Saturday, March 24, 2012

Stakes Recap: Speedacious, Inspired Dead Heat in Happy Ticket

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

 

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, graham.ross@fgno.com

 

speedacious, inspired dead-heat in happy ticket

 

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

 

NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, March 24, 2012) – Carl Moore Management’s Speedacious and Peter Blum Thoroughbreds’ Inspired, first and second choices respectively in Saturday’s $75,000 Happy Ticket Stakes, dead-heated for the win in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint  for older fillies and mares that was transferred to the main track following heavy rains earlier in the week.

 

Inspired made the pace with splits of 22.37 and 45.26 while Speedacious, away tardily, got her head in front in the late stages but could not sustain the advantage when Inspired launched her second bid.

 

Speedacious, trained by Bret Calhoun, was ridden by Miguel Mena and returned mutuels of $2.40, $2.60 and $2.40. She increased her career earnings to $501,854 with her 10th win in 20 lifetime starts.

 

“She’s one of the best mares on the grounds,” said the Peruvian-born reinsman. “She broke a little slow today but we’ll take the dead-heat.”

 

Inspired, trained by Allen Iwinski, was ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan and paid $2.60, $2.80 and $2.60 while finishing on even terms with Speedacious. 

 

“She’s got a lot of ‘try’ to her,” said Bridgmohan, who was scoring his fourth win of the afternoon aboard Inspired, who increased her own career earnings to $256,385 with her sixth win in 16 career starts. “She’s a pretty honest horse. She’s gutsy.”

 

Jerry Jamgotchian’s Smarty’s Emperoress finished third, returning $3.20 to show while 5 3/4-lengths behind the top two.

 

Racing resumes Sunday at Fair Grounds with a 12-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.

 

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-

 

 

___ 
 
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

504.948.1233 [office]
504.481.8770 [cell]

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