Euroears will need luck from post 11

NEW ORLEANS - Euroears has done everything asked of him so far. Now that he's a proven player at sprint distances on turf and dirt, and has captured a stakes, he's being asked to win from post 11.

It's a tough spot, but Euroears has yet to disappoint, and brings a 4-for-4 record into Saturday's $100,000 Colonel Power, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint that's part of a six-stakes card at Fair Grounds.

Last time out, in the Gaudin Memorial on dirt, Euroears was tested for the first time. Stormin Baghdad, who returns in this race, matched him stride for stride in the early going, and then dueled with him deep into the stretch before Euroears pulled away to win by three-quarters of a length.

"We just did beat Stormin Baghdad last time out," said trainer Bret Calhoun. "That race was great for us, a good experience to have eyeballed another horse and put him away."

Euroears will have Stormin Baghad to his inside again, and the break will determine a lot about the chances of both horses.

"If we get caught four or five wide on the turn, it could be a different race for us," said Calhoun. "We're going to have to get lucky and get position, either in front or tuck in behind some horses. He's very ratable, a very sensible horse."

Stormin Baghdad will be trying turf for the first time, and the surface switch is a concern for trainer Steve Asmussen.

"If the race runs on turf it's just a bunch of question marks for Stormin Baghdad," said Asmussen. "Euroears has won on the turf."

Both Asmussen and Calhoun will send out other horses with early speed. Calhoun has Orphan Brigade, who led for most of the Bonapaw Stakes before being caught and finishing fourth to Stormin Baghdad. Orphan Brigade has drawn the rail, and should have a clear shot at the early lead.

Asmussen's other horse is Natural Speed, who nearly got to Stormin Baghdad in the Bonapaw, finishing a half-length back.

If the pace proves too hot, Wherethewestbegins may be the right closer. He finished second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Euroears two races ago, but won an allowance race at this distance on the turf last time out.

Pan Zareta: Graeme Six can turn tables

Sutra edged Graeme Six by a whisker when the pair faced off in a second-level sprint allowance race on Jan. 13. The fact, however, that Graeme Six ran a longer distance that day should not be lost on handicappers.

While Sutra skimmed the rail from start to finish, Graeme Six wound up in the parking lot for most of the six-furlong race. That may have made all the difference, or it may not have, but in any case, both fillies are back for the $100,000 Pan Zareta, the first of six stakes on the card.

And there is at least one more filly in the mix: Tres Dream won the Esplanade Stakes by almost three lengths here Dec. 22, and her late-running style plays well with the long stretch at Fair Grounds.

While Graeme Six and Sutra exit an allowance race, both have prior Grade 1 experience. Sutra won the Frizette two autumns ago, while Graeme Six finished second to Dream Rush in the Prioress last summer.

Sutra came back from a nine-month layoff to beat Graeme Six last out, but trainer Mike Stidham does not foresee regression Saturday.

"She's doing as good or better now as she was last time," Stidham said.

Graeme Six, for her part, shows a sharp half-mile work here on Jan. 23.

- additional reporting

by Marcus Hersh