Mid-South notes: Sale of Springboard Mile winner Louies Flower under way

There is an agreement in place to sell majority interest in Louies Flower, winner of the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Sunday, to James Covello, trainer Bret Calhoun said Wednesday. The deal is pending a physical and veterinary inspection, and the contract is expected to be completed over the weekend, according to Calhoun.

Wesley Melcher, who owns Louies Flower, would retain an interest in the horse under the terms of the sale. The purchase price is private, said Calhoun. Louies Flower won his third straight race in the Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds, when he held off Noble Cornerstone by a neck. For the effort, Louies Flower earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 91. The horse shipped to Oaklawn Park early Wednesday.

“He’s in the process of being vetted out, and we’ll go from there,” Calhoun said. “He’ll remain in my barn. No plans have been discussed for him, as far as when and where he’ll race next. Right now, he’ll remain in my barn.”

Covello qualifies for National Handicapping Championship

Calhoun said the deal was put together by bloodstock agent Nick Sallusto.

Covello, based in New York, has owned a number of quality horses in partnership, including Falling Sky, winner of this year’s Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs, and Testa Rossi, winner of this year’s Grade 3 Miss Grillo at Belmont Park. Covello also raced 2012 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies winner Oscar Party, who in July sold for a sales-topping $510,000 at Del Mar.

Earlier this month, Covello qualified for the Daily Racing Form /NTRA National Handicapping Championship in an NHCQualify.com contest.

Ward runner at Gulfstream

Trainer Wesley Ward is pumped about the prospects of Noble Cornerstone, who closed from ninth for second in the Springboard. The start was the second of the horse’s career, behind a dominant maiden win over New York-breds on Nov. 3. Noble Cornerstone is now based at Gulfstream Park.

“This horse has a really bright future,” said Ward. “He’s a big, 17-hands colt and the farther he goes, the more [distance] he’s going to want.”

Ward said next-race plans for Noble Cornerstone are to be determined, with the developing horse to have about 45 days between starts.

Noble Cornerstone’s campaign, Ward said, would be set by working backwards from the “target” he’s “trying to hit,” the Kentucky Derby.

Ward said he is excited for Noble Cornerstone’s owner-breeder Leonard Riggio, who raced the horse’s sire, Noble Causeway, the runner-up in the 2005 Florida Derby.

Ward on Sunday also won the $50,000 Trapeze on the Springboard undercard, with La Mejor Fiesta. She had been stakes-placed on turf, and made her dirt debut in the one-mile Trapeze.

“She’d been working very, very well on dirt at Palm Meadows,” Ward said. “It looks like the further she goes, the better. She’ll come back quicker than [Noble Cornerstone]. She’s more seasoned. She’ll come back in a month, in a stakes race at Gulfstream, probably in mid-January.”

Beat the Blues eyes Oaklawn

Beat the Blues, winner of the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill in her last start May 27, is being pointed for the $100,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn, said trainer Bret Calhoun. The six-furlong race for fillies and mares is Jan. 25.

Calhoun said Boss Barney’s Babe, winner of the $75,000 Orleans at Delta Downs on Nov. 23, is also pointing for the American Beauty.

** Sam Houston announced HRTV and FOX Sports Southwest will televise the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 25.