Multiple stakes winner Four Leaf Chief heads Sunday optional claimer
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NEW ORLEANS – A two-turn optional claimer Sunday will give seven 2-year-olds a chance to show if they have the potential to join the Louisiana Derby trail.
Four Leaf Chief has won two stakes, but both were restricted to Louisiana-breds. Trainer Steve Flint said this open mile race will show if Four Leaf Chief belongs in the first Louisiana Derby prep, the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 17.
“We’re at a crossroads right now,” Flint said. “He pretty much handled Louisiana-breds pretty easy.”
Key contenders
Four Leaf Chief (Last 3 Beyers: 71-50-68)
* He made a strong late run to win the one-mile Louisiana Legacy by 4 1/2 lengths on the Delta Downs Jackpot undercard. His other stakes win came in the six-furlong Louisiana Cup Juvenile in August at Evangeline Downs.
* In his only loss in four starts, he finished fourth, beaten a length, in the Evangeline Downs Star Stakes, a six-furlong sprint on a sloppy track. He had “a horrible trip,” Flint said.
* Four Leaf Chief won his maiden in open company in his debut in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint at Evangeline Downs.
“He’s really not bred like a Louisiana-bred,” Flint said.
* Four Leaf Chief was a $65,000 yearling purchase. He’s by Lookin At Lucky, the 2010 Preakness winner, and out of the graded stakes winner Pentatonic, who earned more than $600,000 and was multiple Grade 1 placed.
Chip Leader (Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-60)
* This Wayne Catalano trainee has had trouble at the start in all three of his races. This field doesn’t appear to have much early speed, and with a clean break, he might be able to set a comfortable pace.
* Chip Leader out-footed stablemate Highball (who was to run Saturday on the turf in the Woodchopper Stakes) in a sharp five-furlong workout from the gate Dec. 17.
* Chip Leader was steadied in his two losses, and the winners of those races were solid horses – Eagle, who went on to finish third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, and Dortmund, who won the Los Alamitos Futurity.
War Story (Last Beyer: 75)
* This gelding debuted under trainer Ron Moquett in a seven-furlong sprint at Churchill Downs. After hesitating at the start, War Story won going away.
* After that race, he was purchased privately by Ron Paolucci’s Loooch Racing Stable and Chris Dunn – owners of the Grade 1 winner Ria Antonia. Tom Amoss became War Story’s trainer.
“I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Amoss said. “They purchased him and sent him to me.’’
A Day in Paradise (Last 3 Beyers: 69-66-64)
* This Larry Jones trainee raced around two turns in all three of his starts.
* He is coming off a fourth-place finish, a half-length in front of Chip Leader and 5 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Eagle, in a first-level allowance at Keeneland.