Eagle's connections consider next-race options

NEW ORLEANS – The best-looking winners of Saturday stakes races at Fair Grounds all appeared to be in good shape Sunday morning, with attention now turning to where these horses will next start.

That’s particularly the case with Eagle, who won his third straight race with an impressive victory in the Tenacious Stakes. Eagle ran the fastest mile-and-70-yard time here at Fair Grounds, 1:41.63, in almost five years, and did so under a hand ride from Brian Hernandez Jr. He earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

The win was Eagle’s first in a stakes race, and the near-term goal for trainer Neil Howard and owner-breeder Will Farish would be to win a graded race, but the next two-turn dirt stakes here for older horses, the Louisiana Handicap on Jan. 16, is a listed $100,000 race. Howard and Farish will have to decide whether to send Eagle back out for that race or await the Grade 3 Mineshaft in February, and Eagle’s connections will weigh their options, Howard said Sunday, before settling on a plan.

Cash Control won her first stakes and did so impressively with a front-running 2 1/2 –length score in the Tiffany Lass. She also clocked a good time, 1:43.07, for a mile and 70 yards, earning an 82 Beyer. Her connections, like Eagle’s, will now try to find a graded stakes their horse can win. One appealing option, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday, is the Grade 3, $400,000 Sam Houston Ladies Classic next month in Texas.

Ibaka sustained superficial cuts when he was roughed up just after the start of the Buddy Diliberto Stakes, but otherwise came out of the race in good shape, trainer Bret Calhoun said Sunday. Ibaka now is 2 for 2 on grass and obviously will remain on that surface, and while no set plans have been made for his next start, the Grade 3, $125,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley here on Jan. 15 would be a logical spot.