Gold Hawk looks back on track

Sometimes Fair Grounds is just hard to figure. The last two cards on Saturdays – racing’s biggest day in the U.S. – have featured a virtual void in quality. But then out of the blue pops a weekday program like Thursday’s that overflows with interesting races.

In fact, four of the nine races are worthy of note. Race 2 is a high-end turf-route allowance for Louisiana-breds, and race 4, also on turf, is for 3-year-olds and designed as a prep for the Black Gold Stakes. Race 5 is a first-level dirt-route allowance for older horses, typically a modest condition, but this race has substance.

And those three races take a backseat to the featured race 7, a second-level allowance with a $40,000 claiming option carded for one mile and 70 yards on the main track.

Let’s take a look race by race.

Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Gold Hawk (Last 3 Beyers: 92-62-78)

◗ He has gone from overrated to underrated in the last year. A maiden win and a first-level allowance score in back-to-back races late in his 2-year-old season put him near the top of the early-2014 Fair Grounds 3-year-olds to watch list. His trainer, Steve Asmussen, praised him effusively. But Gold Hawk finished third in the Lecomte, fifth in the Risen Star, and eighth in the Louisiana Derby.
Back from a long layoff, though, he finished fourth last month in a race at this class level, a comeback that could build a bridge to a career-best performance Thursday.

The Sandman (Last 3 Beyers: 97-53-86)

◗ He stretched out for his first two-turn race Jan. 18 and won by almost eight lengths with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

◗ Trainer Larry Jones said to throw out his flop two starts back – his name is The Sandman, not The Slopman, and the colt apparently hated a wet track.

◗ He led through a moderate pace last out but faces potential pressure this time from Go Go Rocket.

Klisz (Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-85)

◗ Poor Klisz: The horse has run two races already at this meet – one on turf, one on dirt – that would have won most races at the class level, but in both cases, he was edged by one sharp performance. And it’s not just at Fair Grounds that that has happened. In his last five starts, Klisz has finished second or third.

“I’d love to find a race he can win,” trainer Phil Bauer said last month. “He tries so hard every time.”

Race 5

KEY CONTENDERS

Jerald (Last 3 Beyers: 86-59-78)

◗ The addition of blinkers appeared to have boosted his form last out in a maiden sprint win.

◗ Tried a two-turn mile on grass in his second of three career starts and didn’t finish with great energy but may be a better dirt horse and has the pedigree to run long.

Aces High (Last 3 Beyers: 99-64-78)

◗ He delivered a “wow” performance Dec. 26, winning a Fair Grounds maiden race by more than 14 lengths with a graded-stakes-class speed figure. Can he run back to that performance, which was a career best in his 10th start?

Race 4

KEY CONTENDERS

Wireless Future (Last 3 Beyers: 79-79-66)

◗ The best-looking 3-year-old grass horse seen at this meet, he narrowly won a maiden race before breaking through with a convincing score over first-level allowance foes last time. Strictly the one to beat.