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,
‘politics’, ‘house’ to duel on La.
· String King Choice to Defend in $100,000
· Special 12:15 Post Time Set for
By Graham Ross, Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, December 6, 2012) – Klaravich Stable’s Populist Politics and Robert Orth and Wes Hawley’s Get in Da House are set to match strides in the 22nd running of Fair Grounds’ $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic – main event of eight Thoroughbred stakes races restricted to accredited Louisiana-breds Saturday in the Crescent City.
Populist Politics, who has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite, and Get in Da House, pegged as the 7-2 second choice, last met when second and third, respectively, a neck apart, in Fair Grounds’ $90,000 Costa Rising Stakes on Louisiana Derby Day last spring. That afternoon they were narrowly defeated by Brittlyn Stable’s Star Guitar, who became the richest Louisiana-bred horse of all time with his victory by a head in that race.
Both Populist Politics and Get in Da House are viable candidates to inherit the state-bred showcased role of Star Guitar, who won the last three renewals of the local Classic before being retired over the summer.
Scott Boudreax, Donald Gaudet and Eddie Johnston’s Lee’s Spirit, 9-2, who defeated Populist Politics in Delta’s $100,000 Gold Cup Oct. 27, and Rebecca Farms and T. J. Dickey’s Heavy On Themister, 5-1, third in that same race, are also considered strong threats in this weekend’s Louisiana Champions Day Classic.
Completing the field is Maggi Moss’s Watch My Smoke (6-1), Maggi Moss’s Lovely Vin (12-1),
STRING KING CHOICE TO DEFEND IN $100,000
Bred and trained by his owner, String King won the $60,000 Mr. Sulu Stakes here on Thanksgiving’s Opening Day program.
Red Oak Stable’s Kissimmee Kyle, who finished second by a nose to String King in last year’s Champions Day Turf, is the 4-1 second choice in the early line for Saturday’s renewal.
The other Thoroughbred stakes races slated for state-bred restricted Louisiana Champions Day are the $100,000 LCD Juvenile for 2-year-olds, $100,000 LCD Lassie for 2-year-old fillies, $100,000 LCD Ladies for older fillies and mares, $100,000 LCD Ladies Sprint for sprinters in that same division, $100,000 LCD Sprint open to all Louisiana-bred speedsters, and $50,000 LCD Handicap Stakes for state-breds 3-years-old and up.
Three $100,000 stakes for accredited Louisiana-bred American Quarter Horses open Saturday’s expanded 13-race program.
SPECIAL 12:15 POST SATURDAY – Due to the expanded 13-race program set for Saturday’s 22nd renewal of Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds a special early post time of 12:15 p.m. will be in effect. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m., at which time fans will be able to pick up free Star Guitar posters (first 5,000 fans) courtesy of Fair Grounds and free Star Guitar T-shirts (first 750 fans) courtesy of Brittlyn Stable.
LTBA AND FAIR GROUNDS SALUTE ARMED FORCES – The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) and Fair Grounds are saluting all branches of the military on Louisiana Champions Day.
Representatives from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy will be honored at the LTBA Gala at Fair Grounds the evening of December 7 and will present all trophies and awards to the winning connections for each of the Louisiana Champions Day races.
At 11:45 a.m., a half-hour before first post, a Marine detail will handle the colors presentation in the Winner’s Circle while Chris Gray performs the National Anthem.
NEW HALL OF FAME ROOM TO HOST FREE HANDICAPPING SEMINARS STARTING SATURDAY – The free “No Favorites Allowed” handicapping seminars return to Fair Grounds starting Saturday in the newly christened “Hall of Fame Room” on the second floor. Moderator Jim Mulvihill and guest handicappers Brian “The Biscuit” Kohn and Gary Palmisano Jr. will preview every race on the card with an emphasis on horses that offer value. The weekly seminars, which start 40 minutes before the first race (11:30 a.m. this week due to the early 12:10 p.m. first post for Louisiana Champions Day), are open to handicappers of all skill levels.
The new Hall of Fame Room, open to the public only for handicapping seminars, is located on the west side (up the stretch) of the Grandstand’s second floor, across from the Fair Grounds Hall of Fame exhibit. The Hall of Fame Room features large flat-screen monitors, a private self-service mutuel machine and offers a striking view of the paddock through the 15-foot windows above the Jockeys’ Quarters.
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
-FG-
___
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]
504.481.8770 [cell]
100th
www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com/Media
This Churchill Downs Incorporated communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
