Gulfstream: Redeemed headed to New Orleans Handicap

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Redeemed, who finished third in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, will make his next start in the New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on April 1, according to his trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr.

Redeemed, who closed out his 3-year-old campaign with an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct, moved within a length of the leaders near the eighth pole under jockey Edgar Prado in the 1 1/8-mile Donn but could not kick on through the final furlong with Hymn Book and Mission Impazible, ultimately finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner in his Grade 1 debut.

“I thought he ran big. I couldn’t be happier with his race in the Donn,” said Dutrow. “Edgar said he might not have liked the track that particular day, he thought he’s felt better here in the mornings, and that he may have gotten a little tired, too.”

Redeemed has had four works here since the Donn, including six furlongs in 1:14.53 under Prado last Thursday.

It’s going to take longer for Dutrow to get his second Donn starter, Trickmeister, back to the races. Trickmeister has been sidelined by a foot ailment since suffering his first setback in six career starts when he finished sixth after setting the early pace in the Donn.

“He’s had some bad, cracked heels in behind,” said Dutrow. “It’s been lingering for a couple of months, but they look good now.”

Dutrow said he planned to send Trickmeister back to the track this week.

“Once I know everything is healed he’ll breeze, and then we’ll look for something.”

Trickmeister has had a litany of physical problems throughout his careerm including cannon bone issues after winning the Pleasant Colony overnight stakes at Saratoga during the summer of 2010 and a cracked tibia when in training last year.

Six in feature

Thursday’s $62,750 allowance feature drew a field of only six 3-year-old fillies led by the graded stakes placed Goldrush Girl and the Calder-based stakes winner Awesome Belle.

Goldrush Girl, second behind On Fire Baby in the Grade 2 Golden Rod in her 2-year-old finale, launched her 3-year-old campaign finishing third behind the undefeated Zo Impressive under first level optional claiming and allowance features here on Feb. 25. She will be reunited with jockey Julien Leparoux, who rode her to her maiden win last fall at Keeneland.

Awesome Belle was an easy winner of the My Dear Girl at Calder before finishing twelfth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She’s been off the board in all three starts here this winter and a half length behind Goldrush Girl when the pair met four weeks earlier.

Cheimon, Woodford Lady, Wee Party and French Politics complete the field.