No set plans for Real News after allowance win

Real News’s first start since June came Thursday at Fair Grounds and produced another fine turf-sprint performance. The 3-year-old Al Stall-trained colt stalked the pace in a second-level allowance race, took over in midstretch, and ran resolutely through the wire to post a 1 1/4-length victory under Colby Hernandez.

“He ran a perfect race. Broke good, rated well, heard that horse coming after he made the lead, and just coasted home,” said Stall, who trains Real News for Town and Country Racing and Gary Broad.

Real News now has two allowance wins and a second-place stakes finish behind 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Bulletin in his three grass races around one turn. Stall said he’s in no rush to bump Real News back into stakes competition and will look for a third-level grass allowance race sometimes early next year at Fair Grounds.

Meanwhile, Grade 1 Clark winner Tom’s d’Etat has settled back into Stall’s Fair Grounds barn and has been doing light training as his connections plot a 2020 campaign. No decisions about Tom’s d’Etat next races have yet been made. “We’re just jogging and keeping him loose,” Stall said. “Nothing’s been picked out yet.”

‘Bell’ likely for La Brea

Trainer Neil Pessin said Bell’s the One, winner of the Grade 2 Raven Run last out at Keeneland, is likely to ship to Santa Anita from Fair Grounds on Monday and start Dec. 26 in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes.

Equine plane travel from New Orleans to the Los Angeles area this time of year is no simple thing, and Bell’s the One’s plans depend on owner Bob Lothenbach green lighting a very pricey direct flight. Pessin said Bell’s the One, who last worked Dec. 3, was scheduled to breeze Sunday in advance of travel.

“Right now, it looks like we’re on go,” Pessin said Friday.

BC Filly and Mare Sprint runner-up Bellafina figures the likely La Brea favorite.

◗ Trainer Ron Faucheux won another race on Thursday’s card at Fair Grounds, bringing his meet-leading total to nine. Faucheux is off to a flying 21-9-6-0 record this season to top the trainer standings heading into Friday’s card.