Fair Grounds: Thiskyhasnolimit returns sharp from layoff in Louisiana Handicap

Thiskyhasnolimit, fresh from a layoff, led every step of the way in posting a mild upset Saturday under Shane Sellers in the 66th running of the $99,000 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

In registering his fifth stakes victory, and sixth overall, from 19 career starts, Thiskyhasnolimit returned $12.20 as fourth choice in a field of eight older horses. Fast Alex rallied late to take second, a length behind the winner and another three-quarters of a length before Alma d’Oro, the 2-1 favorite.

Thiskyhasnolimit was making his first start in more than six months for Steve Asmussen, who has trained the 5-year-old horse throughout his career for Bob and Cathy Zollars and Mark Wagner. He won the Grade 3 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park in April before posting back-to-back fifth-place finishes in May and July, then getting the rest of the year off. He now has won a stakes in every year he has raced, starting with the Iroquois at Churchill Downs at 2 and the Matt Winn and Smarty Jones at 3.

Thiskyhasnolimit was aided somewhat in the Louisiana ‘Cap by an incident going into the first turn, when Worldly, racing just to his inside while attending his pace, suddenly ducked out sharply when in too tight, impeding several chasers. Thiskyhasnolimit then went without pressure the rest of the way, with Sellers letting out a notch when Alma d’Oro and Gleam of Hope loomed boldly after straightening for home.

Thiskyhasnolimit, a Kentucky-bred by Sky Mesa, finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.67 over a fast main track. The Louisiana ‘Cap was part of the “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” program.