Lewis Vale among several who could offer value in Buddy Diliberto
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – If it seems like Regally Ready has been around forever, that’s because in racehorse time, he pretty much has.
The soon-to-be 9-year-old made his first start six springs ago at Oaklawn Park, and the pinnacle of his career came in November 2011, when Regally Ready won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. But the gelding has come back out onto the stage for encore after encore. After performing below par in July and then again in September, Regally Ready bounced back (doesn’t he always?) with a five-length high-end grass optional-claiming win last month at Churchill, the 97 Beyer Speed Figure he earned his highest since August 2014.
“He’s a pretty talented individual, has always been extremely sound, and does have a tremendous amount of back class,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “At his age, he wants things the way he wants things from the beginning of the day to the end of the day.”
Reputation and the recent win probably make Regally Ready the favorite Saturday at Fair Grounds in the $60,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes, but the longer you look at the race, the more contenders you start to see. Regally Ready finished fifth as the 6-5 favorite in his only previous Fair Grounds grass start, and he is a front-runner drawn in post 1, inside other speed. Racing fans can admire the gelding’s class and longevity, but handicappers should consider trying to beat him.
Lewis Vale figures to be bet lower than his 8-1 morning line for leading trainer Mike Stidham but still could offer value. The son of high-class racemare Indian Vale has won three of his four turf starts since being switched to the surface last summer, and in his lone loss, he bled through Lasix at Del Mar.
“He’s not a bleeder in the morning, and it’s not an issue since he’s come back,” said Stidham. “His last race was good; he’s got some upside to him.”
Lewis Vale led all the way in winning his Fair Grounds debut last month but should stalk the pace Saturday.
Tactics could play a key role for Flashlight, who pressed the pace and finished second last out at Gulfstream to Lochte, who would be favored in a race like the Diliberto. Flashlight rated when he finished second two back in an overnight turf stakes at Arlington, and that could be a better trip Saturday.
Lockout certainly will come from off the pace and, as a Grade 2 winner, fits snugly in the Diliberto, but the question with him is one of rustiness. Lockout hasn’t raced since May and is making his first start for trainer Allen Milligan after being purchased at Keeneland’s November breeding stock sale.
“I think he’s as fit as we can get him without a race, so we’ll run him and see where we’re at,” Milligan said. “I sure like him. He’s a smart horse and does everything right.”
Ibaka also merits a look at a price. He only beat Oklahoma-breds last out but might have run the best race of his life in his first start on turf, a surface for which he’s bred. Ibaka shrugged off pace pressure in that Remington start and drew away in deep stretch despite not being close to totally fit, trainer Bret Calhoun said.
“I really didn’t think we could win the race,” said Calhoun.
Ibaka got over a foot abscess that cost him an allowance-race start here in November and has turned in three strong workouts recently.
Zubi Zubi Zu seeks first stakes
Zubi Zubi Zu raced for a $32,000 claiming price two starts ago at Laurel, but she can win her first stakes Saturday in the $50,000 Blushing K. D.
Raised to a third-level optional-claiming race earlier at this meet, Zubi Zubi Zu rallied relentlessly along the rail and nailed the favored Eden Prairie, getting up to win despite having to rally into a glacial pace. She’s come back with two sharp works and should get a more favorable setup Saturday.
“She just keeps on getting better,” said Stidham. “Something has happened that she’s really gotten good right now.”
Eden Prairie is back for the Blushing K. D., but even with Cash Control’s connections opting to run her in the Tiffany Lass rather than this race, there is pace to keep Eden Prairie honest this time. Masquerade, another Stidham-trained mare, is a confirmed front-running type.
Kitten’s Dumplings won a listed turf stakes two races ago at Gulfstream Park West but ran poorly Nov. 21 and, in the twilight of her 5-year-old season, has little room to improve at a fairly short price. Eden Prairie won the 2014 Blushing K. D. and was even sharper in capturing the Bayou Stakes on the Fair Grounds course later at last meet, but she has not looked like the same horse in three races following a layoff from May until September.