1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Spencer Track Analyst/Racing Communications, 504.948.1233, brian.spencer@fgno.com
DEFENDING CHAMPION STRING KING HEADLINES $60,000 MR. SULU STAKES
NEW ORLEANS (Wednesday, November 20, 2013) – Charles C. Smith’s String King, winner of the 2012 edition of the Mr. Sulu Stakes, will be back to defend his title in Saturday’s 6th renewal of the $60,000 turf test for Louisiana-breds, to be run at one mile on the Stall-Wilson turf course.
Bred, owned, and trained by Smith, the 5-year-old String King will be reunited with jockey James Graham who will seek his third consecutive victory in the Mr. Sulu, having partnered with String King last year after winning the 2011 event aboard Populist Politics in a rained-off renewal. The Crowned King gelding enters the Mr. Sulu off a close second in the Unbridled Stakes at Louisiana Downs and will seek his third stakes score of the year on Saturday.
Harry L. Benoit’s 6-year-old Lost Soldier horse Sadie’s Soldier will aim for his second stakes win of the year, having captured the John Henry Stakes on the Evangeline Downs turf course earlier this year. An earner of more than $377,000, the Brett Brinkman trainee will be ridden by Mark Guidry.
Kissimmee Kyle, another stakes veteran with more than $389,000 in career earnings for owners Red Oak Stable, will take another shot at String King after finishing fourth in last year’s Mr. Sulu. Trained by Al Stall, Jr., the 7-year-old Gold Tribute gelding will make his second start of the year with Florent Geroux aboard.
The remainder of the field with rider assignments is: Sunwave (Roman Chapa), Pioneering Native (Leandro Goncalves), Patrykus (Jamie Theriot), Tiger Run (Brian Hernandez, Jr.), Michael’s Gabriel (Chris Landeros), and Midnight Heist (Richard Eramia).
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 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 142nd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby and the accompanying Infield Festival – will run from November 22, 2013 through March 30, 2014. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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