Baghdaria's options open

NEW ORLEANS - Any doubts about whether Baghdaria would run in Saturday's Grade 3 Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds were dispelled when trainer Tom Amoss sent her out for a six-furlong workout Friday morning. Baghdaria moved a step closer to her first start since the Breeders' Cup Distaff with a 1:13.40 breeze.

"I was very happy with it," Amoss said Friday. "Obviously I'm not going to run her tomorrow. We'll keep looking at options for her, including races at Oaklawn and Delta."

Unless she runs in the $100,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap here, which seems unlikely, that start almost certainly will not be at Fair Grounds simply because there's nothing else left for her on the schedule.

"The Krantz is on the grass," said Amoss, "and I don't want to run her on the grass right now."

Slew's Tizzy may return for Louisiana Derby

Slew's Tizzy, who clipped heels and caused the billiard-ball scattering of the field turning for home in the Risen Star stakes two weeks ago, is likely to return to New Orleans for the March 10 Louisiana Derby.

"I've recovered," said trainer Greg Fox, who watched jockey James Graham pinball through the air but breathed a sigh of relief when both horse and rider came out of the race unscathed. "I'd love to run him back. He loves the track, and I honestly think he was going to be part of the finish."

Graham agreed with Fox's assessment.

"I had plenty of horse left," said Graham. "I hadn't even asked him for his run yet. I think if we'd had a little more racing luck he would have made a race of it."

Other starters likely for the Louisiana Derby include Liquidity, the stablemate of Risen Star winner Notional; Risen Star runner-up Imawildandcrazyguy; Circular Quay, who lost all chance when he got checked behind Slew's Tizzy but still closed for fifth; and Delta Jackpot winner Birdbirdistheword.

City to rule on Fair Grounds slots

The Fair Grounds has already bumped up its overnight purse structure twice this meet because of unexpectedly large returns from its video poker terminals, and the track is eager to expand into slot machines.

The New Orleans City Planning Commission has scheduled a Feb. 27 meeting with Fair Grounds officials to review the track's and parent company Churchill Downs Inc.'s request for permission to open a temporary slots facility while a permanent facility is being constructed.

Last week Churchill announced plans for the temporary slot-machine site in the offtrack betting building adjacent to the grandstand. The commission will also review the track's plans to build a dormitory on the backstretch for stable employees.

On March 13 the commission will conduct an official hearing on the planned construction. The City Council must approve the plans for both facilities. Plans for the slots area also must be approved by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana State Racing Commission.

The permanent facility is scheduled to open in November 2008