Fair Grounds: Sir Applesolutely tests the turf in Sunday feature

NEW ORLEANS – Having run only on synthetic surfaces at Arlington Park and Keeneland, the 4-year-old gelding Sir Applesolutely will be trying turf in the featured second-level optional-claiming race Sunday at Fair Grounds.

Trainer Neil Pessin said he thinks Sir Applesolutely, who most likely will be among the favorites, will handle the surface.

“He’s bred for it,” Pessin said. “He’s out of an Affirmed mare. We’re hoping to try him.”

The about 5 1/2-furlong race drew 12 horses plus four also-eligibles, two of them entered as main track only. The $48,000 feature is the eighth race on a nine-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Central.

Sir Applesolutely, who has won 4 of 9 starts, is coming off a runner-up finish, a half-length behind Bull Dozer, in a third-level optional-claiming race at seven furlongs.

“The horse that beat him came back to win the same kind of race at Churchill Downs,” Pessin said.

Pessin said he scratched Sir Applesolutely from a similar race Dec. 7 because he had an elevated temperature. That race was switched from turf to dirt. Sir Applesolutely had trained well on dirt and will stay in the race if the surface is switched, Pessin said.

The opposition includes several logical contenders.

Zoebear, who was claimed for $32,000 by trainer Grant Forster out of a 6 1/2-furlong victory on dirt at Churchill Downs, defeated Sir Applesolutely in August at Arlington. Ouimet, who finished a close third for trainer Greg Foley in a dirt sprint against similar horses in his last start, won on this course in his debut.

Billy Two Hats, claimed for $40,000 by trainer Steve Margolis out of a runner-up finish in a five-furlong race switched from turf to dirt at Churchill, finished second in the Colonel Power on this course last season. Drago’s Best, who was stakes-placed in two turf sprints in 2012 for trainer Josie Carroll, showed decent turf form at this claiming level at Woodbine. China won the Bonapaw on this course in 2012 for trainer John Good but hasn’t come close to that form since then.

Both main-track-only runners – Joe Hollywood, trained by Steve Asmussen, and Tallahatchie Luke, trained by Louie Roussel III – thrive on the Fair Grounds main track and would be formidable.

◗ Race 4 on the card, a first-level optional-claiming sprint on turf for 2-year-old fillies, appears to be a handicapping challenge. Four of the eight fillies won in maiden claiming company, and the field has combined for three turf wins, one of those by disqualification.

Kiss to Remember, claimed by trainer Tom Amoss out of a victory against $50,000 maidens on dirt, is by Big Brown, who won his maiden on turf. Her recent workouts are encouraging.