Amoss pair will run late in sprint

NEW ORLEANS - Any time Tom Amoss sends a horse in a Fair Grounds allowance race it must be respected. But when he sends two capable runners as separate betting interests, the race can become a real guessing game.

Such is the case in Friday's ninth race, a third-level allowance going six furlongs over the main track, where Amoss has Outta Tune and Tenkiller Lake entered as part of a seven-horse field.

Both runners were claimed by Amoss, and both have thrived since coming to his barn.

Tenkiller Lake has been a consistent check earner since being claimed by Amoss, with 2 wins and 4 seconds in 6 races for the trainer.

"Tenkiller is the model of consistency," Amoss said. "Now, we'd like to see a horse that can break through and win at this condition."

Tenkiller Lake last raced Jan. 12 at Fair Grounds in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for $50,000 claimers. He came from well off the pace to get up for second, two lengths in back of the winner.

The extra half-furlong of this race should help Tenkiller Lake's closing style, though he will have to look over his shoulder for his stablemate, Outta Tune.

"They basically have the same style, in that they lay back and then make a nice run," Amoss said. "I just hope there is enough pace in the race for them to work with."

Outta Tune enters this race after getting out-nosed in a six-furlong fourth-level allowance. That race was a level higher than this one, and he nearly succeeded in skipping an allowance level. He will benefit from the class drop Friday.

The pace is likely to be set by two of the classier horses in the race, Carson's Legacy and Spin Master.

Carson's Legacy has won two small stakes and finished seventh, only four lengths back, in the Grade 2 Carry Back at Calder.

Spin Master will be making only his second start in 18 months and his first for trainer Steve Klesaris. He has been training forwardly, with two bullet works at Fair Grounds, but has not raced since May at Churchill Downs.

"He's training very well, and he's got to get started somewhere," Klesaris said. "He's had issues, but since I've had him he's got ready correctly."