Glyshaw makes plans for Bucchero, Bullard's Alley

NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Tim Glyshaw is plotting a 2018 campaign for the two best horses in his stable, Bucchero and Bullard’s Alley.

Bullard’s Alley was a respectable sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, while Bucchero was a close fourth in the BC Turf Sprint.

“We’d like to get points in nice races to try to get back to the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill with them,” Glyshaw said.

Bullard’s Alley finished second, beaten a head, going two miles Dec. 30 at Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 Allen Jerkens. On the way back to Fair Grounds, the van transporting Bullard’s Alley stopped in Ocala, Fla., to pick up Bucchero after a short farm rest. Bucchero is back galloping and will soon start working, said Glyshaw, who hopes Fair Grounds can make a turf-sprint allowance race go in March as a prep for stakes races this spring at Keeneland and Churchill.

Bullard’s Alley is headed back to Gulfstream for the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight over 1 1/2 miles on Jan. 27.

Supreme Aura to stretch out

Three-year-old Supreme Aura has shown his chops as a sprinter, and soon he will get the chance to race two turns in stakes competition.

Supreme Aura cruised to a debut win at Delaware Park in August, needed some time to get over an ankle issue, and returned to action at Fair Grounds on Jan. 5 with a 3 1/2-length first-level sprint allowance win. Supreme Aura got a 71 Beyer Speed Figure first time out and improved to an 82 in his second start.

“We’re going to try him long next,” said Mike Stidham, who trains Supreme Aura for Stallionaire Enterprises.

Surpreme Aura will be considered for the Risen Star Stakes here at Fair Grounds as well as the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

◗ The nine-race Martin Luther King Jr. Day card Monday has a second-level turf-route allowance for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares as the nominal feature. Race 4 also is open to $20,000 claimers and will have Dontmesswithjoanne as a likely odds-on favorite.