Fair Grounds: Graydar outduels Mark Valeski in New Orleans Handicap

Graydar backed up his breakthrough score in the Donn Handicap by asserting himself late against a stubborn Mark Valeski for a clear-cut victory Saturday in the 88th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds.

With Edgar Prado up for Twin Creeks Racing Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher, Graydar returned $4.60 as favorite in a field of eight older horses. Carrying high weight of 120 pounds while spotting his rivals one to nine pounds. He finished the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:49.16 over a fast main track.

Majestic Harbor, a 63-1 shot, set the pace, with Mark Valeski giving close pursuit and Graydar poised just to his outside. Nearing the quarter pole, those two chasers made their moves, and Mark Valeski, a 4-1 shot with Jimmy Graham up, maintained a head in front until inside the eighth pole, from where Graydar edged away to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Macho Macho finished third, another three-quarters of a length back, with Bourbon Courage fourth and Flat Out fifth.

Graydar, a gray 4-year-old colt by Unbridled’s Song, “showed a new dimension, some versatility,” in coming from off the pace to win, said Pletcher assistant Whit Beckman, who saddled the colt while his boss watched from Gulfstream Park. “He ran a huge race.”

Graydar now has won 4 of 5 career starts. His prior race was the Grade 1 Donn on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park, where he led all the way in his stakes debut, with Bourbon Courage finishing second.

The $2 exacta (8-7) paid $22; the $1 trifecta (8-7-6) returned $24.40; and the 10-cent superfecta (8-7-6-2) was worth $10.46.