Amoss up-and-comers might be ready for big time

Trainer Tom Amoss had three horses in Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra Stakes and an entrant in the Risen Star, none of whom distinguished themselves on the day, but Amoss still could have runners for the Fair Grounds Oaks and the Louisiana Derby.

On Friday, Li’l Tootsie stretched out from an impressive sprint maiden win to capture a two-turn first-level allowance race by 1 1/4 lengths, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.22 for an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. Li’l Tootsie got an 89 Beyer for her maiden win, where she beat Euphoric, who came back to notch a 10-length victory of her own Saturday that yielded an 87 Beyer.

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Defeater was entered in the Risen Star, but Amoss and the colt’s owners opted instead for a Saturday allowance race where Defeater ran extremely well in defeat. Defeater, by Union Rags, struck Amoss all along as a route horse but managed to win a Fair Grounds sprint in his debut before stretching out to 1 1/16 miles Saturday. Away slowly and pinched back to last of 11 into the first turn while racing over a surface that favored front-runners early in the card, Defeater made a sustained, eye-catching run to finish second by a half-length. Big Lake, the winner, had a six-length lead at the stretch call and hung on.

“No one closed like he did yesterday,” Amoss said Sunday. “I thought that race confirmed his talent as much as his first one. He’s legit, and I think we get ambitious with him now that he’s got two races under his belt. He is definitely a possibility for the Louisiana Derby.”

Amoss wondered if Li’l Tootsie, bred along the lines of a sprinter, would effectively stretch out, but she rallied with verve from well off a moderate pace while racing on a sloppy, sealed surface.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” said Amoss, who trains Li’l Tootsie for Joel Politi. “I thought coming off those sprints she’d be much more engaged early, not that far back, and she ran a great race. I think there’s a good chance you’ll see her in the Fair Grounds Oaks.”

◗ Maxfield ran his career mark to 5 for 5 winning the Mineshaft Stakes on Saturday, and came out of the race in good shape, trainer Brendan Walsh said Sunday, but no plans have yet been made regarding his next start.

◗ Caddo River, who won the Smarty Jones last month at Oaklawn by more than 10 lengths, has been moved to trainer Brad Cox’s Fair Grounds string because of the freezing weather at Oaklawn. Caddo River worked an easy half-mile Sunday in New Orleans and will remain at Fair Grounds indefinitely, Cox said, while aiming toward the Rebel Stakes on March 13 at Oaklawn.