Chess Chief checks Owendale at wire in New Orleans Classic
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Chess Chief is a pawn most everywhere else, but he’s a king at Fair Grounds. He scored only his fourth career victory in 23 starts by getting a narrow decision Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Classic for older horses. He’s now 4 for 9 at Fair Grounds – where he’s scored every one of his victories – and 0 for 14 elsewhere.
Chess Chief ($12) got a favorable bob to edge 4-5 favorite Owendale by a head at the end of a 1 1/8-mile race in which the first five finishers were within 1 1/4 lengths of one another. Enforceable rallied up the rail to get third, while Roadster, who led early in what appeared on paper to be a paceless race, faded late to fourth while making his first start in 54 weeks.
Sonneman was a close fifth and was followed, in order, by Olliemyboy and a badly beaten Mocito Rojo. Captivating Moon was scratched in favor of the Muniz Memorial on turf one race later.
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Over a track that was producing fast times all day, Roadster led through fractions of 24.11 seconds for the quarter, 48.30 for the half, and 1:11.64 for six furlongs, with Owendale lapped on him throughout.
Owendale and Roadster continued to battle it out into the stretch and to midstretch, but just as Owendale started to gain a slight advantage, Chess Chief – who was on the rail heading into the far turn but was taken widest of all for the stretch run – closed best under Luis Saez and got up just in time.
Chess Chief completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:49.24. He earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
Chess Chief “loves this track and Luis gave him a lovely ride,” Dallas Stewart, who trains Chess Chief for the estate of James J. Coleman Jr., told TVG’s Scott Hazelton in a post-race interview.
Chess Chief, by Into Mischief, was 1 for 2 at this meet. He won a second-level allowance in December, and most recently was a solid third behind Maxfield and Sonneman in last month’s Grade 3 Mineshaft, the major prep for the New Orleans Classic. Maxfield exited that race to finish third in the Santa Anita Handicap two weeks ago. Chess Chief stayed home. Check and mate.