Fair Grounds: Mardi Gras win hints at big year for Cozze Up Lady
Befitting the nature of Mardi Gras itself, the finish of the Mardi Gras Stakes on Tuesday at Fair Grounds hardly could have been any wilder.
Four fillies and mares were battling in deep stretch when a fifth horse, Cozze Up Lady, suddenly appeared from nowhere, with an incredible rally carrying her and jockey Rosie Napravnik to a nose victory over Saturday Nthe Park. The first five were separated by little more than one length.
Cozze Up Lady had not raced since she won the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap last June at Arlington Park and had never started on dirt, not to mention in conditions that left the Fair Grounds main track a veritable quagmire Tuesday. Understandably, trainer Bret Calhoun was elated with the huge comeback effort by the 5-year-old Cozze Up Lady.
“She hasn’t been this healthy in two years,” said Calhoun. “I really feel like we could have a big year with her if things go right.”
Kids Rule recuperating
Kids Rule underwent surgery to relieve an impaction Monday at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., when suffering from colic after shipping from Fair Grounds to Turfway for the Battaglia.
“The timing was unfortunate, but it looks like the colt will be fine,” said Randy Gullatt of owner Twin Creeks Racing. “We could tell once he got to Turfway that he wasn’t feeling right. He’ll be coming home to the farm and get a couple months off.”
Kids Rule, who trained all winter at Fair Grounds with Mike Stidham, scratched from an off-the-turf, first-level allowance last Friday at Fair Grounds for what turned out to be his no-go in the Battaglia.
◗ There is no standout feature Friday at Fair Grounds, although two allowances (races 7 and 8) are part of a nine-race card. First post is 1:25 p.m. Central. The weekend highlight is the $100,000 Duncan Kenner, a six-furlong race Saturday for older horses.
◗ The next twilight program at Fair Grounds with a 5 p.m. post time is set for next Friday, March 14.
– additional reporting by Marcus Hersh
