Hallway handles the slop in Mr. Sulu

NEW ORLEANS – Hallway had faced open competition in two starts at Woodbine over the summer, and he found the move back to Louisiana-bred racing to his liking, winning an off-the-turf edition of the Mr. Sulu Stakes at cold, wet Fair Ground Race Course late Friday afternoon.

Hallway, with Jamie Theriot riding for trainer Steve Asmussen, never had won on a wet track before, but rallied nicely behind Chief Jay’s moderate pace to score a one-length victory in the $60,000 race. A 6-year-old horse by Graeme Hall owned by Heiligbrodt Racing Stables,

Hallway paid $9.80 to win, and was timed in 1:46.89 for 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track. Chief Jay held on for second, with favored Desert Wheat rallying mildly for third.