Fair Grounds: Son of Happy Ticket making second start

The first foal out of the richest Louisiana-bred racehorse ever, Happy Ticket, is set to make the second start of his career on Thursday. Three-year-old Mr. Ticket, a Stewart Madison homebred by Distorted Humor, did not show much finishing sixth on a sloppy track in his debut last March, but Andy Leggio, who also trained Happy Ticket, expects more this time around.

“He’s a better colt than he showed in his debut,” Leggio said. “He had a little injury and I had to give him some time off. His works have been good. I’m hoping he runs a big race.”

Many of those works have come in company with Joyce’s Rebel, who starts in race 9, the only allowance race on the Thursday program. Joyce’s Rebel, one of 11 horses in a first-level Louisiana-bred allowance race, also returns from an extended layoff.

“Those two have been working together, and it’s pretty close between them,” Leggio said. “Who finishes in front depends on the day and who’s riding.”