Dazzling Gem on the improve for Tenacious

Dazzling Gem, who impressed from the first start of his career, has a good chance to win his first stakes race in the $75,000 Tenacious on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Dazzling Gem is part of a surprisingly big field of 12 in the Tenacious, a race for 3-year-olds and up at one mile and 70 yards. The field will be reduced by at least two since trainer Al Stall plans to scratch Rocket Time after he drew post 12, and Western Reserve, one of three Brad Cox-trained entrants, goes instead in the Buddy Diliberto Stakes.

Cox also trains Dazzling Gem, a 3-year-old by Misremembered who ranked among the top sophomores at Oaklawn Park last winter. Dazzling Gem won his debut over one mile, then captured a first-level Oaklawn allowance race before finishing third in the Louisiana Derby. Back at Oaklawn, Dazzling Gem was a decent fourth in the Arkansas Derby, and his third in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico aged well when the winner, American Freedom, evolved into one of the better 3-year-olds in the country.

Dazzling Gem went to the sidelines for a substantial rest following the Sir Barton.

“He didn’t need surgery, but we just weren’t happy with the way he was moving, and we gave him 90 days off,” Cox said.

Dazzling Gem returned to racing at Keeneland in October with the worst performance of his career, finishing sixth in a second-level allowance, but Cox attributed the step backward to the addition of blinkers.

“The blinkers were a mistake,” he said. “In the spring, a couple jocks said he ran like a horse that might need them, and we trained him a little in them. He was aggressive, and then in the race he got stuck down inside and got real aggressive early. I just went back and said, ‘Take them off. That’s not what we’re trying to achieve.’ ”

Hoodless, Dazzling Gem might have run his best race, making a sharp turn move followed by a sustained stretch run to win a second-level Churchill allowance by a neck Nov. 19.

“This is obviously a step up, but Joe Rocco, who rode him, said there was more in the tank,” Cox said. “We’re excited about this colt.”

Rocco liked what he felt enough to come to New Orleans to ride Dazzling Gem on Saturday. Dazzling Gem is listed at 6-1 on the morning line but probably will be a considerably lower price.

The field includes the one-two finishers from the $250,000 Delta Mile, Hesinfront and Great Minds, who also is trained by Stall. Great Minds won the Grade 3 Texas Mile earlier in the year, and Stall said the horse won’t be unhappy getting a pocket trip from his inside draw.

Stidham live with 2-year-olds

Proforma in the $50,000 Sugar Bowl and Forest Circle in the $50,000 Letellier give trainer Mike Stidham a decent chance to sweep a pair of 2-year-old sprint stakes Saturday.

Proforma has found the tougher spot. The Sugar Bowl has a talented favorite in Running Mate, who has won his two starts by nearly 14 lengths combined.

Trainer Larry Jones said he is pointing Running Mate to the Lecomte Stakes.

“He’s got a lot of ability, moves his feet pretty fast,” said Jones.

Proforma was second to Saint’s Fan before winning a Churchill maiden race second time out. He’s well drawn for a good stalking trip on the outside of a six-horse field.

“He ran a good number last time,” Stidham said. “I think he’s for real.”

The third horse to consider is Keep Talking, a Fair Grounds maiden winner last out.

Forest Circle impressively won her debut at Arlington and has potential excuses for her four races since. She has more speed than she’s shown recently and at a fair price can take down morning-line favorite Golden Mischief.