Australasia staying with statebreds for now

The 87 Beyer Speed Figure Australasia earned winning the Premier Starlet for Louisiana-breds on Feb. 10 at Delta Downs is the third-highest Beyer so far in 2021 for a 3-year-old filly. But Australasia’s connections have no plans to get ambitious. Now 3 for 3 in her career, with the Starlet win following romps in a Fair Grounds maiden race and another Louisiana-bred stakes at Delta, Australasia likely will run next in the Crescent City Oaks for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies on March 20 at Fair Grounds.

“We’ll probably stick with the Louisiana-breds for now,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She’ll have the opportunity to test deeper waters later.”

◗ Big Lake, coming off a maiden route win in January, held on to beat the talented Defeater in a Feb. 13 first-level dirt-route allowance race, earning a start in a stakes race. Steve Asmussen, who trains the American Pharoah homebred for Mike Rutherford, said the Louisiana Derby and the Rebel Stakes are the two options.

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◗ Wells Bayou was scratched sick on Feb. 13 from the Mineshaft Stakes and won’t make the Razorback at Oaklawn, either, trainer Brad Cox said.

◗ A pair of Louisiana-bred turf allowance races headline the nine-race Friday card at Fair Grounds.