1751 Gentilly Blvd.,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com
Contact: Graham Ross, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255,
RAVE REVIEWS FOR ‘APPLAUSE’ IN RACHEL ALEXANDRA
· Look At the Time Wins $60,000 Gentilly Stakes
· 2011
By Graham Ross, Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, February 25, 2012) – Gillian Campbell et al.’s Summer Applause got rave reviews from her rider Robby Albarado after she proved clearly best in Saturday’s Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes as the final prep for the upcoming $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks March 31.
“(Summer Applause) was a great ride from the start to the end,” said Albarado, seven-time Fair Grounds jockey champion Albarado in the winner’s circle after the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra. “She rated kindly on the backside. We thought we’d be third or fourth and we were. I was just trying to be a good passenger. I got clear turning for home and she ran home nice. She’s grown up rapidly in the last couple of weeks.”
The race unfolded as Albarado explained it, with eventual runner-up Avie’s Sense, owned by Tall Oaks Farm, setting early fractions of 24.16 and 47.54 while being rated by jockey James Graham. Summer Applause challenged her in the late stages and drew clear by a length at the wire, returning mutuels of $8.40, $4.40 and $2.80 while increasing her career earnings to $202,906 with her third victory in five lifetime starts. The daughter of Harlan’s
Avie’s Sense, who broke her maiden at last asking, could not stay with the winner late but was easily second best, paying $8.20 and $4.40 while finishing 3 1/2-lengths to the good of Jake Ballis’s Inny Minnie, who returned $3 to show.
What’s next for Summer Applause?
“We are going to enjoy the moment,” said winning trainer Bret Calhoun. “We want to get the right spacing for her. Obviously, the ultimate goal is the Kentucky Oaks and we want to figure out the best way to get her there.”
LOOK AT THE TIME WINS GENTILLY STAKES – Hooties Racing’s Look At the Time, rated just behind the early leaders, cut to the rail after entering the stretch and drew off with intermittent urging to win Saturday’s $60,000 Gentilly Stakes for accredited Louisiana-bred sophomores by three and a quarter lengths.
Trained by Wes Hawley and ridden by Corey Lanerie, the winner toured the about one mile distance over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated “good” in 1:39.95, increased his career earnings to $60,974 with his second win in three career starts and returned mutuels of $8.20, $5 and $4.40.
Look At the Time, an altered son of Brahms, was also first under the wire in his career debut but was disqualified and placed fourth.
Danny Ray Butler’s Benwill, unhurried early, rallied in the stretch to gain the place in the Gentilly, paying $5.60 and $4 while finishing a head to the good of Larry Johnson’s Beckyboy, who paid $8.40 to show.
Todd Dick’s Wits End and Dan Lynch, Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer’s Freddie One Bite alternated for the early lead with splits of 24.67 and 49.54 but tired from their efforts.
2011
Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan and trained by Steve Asmussen, Nehro was allowed to settle well back in fourth position early, commenced his rally approaching the lane in the $49,000 allowance and $17,500 optional claiming mile and 70 yard run and drew off late in facile fashion. The son of Mineshaft paid $2.80 and toured the distance in 1:41.88.
“I think the timing of this race – I was a little concerned, he doesn’t have a lot of work in him – but I think it puts us right on schedule for the New Orleans Handicap,” said Asmussen, referring to the Grade II race on April 1, Louisiana Derby Day as well as closing day of Fair Grounds 2011-2012 season.
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
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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,
504.948.1233 [office]
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Fair Grounds Oaks Day March 31
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