TurfPublicists: Saturday Advance: Bucktown Gets Edge in Sprint Feature

1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com

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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

BUCKTOWN gets edge IN FG FEATURE SATURDAY

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, January 26, 2012) – Ed Wright Cattle Co. and Miles Childers’ Bucktown, an accredited Louisiana-bred sophomore who had the misfortune of facing Brittlyn Stable’s highly-regarded Beanwah’smachine in his last three starts, finds an easier spot this weekend and has been pegged as the tepid 7-2 choice in Saturday’s featured six-furlong allowance sprint at Fair Grounds.

The $41,000 allowance-optional claiming event, restricted to accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds, has attracted a field of nine, only one of which is entered for the claiming price of $30,000.

In his last trip to the post in Fair Grounds’ $103,000 Louisiana Futurity on New Years Eve, Bucktown was settled behind the early leaders but weakened in the final furlong to finish sixth. Previously, in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile at the New Orleans oval on Dec. 3, Bucktown made the pace but had no late rally and weakened to fifth in the stretch run. Before that, however, the Leestown gelding was second, beaten two lengths by Beanwah’smachine when they were matched up in first-level allowance company competition.

Trained by Bernie Flint, Bucktown will be ridden Saturday by jockey Ramsey Zimmerman.

Capable of providing strong competition for Bucktown is Sam Breaux and Pete and Barbara Horton’s Cheap Eggs, who has been installed as the 4-1 second choice in Saturday’s evenly-matched sprint. By the young Storm Cat sire Osidy, Cheap Eggs broke his maiden by a length on Dec. 10 at Delta Downs and then returned at the local oval to finish second by a length in optional claiming company on Jan. 4 despite a wide trip. Seven-time Fair Grounds jockey champion Robby Albarado will be in the irons aboard the Sam Breaux trainee.

Named to oppose the top two are: Earl and Keith Hernandez’ Social Misfit, John Jacinto; James Perron Racing Stable Joe’s No Saint, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Glen Warren’s Hud’s Rebellion, Shaun Bridgmohan; Kara Gael Baggett and Val Murrell’s Balidor Desol, Corey Lanerie; Samuel Hebert’s Lighter Fluid, C. J. McMahon; Winchester Place Thoroughbreds and Gary Scherer’s Two Left Shoes, James Graham; and Todd Dick’s Wits End, Richard Eramia.

Of these, Balidor Desol cannot be discounted. After finishing third behind Beanwah’smachine and Bucktown in their first-level allowance meeting on Thanksgiving Day, the Patrick Mouton trainee faced them again in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile but was severely compromised after being forced to steady and getting shuffled back to sixth at the wire.

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 140th Thoroughbred Racing Season continues through April 1, 2012, highlighted by the $1 million Louisiana Derby for Kentucky Derby hopefuls on April 1. 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

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140th Thoroughbred Racing Season, Nov. 24-April 1

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