Fair Grounds: Dixie Beat, Yankee Gambler give Calhoun Louisiana Futurity exacta
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Trainer Bret Calhoun had two starters in the $97,605 colts and geldings division of the Louisiana Futurity on Tuesday at Fair Grounds. Dixie Beat was supposed to be the pace stalker and Yankee Gambler the pace player. That’s not how things worked out at all, but things worked out fine for Calhoun, as Dixie Beat pressed the pace and held on to win by a neck over stretch-running Yankee Gambler, giving Calhoun a sweep of the exacta.
“We thought Bret’s other horse would be in front, but mine broke exceptionally well, and I didn’t want to take anything away from him,” said winning rider Robby Albarado.
Dixie Beat won his debut by a nose at Delta Downs, finished second in a first-level allowance race at Fair Grounds, and most recently was a distant third in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile. But the blowout winner of that race, Ide Be Cool, wasn’t in the Futurity, nor was runner-up Coteau Rouge.
To grease the path even slicker, Yankee Hunter, the 2-1 second choice Tuesday, blew the break and was a rank mess throughout a flat performance. That left Dixie Beat with the task of wearing down second-time-starting pacesetter Forerun and holding clear a mild bid from Yankee Gambler, who was making his first start since May 11 and only the second of his career. Dixie Beat was up to the task, handing victory to successful owners Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.
Forerun held well for third, a neck behind Yankee Hunter and almost eight lengths clear of the fourth-place finisher. The winner, who paid $10, was timed in 1:11.64 for six furlongs on a fast-playing main track.
Nurse Emmielle uncatchable
Just as in the colts and gelding division, with Forerun, the horse drawn on the rail in the $106,105 fillies division of the Futurity popped out of the gate and onto the lead, but in this race, Nurse Emmielle stayed there.
Despite setting demanding splits of 21.75 seconds for her first quarter-mile and 45.98 for the opening half under James Graham, Nurse Emmielle held off all closers – albeit in a field of questionable quality – to win for the second time in seven starts. She was timed in 1:12.72 for six furlongs while holding clear a late run from 50-1 shot Top Doll, who nabbed second over French Celebrity. Trained by Steven Duke for owners Bleu and Lacy Schniederjan, Nurse Emmielle ($14.60) is a daughter of Private Vow.