Defeater sidelined with 'bone weakness'

Defeater, who was being aimed at the Louisiana Derby following a strong second-place finish in a Feb. 13 allowance race at Fair Grounds, is out of training with what trainer Tom Amoss described as “bone weakness.”

Defeater won his career debut in a Jan. 2 Fair Grounds sprint despite, his trainer said at the time, seeming more like a two-turn than a one-turn horse. In his second start, going a route of ground, he broke poorly and fell far behind the early leaders before rallying wide and missing Big Lake, who is bound for the Rebel Stakes, by a half-length. Amoss said if all goes well Defeater could race again sometime later this summer.

Li’l Tootsie, who won a sprint maiden race in January and a two-turn allowance race on Feb. 12, remains on track for the Fair Grounds Oaks, Amoss said. Li’l Tootsie as of March 7 hadn’t posted a timed breeze since Feb. 23, but was scheduled to have a work March 10 or March 11, Amoss said.

“She’s not a big girl, so I don’t do as much with her,” Amoss said.

Amoss also reported that sharp sprinter No Parole will make his turf debut March 20 in the Costa Rising Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for Louisiana-breds. No Parole, winner of the Grade 1 Woody Stephens last summer at Belmont, equaled his career-best Beyer Speed Figure, 100, winning the Premier Sprint on Feb. 10 at Delta Downs in his first start as a 4-year-old.