Braken Poppa has no trouble in Crescent City Oaks

NEW ORLEANS – It was as easy as it looked on paper for Braken Poppa in the Crescent City Oaks, if not shaped exactly as it looked on paper.

With rail-drawn speed horse Thrill Seeker taken slightly off the pace, Braken Poppa made an easy lead and never came close to being caught, jogging to a 5 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 contest for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies.

The result, to say the least, came as no surprise. Braken Poppa, listed at 4-5 on the morning line, went off the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.20.

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Thrill Seeker ran second all the way around and had four lengths on third-place Fade To Gold at the finish. Braken Poppa ran one mile, 70 yards in 1:41.76 (73 Beyer Speed Figure) while capping off an excellent Fair Grounds meet. Braken Poppa, by Aurelius Maximus out of Fab Fox, by Yes It’s True, debuted here Nov. 27, finishing a distant second in a sprint race, but found her calling as soon as trainer Steve Asmussen stretched her out to routes. She cleared the maiden ranks going one mile, won a first-level allowance over the same trip, and improved for the third straight time romping Feb. 28 in her stakes debut.

Braken Poppa might or might not have improved again Saturday for owners Bradley Kent and Ken Reimer. Didn’t matter. Much the best. Four in a row.

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