Giant's Tomb will get better with distance

NEW ORLEANS - If Giant's Tomb is going to accomplish what his connections want him to, they will have to ask him, perhaps forcefully.

Long on talent and short on a desire to work, Giant's Tomb returns off a narrow defeat in Monday's feature race at Fair Grounds, a first-level allowance with a $50,000 claiming option, for 3-year-olds at a mile and 40 yards.

Nominated to the Triple Crown, and with a long-term goal of running in the Queen's Plate in Canada, Giant's Tomb's connections stay away from the term "lazy."

"He's just a laid-back horse," said Hugh Chatman, assistant to trainer Mark Frostad. "He's the same way in the morning, he doesn't drag you along through the work, you have to ask him."

His ability to relax is seen as an asset in the longer races for which he is intended, but probably cost him a win in his last start as he was beaten a nose at this condition on Feb. 15 when his late charge under jockey Corey Lanerie fell just short.

"It took a while for Corey to get him in gear," said Chatman. "But once he did, he made a nice run."

In Monday's race, Giant's Tomb is reunited with jockey Patrick Husbands, who was aboard for his lone win and for his second-place finish in the $155,000 Display Stakes at Woodbine, the best races of his seven-race career.

As Giant's Tomb makes his last start of the meet at Fair Grounds, his connections are excited to stretch him out to still longer distances, including the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate on July 4.

"The longer the better with him," Chatman said. "If all goes well, I think he's got a heck of a shot in the Queen's Plate."

Giant's Tomb will meet five rivals Monday, including Looks Purrrfect, who will be trying dirt for the first time as he comes back off of a four-month layoff.

In the ninth race, a first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up, Steve's Star will try sprinting for the first time, which may better suit the stalking style he's shown in his last two races.

"He needs pace to run at," said trainer David Carroll. "He's a tough horse to get relaxed, and he's been in paceless races down here at the Fair Grounds, so we shortened him up to a race that we hope will have more pace."