lifetime start and first time on fast dirt. The bay colt earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure and 100 Equibase Speed Figure for his effort and closed his final quarter in :24.08, despite being eased in the final 100 yards.
“He came out of his race great and we are going to look at a seven-furlong stakes with him at Sam Houston called the Allen’s Landing,” Jones said. “We hope we’re not being too aggressive with him going from a maiden to a stakes, but we think he’s really talented and we’re taking Cassatt up there for the ($400,000) Houston Ladies Classic.”
A half-brother to Whitney Handicap winner Cross Traffic, Exodus has always been well-intended by his trainer. At the beginning of the Fair Grounds meet, the veteran conditioner prophetically mentioned the then-maiden as one of his stable’s leading possible prospects for the Grade II $750,000 Louisiana Derby on Mar. 28.
The $50,000 Allen’s Landing Stakes, scheduled for Jan. 24, could feasibly function as both a distance- and schedule-appropriate stepping stone on the way to the Louisiana Derby’s major prep, the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/16-miles on Feb. 21.
AMOSS GOES FOR UNPRECEDENTED FOURTH LECOMTE
According to Fair Grounds Race Course’s stakes records, current meet-leading trainer Tom Amoss could make history if his charge War Story is victorious in the Grade II $200,000 Lecomte on Saturday afternoon. Owned by Loooch Racing Stable and Chris Dunn, War Story exits a strong allowance victory over the local course and is two-for-two in his career.
Amoss is among five conditioners with three victories in the 70 previous runnings of the Lecomte, but is the only trainer of that quintet with a runner in this year’s edition. Two trainers – Neil Howard who saddles Eagle and Steve Asmussen who saddles Tiznow R J – have an opportunity to become the sixth three-time winner of the race if their charges are successful.
Amoss was successful in 1994 with Prats and Wagner’s Fly Cry, 1999 with James McIngvale’s Some Actor and 2010 with Jack T. Hammer’s Ron the Greek. War Story, a son of Northern Afleet who was privately purchased between his victorious Churchill Downs debut and his local win, is the 9-2 second choice on the morning line.
BROADWAY SHOW ALWAYS EXPECTED TO BE A HIT
Trainer Larry Jones has had his fair share of brilliant offspring by Unbridled’s Song for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. Eight Belles, Rockport Harbor, Honest Man and Old Fashioned – to name a few – are considered some of the very best to ever gaze through the Jones white bridle. Accordingly, it was no surprise to see a statuesque gray filly by Unbridled’s Song in the red and white quarters of Porter’s silks race to an impressive win upon debut on Jan. 8 at Fair Grounds Race Course.
Broadway Show, a tall yet surprisingly light 3-year-old filly, was on her toes and very professional in the paddock prior to her win and seemed to tower over her rivals in both size and prowess. The first foal of the Wildcat Heir mare Richiegirlgonewild – a swift Grade III-winning sprinting filly trained by Larry Rivelli – Broadway Show was bet to even-money favoritism and ran like a showstopper from the moment the gate opened. Broadway Show easily took rider Kerwin Clark to the front through what looked to be an effortless quarter in :22.51. After a half in :46.40, the Kentucky-bred charge gave her many supporters a happy ending when she was confidently eased under the line 3½ lengths superior to her foes in 1:11.31.
She’s a very nice filly,” Jones said. “We were always high on her. She had a slow start because of throat surgery. She’s built more like a Tapit than an Unbridled’s Song, but I think it’s good that she’s lighter because of the soft bones of (the Unbridled’s Songs). She reminds me a lot of Honest Man who won the Mineshaft Handicap here with us a few years ago.”
A $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase in August of 2013, Broadway Show’s next engagement has yet to be determined.
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