Fair Grounds feature can keep Margolis rolling

A little more than a decade after he hung out his own shingle, Steve Margolis officially has broken through. The 2010-11 Fair Grounds meet marks the best yet for the 47-year-old New York City native, as he entered Friday action at the New Orleans track with career highs of 27 wins and nearly $840,000 in purse earnings.

“It’s been a heck of a meet, for sure,” said Margolis. “We’ve got more numbers, and the horses have really run for us. We’ll leave out of here happy.”

Margolis opened a public stable in the fall of 2000 and has gradually built a deep roster of clients and horses. After Fair Grounds ends March 27, he will relocate by sending 36 horses to Churchill Downs in his adopted hometown of Louisville, Ky., while also having another 20 or so head at Keeneland.

Before all that, however, there’s still a bit more to do in New Orleans. Margolis will send out Born Indy USA, a sharp last-out winner on turf, in the second and richest of back-to-back allowances that headline an 11-race Friday card.

“She’s more of a grass horse, so hopefully this huge rain that was unleashed here overnight won’t force the races off the turf Friday,” he said early Wednesday. “That last race was real impressive. She’s a nice filly, really tries. She’s in against some solid fillies in this race, but hopefully we’ll have a pretty good shot.”

Born Indy USA, with leading jockey Rosie Napravnik to ride, is one of 11 fillies and mares entered in the 10th race, a $53,000, second-level allowance scheduled for about a mile on turf. Silver La Belle, Life Begins, and High Quality look like her top challengers, assuming the race stays on grass.

One race earlier, 10 filly-mare sprinters will clash for a $51,000 purse under a first-level condition. Elusive Temper, with Corey Lanerie, riding for trainer Ronny Werner, is a lukewarm choice after finishing second in two similar races at this meet.

◗ The Saturday feature at Fair Grounds, the $100,000 New Orleans Ladies, drew a field of seven fillies and mares, led by Dundalk Dust and Ravi’s Song. The 1 1/16-mile event headlines a 13-race card that also includes the $60,000 Grindstone Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf.