Hendy Woods, Gam's Mission back from layoffs in Benson Memorial
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Hendy Woods and Gam’s Mission have enjoyed success over the turf at Fair Grounds, so their connections thought it was the logical place to bring their horses back off winter freshenings. The two clash in Saturday’s $100,000 Tom Benson Memorial for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, part of the undercard on Louisiana Derby Day at Fair Grounds.
Last March, Gam’s Mission came off a six-month layoff to win a maiden race at Fair Grounds. It was the start of a three-race win streak that included the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill Downs. Trainer Cherie DeVaux attempted to stretch Gam’s Mission out in distance in the Belmont Oaks and Saratoga Oaks, and though Gam’s Mission ran creditable races, the distance was a bit too far.
Additionally, DeVaux said, “the turf was a bit too firm for her at Saratoga.”
Gam’s Mission’s best race may have been her fourth-place finish – beaten three-quarters of length – in last November’s Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct, a race in which she stumbled at the start.
“She basically fell on her face, came flying, was unlucky not to get there,” DeVaux said. “She ran a really impressive race.”
Gam’s Mission was given 30 days of turnout before rejoining DeVaux’s barn. DeVaux is tempering expectations when she says Gam’s Mission “may need the race. I wouldn’t say she’s 100 percent fit.”
Adam Beschizza, aboard for all three of Gam’s Mission’s wins in 2021, is back aboard Saturday.
Hendy Woods won the first two races of her career at Fair Grounds. That was in the winter of 2020. She has since won stakes at Indiana Grand and Kentucky Downs, the latter coming in the $400,000 One Dreamer. Hendy Woods ended her 2021 campaign running 10th in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland before going to the farm.
“The Stonestreet team, they’re all about giving them time and letting them grow up,” trainer Mark Casse said, referring to Barbara Banke’s racing operation. “This is not the end all, this is just the beginning.”
Lovely Ride has made a successful transition to turf, winning the Pago Hop and running second in the Marie Krantz Memorial. She goes first out for trainer Robertino Diodoro and has Florent Geroux aboard from post 9.
Faucheux takes two shots
Trainer Ron Faucheux may no longer have Monte Man to run in the Costa Rising Stakes, but he still has a chance – two to be exact – to win the $75,000 turf stakes for Louisiana-breds at 5 1/2 furlongs.
Monte Man, who was retired earlier this year at age 9, won the Costa Rising in 2018 and 2020 and suffered narrow defeats in 2019 and last year. Saturday, Faucheux sends out Bertie’s Galaxy and Half Again. Bertie’s Galaxy, despite having just one win from two turf starts – and that win coming at Evangeline Downs – is the tepid 7-2 morning-line favorite. Bertie’s Galaxy has won five of his last seven starts.
“He’s attempted a race over the Fair Grounds turf one time, he didn’t fire,” Faucheux said. “He was in a bit of a slump. He’s really kind of blossomed the last year or so. If it was on the dirt, I’d feel so confident. I think he can get a hold of it good enough to be competitive.”
Half Again, a son of Half Ours, has not been out since September, a layoff prompted by nagging foot issues. He is 0 for 2 on turf.
“He’s working like a stakes horse going into this race,” Faucheux said. “When he fires his better races, he’s really tough. Then again, it’s a question mark will he handle turf. Most [progeny of] Half Ours do.”
Classy John and X Power finished one-two in last year’s Costa Rising. X Power beat Classy John in a turf allowance last month that served as a prep for this race.
Alterana has won five in a row and 7 of 8, all on dirt, for trainer Keith Charles.
‘Memories’ tries ‘Vodka’ again
More Memories has won three of his last four starts, the lone defeat coming by 12 1/2 lengths when third to Vodka Gimlet in the Premier Prince Stakes on Feb. 5 at Delta Downs.
Tom Amoss, the trainer of More Memories, said he doesn’t have a solid excuse for that performance, but he’s hoping the change of venue to Fair Grounds – where More Memories is 2 for 2 – will aid in his attempt to flip the script in Saturday’s $75,000 Crescent City Derby for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds.
:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures
“I was surprised at the way the race unfolded, I do not think we ran our race, but we certainly did not run a good race,” Amoss said. “I don’t think the More Memories you’ll see Saturday is the same one you saw at Delta.”
More Memories did come out of Premier Prince to win an allowance race against a field of mostly older horses on March 1.
Vodka Gimlet, trained by Randy Allen, came out of the Premier Prince to win the Big Drama Stakes, a seven-furlong race at Evangeline. He finished fourth in his lone start at Fair Grounds though he lost some position due to crowding at the break.
Serape one to catch in Oaks
Serape is winless in four stakes tries, but that skein could come to an end in Saturday’s $75,000 Crescent City Oaks for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at a mile and 70 yards.
Serape, trained by Brett Brinkman, is 2 for 2 going a mile at Fair Grounds, utilizing her good early speed to win both. She looms the main speed again from the rail Saturday under Brian Hernandez Jr.
Dreaming of Neany, who finished 8 1/2 lengths behind Serape in a Feb. 3 allowance, came back to win her next start and is back to try Serape again in this spot.
Wholelottamo did finish in front of Serape in the Louisiana Futurity on Dec. 31 at six furlongs and is coming off a restricted stakes victory going seven furlongs on Feb. 25 at Delta Downs.