Alms might kick off season in Shantel Lanerie Memorial

NEW ORLEANS – Alms, the Godolphin filly who won all three of her starts in 2019, has worked twice this month and could make her 3-year-old debut Feb. 8 at Fair Grounds in the $60,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial Stakes, a one-mile grass race for 3-year-olld fillies. Trainer Mike Stidham said the Lanerie could serve as a useful prep for the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks on March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. Stidham has a string of horses stabled at Tampa Bay in addition to his Fair Grounds stable.

Alms, by City Zip out of Charity Belle, by Empire Maker, won the Matron over six furlongs at Belmont Park before closing her 2019 campaign with a 2 3/4-length victory at Del Mar in the one-mile Jimmy Durante Stakes.

The Stidham barn also has Synchrony gearing up for his 2020 debut. The 7-year-old horse, bred and owned by Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable, has been a high-level grass performer for two full years now and has a special affinity for the Fair Grounds grass course. He has won the Fair Grounds Handicap two seasons in a row and likely is on target to launch his 2020 campaign in the Feb. 15 renewal of that race, which no longer is run under handicap conditions.