Paddy's Notes at best going two turns

NEW ORLEANS – The connections of Paddy’s Notes came to Fair Grounds last fall with an Indiana-bred claiming sprinter. Now, who knows what they have?

Paddy’s Notes, 6, has been reinvented as a route horse this winter. He has led all the way in two straight eye-catching two-turn wins and comes into the featured sixth race Monday with a chance to continue climbing the allowance ladder.

Paddy’s Notes, who drew the rail, is one of eight entrants in a second-level allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option carded for one mile and 70 yards. The race is highly competitive, and Paddy’s Notes’s chances probably depend on how strongly he is challenged for the early lead.

In his first race at this meet, Paddy’s Notes was one of two horses declared non-starters after an incident at the gate. Some 22 lengths behind the leader with about a half-mile to run in that race, Paddy’s Notes finished full of run and actually galloped out in front of the field. What he looked like, really, was a two-turn horse in a one-turn race.

“You look at him, and he’s a big, strong horse who looks like he’d run long,” said Natalie Glyshaw, the wife and Fair Grounds-based assistant of trainer Tim Glyshaw.

Stretched out to two turns, Paddy’s Notes won for a $25,000 tag Dec. 7, and on Dec. 31, he won again, beating first-level allowance foes. In both starts, Paddy’s Notes set a strong pace and kept going. The strategy will be the same again Monday.

KEY CONTENDERS

Copus (Last 3 Beyers: 85-79-97)

◗ Jumped up in class to $40,000 claiming after being taken out of a Hawthorne win for a $25,000 tag. Trainer Tom Amoss wins at a 32 percent clip the first time off a claim over the past three years.

◗ The variety of races in which he’s competed obscures his strong record at two turns on fast tracks. In the last four such starts, all near this class level, he has two wins and two seconds, with Beyer Speed Figures of 85, 91, 97, and 98.

Texas Two Step(Last 3 Beyers: 83-78-84)

◗ Sixth career start marks his first race around two turns, but trainer Larry Jones said a route race has been in the cards for this son of Distorted Humor and an Unbridled mare for some time. Jones said Texas Two Step tired in his sprint race two starts ago but galloped out strongly last time after finishing third at this class level. “That told me it was time to stretch him out,” Jones said.

Paddy’s Notes(Last 3 Beyers: 90-91-75)

◗ Sharp form and a good story but could face pace pressure from three or four other front-running types drawn to his outside.

Flashy Sunrise (Last 3 Beyers: 74-90-85)

◗ Flat performance last out in a stakes race, but he is only one start removed from a win at this class level and distance at Fair Grounds.