Mr. Misunderstood seeks 9th straight turf victory

NEW ORLEANS – It’s a little hard to understand how a horse who nine races ago ran in a $30,000 conditioned claimer could be undefeated on turf, but that’s exactly what has happened with Mr. Misunderstood.

Eight turf starts, eight wins – and Mr. Misunderstood will try to make that nine in a row when he meets older horses for the first time in the Grade 3, $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap on Saturday.

Four-year-old Mr. Misunderstood is one of 12 entrants, and despite having raced in only age-restricted stakes is starting as the 119-pound highweight in the 1 1/8-mile grass race.

Trained by Brad Cox for Flurry Racing Stables, Mr. Misunderstood won seven of eight starts in 2017, his only loss coming when he tried dirt in the Illinois Derby. He has won five stakes in a row and stays at nine furlongs, but Mr. Misunderstood never faced any of the best 3-year-old grass horses last year, and his career-best Beyer Speed Figure is a relatively modest 91.

“I do feel like we put him in some good spots last year,” Cox said. “But he looks amazing right now. The horse has really just become a machine in the mornings. He’s a very intelligent horse, shuts off when you want him to. And he’s won all his races by open lengths, which is very rare for a grass horse. We’re excited about him.”

Excited, too, are trainer Mike Stidham and jockey Joe Bravo about the way Synchrony has been working for his first start since May 27. Synchrony had strong form last year when switched to turf, finishing second to subsequent Grade 1 Manhattan winner Ascend in the Henry Clark at Laurel Park, but even while he was running well, Synchrony was fighting some nagging issues that eventually led to an extended vacation. He has come back a sounder, stronger horse, Stidham said.

“A mile and an eighth off a long layoff is tough, but he’s doing really well,” Stidham said.

Galton was second here last month in the Colonel Bradley, but probably doesn’t want to go as far as nine furlongs at this level. A more appealing alternative is Catcho En Die, a Bill Mott-trained Group-1 winning Argentine import who was a troubled second last out in his U.S. debut. Zulu Alpha has some hidden grass form and could work his way into the superfecta at long odds.

Mom’s On Strike back to work

Mom’s On Strike can win her fourth straight race in the $75,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for older females.

Mom’s On Strike ran through two allowance conditions and then won the $75,000 Marie Krantz Memorial Stakes here last month by a half-length. She’s well drawn Saturday in post 6 with jockey Adam Beschizza, and has turned in good works since her Krantz win.

“She’s taken a liking to the local turf,” trainer Joe Sharp said. “The long stretch is good for her running style. I expect a big effort out of her.”

All Mom’s On Strike’s recent races have come on wet turf, but Sharp believes firm ground suits her.

“She’s fine on anything, really,” he said. “She’s just really athletic.”

Giada Vegas was second to Mom’s On Strike last month and has continued training well, her connections say. New shooters in the division are the Mike Maker-trained pair of Florida shippers I’m Betty G and Susie Bee. I’m Betty G figures on or near the pace, and has had trouble finishing races at distances this far.

Holding Gold has the Power

Five furlongs against top competition is just too short for Holding Gold, but the 5 1/2 furlongs of the $50,000 Colonel Power Stakes on Saturday should be just fine.

Holding Gold finished seventh but was beaten less than two lengths in his most recent start, which came in the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint, a five-furlong race at Del Mar. He has easily kept the best company among any entrant in the Colonel Power, and while Saturday’s start could be a stepping-stone to the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint next month in Dubai, Holding Gold, with John Velazquez named to ride, is a deserving favorite.

His chief competition could come from Will Call, who has won two in a row over the Fair Grounds course since being switched to turf. Will Call makes his stakes debut Saturday and last raced about three weeks ago.

“It is back a bit quick, but his coat is good, his weight is good,” trainer Brad Cox said. “There are horses in there that’ve won twice as many races as he’s run. We’re just looking for a good effort.”