Moreno staying busy by running in New Orleans
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – The ambitious plan of running Moreno in the Santa Anita Handicap following a four-month layoff has an equally ambitious epilogue, for Moreno has shipped here to Fair Grounds to run in the Grade 2, $400,000 New Orleans Handicap, and after that, he will be off to Charles Town for the Charles Town Classic.
His trainer, Eric Guillot, likes to talk big and aim high, resulting in a win in the Whitney, close finishes in numerous Grade 1 races like the Travers, and more than $2 million in earnings. It also earns Guillot some sideways glances.
“Everybody thought I was crazy to run in the Santa Anita Handicap, but what do they say, there’s a fine line between crazy and genius, right?” Guillot said Thursday. “My horse, he can take the heat in the kitchen and take the cookies out before they burn. He’s a regular Betty Crocker.”
That speed, which carried Moreno to a second-place finish behind Shared Belief in the Santa Anita Handicap, will be on display Saturday. Moreno, who landed post 5 in the nine-horse field, should be prominent early along with Mystery Train, who goes at a fast clip from the time the gate opens.
If they go too fast too soon, the long stretch at Fair Grounds could benefit a late runner like One King’s Man, who is 3 for 4 since being claimed by Joe Sharp, or Red Rifle, who figures to get a good, stalking trip from the rail.
New Orleans Handicap, race 10
KEY CONTENDERS
Moreno (Last 3 Beyers: 105-58-96)
◗ It was a tall order to come off a lengthy layoff for a 1 1/4-mile race, but Moreno acquitted himself admirably in the Santa Anita Handicap, holding on for second despite setting a strong early pace.
◗ One concern is whether he regresses, coming back in three weeks from a demanding effort. Guillot swatted away that notion. “He never gets to the bottom of himself,” he said.
◗ Moreno was off after the Breeders’ Cup because he needed surgery to remove chips in both front ankles.
Mystery Train (Last 3 Beyers: 94-0-88)
◗ He borders on being a run-off in the early going of his races, but in his last start, he showed his most fight since being imported to this country, finishing second in the Mineshaft, the local prep, after setting the pace. It was his first start in nearly three months, and he has had two more weeks of rest than Moreno since his last start.
One King’s Man (Last 3 Beyers: 92-100-98)
◗ He has never taken on horses of this caliber, but he is in the best form of his life, with three wins, all with good speed figures, in his last four starts.
◗ He is cross-entered in race 7, the $60,000 Star Guitar, for Louisiana-breds, but his current form makes him a viable threat in this far-richer spot, and the race shape may be ideal.
Red Rifle (Last 3 Beyers: 89-97-94)
◗ He finished third in the Mineshaft, likely needed the race, and should trip out well from the rail.
Albano (Last 3 Beyers: 99-93-90)
◗ He dearly loves this track and seems to be rounding back to best form following a win at Sam Houston last time. “He acts like he’s finally ready to go to work,” said trainer Larry Jones. “His last two works were very nice.”