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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
validfromthegitgo choice in s. mississippi stakes
· Kissimmee Kyle, Wildrally Match Strides in Friday’s Co-Feature
· Speedy Applauding Pointing Toward Rachel Alexandra Stakes
By Graham Ross, Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, February 2, 2012) – Stephen Peterson’s Validfromthegitgo, who finished third in his last start in Fair Grounds’ $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Dec. 10, has been installed as a tepid 5-2 morning line choice in Friday’s $40,000 South Mississippi Owners and Breeders Stakes at the Crescent City oval.
The six-furlong dash, restricted to 3-year-olds which comply with the bylaws of the South Mississippi Owners and Breeders Association, is observing its 16th renewal this season as part of Fair Grounds’ stakes schedule and has attracted a field of 10, with seven wagering interests due to three couplings.
In the Champions Day Juvenile, Validfromthegitgo was beaten 2 1/2-lengths for the win but was compromised when shuffled back shortly after the half-mile pole. Before that, the Sam Breaux trainee was third in the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes at Delta Downs Nov. 19 but raced four-wide throughout. Seven-time Fair Grounds jockey champion Robby Albarado gets the riding assignment in Friday’s sprint.
Capable of providing strong competition for Validfromthegitgo is Pop-A-Top’s Raiseanothergator, who scored a 1 1/4-length win in his last start Dec. 8 here by making the pace throughout in $20,000 claiming company. Conditioned by nine-time Fair Grounds trainer champion Tom Amoss, Raiseanothergator is pegged at 3-1 in the early line will be ridden once again by jockey James Graham, aboard for that last local score.
Coupled in the wagering and the third choice at 4-1 is the Bill Hudson-owned colt Hudson’s Creed, as well as the filly La Belle Cat, second and third, respectively, in their most recent starts. Shane Sellers has been named on the colt, while Kerwin Clark is listed astride the filly, both trained by Eric Heitzmann.
Completing the field is the William Reed-owned entry of Surley and Bonita Saleeta; the William Gilmore-owned duo of Porto Pottea and Doc Storm Cat; Jerry Haggart’s Sweet Harmony and Divine Equine’s Big Chief Duke.
KISSIMMEE KYLE, WILDRALLY MATCH STRIDES IN FRIDAY’S CO-FEATURE – Red Oak Stable’s Kissimmee Kyle and Charles Zacney and Edward Johnston’s Wildrally, both stakes-winners at Fair Grounds last season, are set to match strides in Friday’s $45,000 allowance and $40,000 optional claiming co-feature over Fair Grounds Stall-Wilson turf course.
That race over the local lawn, slated at about one-mile, is restricted to accredited Louisiana-breds and has attracted a field of seven.
Kissimmee Kyle, who will be ridden by seven-time Fair Grounds jockey champion Robby Albarado, won the $75,000 Bayou
Wildrally, slated as the 3-1 second choice, captured last year’s $60,000
SPEEDY APPLAUDING POINTING TOWARD RACHEL ALEXANDRA STAKES – Ramona Bass’s undefeated Applauding, a Florida-bred 3-year-old filly who was the morning line favorite for Fair Grounds’ $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 21 before being scratched on race day due to a slight case of colic, will now be pointed for the Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Feb. 25.
The Rachel Alexandra Stakes, second leg of Fair Grounds three-race series for sophomore members of the distaff set, concludes with the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks on March 31, penultimate day of the current racing season in
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