Dollar Bill's workout encourages Stewart

NEW ORLEANS - Dollar Bill* continued his comeback from injury and a layoff, working a half-mile at Fair Grounds on Thursday in what trainer Dallas Stewart termed the colt's most serious breeze yet.

The 4-year-old Dollar Bill has not started since he finished third to Point Given in the Aug. 25 Travers Stakes, after which he sustained a leg injury, was operated on, and given time to recover. Dollar Bill has now breezed four times and his work Thursday was his second half-mile. Stewart timed the breeze in about 49.80 seconds, while clockers here got the work in 51 seconds.

"As far as concentrating and the way he was moving, it was great," said Stewart. "I would love to see him continue breezing the way he did today."

Stewart and owners Gary and Mary West have not yet picked out a comeback race for Dollar Bill. A possible spot is the Feb. 10 Whirlaway Handicap, followed by the New Orleans Handicap March 3.

Histoire Sainte is due

A horse who has not won in a year might be the horse to beat in Sunday's Sixty Sails Handicap, a grass race for older fillies and mares. Histoire Sainte won last year's Sixty Sails, but has not won again since. In fact, her only two victories in 13 starts since being imported to the United States came over the Fair Grounds grass course.

The local grass, however, may have less to do with her success than the local dirt. Trainer Steve Asmussen said Histoire Sainte thrives in her daily training over the Fair Grounds main track.

"She gallops here like a completely different horse," Asmussen said.

Histoire Sainte will be part of a large field - perhaps a full gate of 14 - in the Sixty Sails. La Recherche, who narrowly beat 3-year-olds in the Pago Hop Stakes in her last race, is the probable starting highweight.

Amoss still on fire

How long can trainer Tom Amoss continue batting .450? As the Fair Grounds season approaches its halfway point, Amoss, through four races Friday, had won with 27 of 59 starters, including the first two races on Thursday's card.

Because they are running so well, Amoss's horses are attracting strong play. For example, Continental Lady, making her career debut Thursday in a two-turn maiden special weight race on turf, was bet down to 3-5. She wound up second.

The two Thursday wins put Amoss in a tie atop the Fair Grounds standings with Steve Asmussen, who had won 27 times with 124 starters. Amoss and Asmussen tied for the training title here last season.

* Past Performances require Adobe Acrobat Reader.