Roussel off to solid start as he opts to race at Gulfstream this summer

For nearly three decades, Louie Roussel III has followed the same script. Winter in New Orleans, summer in Chicago.

In a year where little has gone according to script for anyone, Roussel has made a detour. Instead of moving north following the winter at Fair Grounds, Roussel has shipped his horses to South Florida for the spring and summer.

So far, the move has worked out okay for Roussel, who has saddled two winners from seven starters in two weeks. He won with his first starter, Hero of the Future, in a $12,500 claimer May15, and Pont Du Gard won an off-the-turf optional claimer last Sunday.

“They were placed very well and had good workouts prior,” Roussel said Wednesday from Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans where he remains based. “I expected them to run well. I didn’t expect Pont Du Gard would do that well on a wet track.

“I feel very fortunate to win two races,” Roussel said. “When you go to Chicago for 27 or 28 straight years, it’s hard to break that cycle.”

Roussel said the uncertainty over Arlington Park’s ability to open was one reason he opted to come to Florida. Another reason was his longstanding relationship with Billy Badgett, executive director of racing operations at Gulfstream, and the Stronach family as well.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

“Because of the pandemic, I wasn’t sure they were going to run at Arlington Park,” Roussel said. “This gave me an opportunity to come down to Florida, and I can’t thank Mrs. [Belinda] Stronach and Mr. Badgett enough.”

Roussel said he sent in 24 horses, but planned to ship two that didn’t run well at Gulfstream to his son-in-law Ron Faucheux at Evangeline Downs.

Roussel has two runners entered this week. Vincitore in Friday’s sixth, a $30,000 claimer scheduled for a mile on turf, and Kunal, in an optional $50,000 claimer that goes as Saturday’s eighth.

Vincitore has only raced once in six months, finishing fourth, beaten just a half-length, in a $25,000 claimer March 18.

“He ran a decent race, I’m looking for him to run a good race coming up,” Roussel said.

Kunal, a 3-year-old son of Temple City, has disappointed twice at this level – when not in for the tag – at Fair Grounds.

“I paid [$92,000] for him, and he has not quite worked out,” Roussel said. “He had a sparkling workout the other day. . . . He’s the kind of horse that if the jock can settle him behind horses, he’ll be fine.”

Last weekend, Roussel sent out Man of Honor, a 3-year-old son of Curlin, to a third-place finish behind Well Connected in a swiftly run maiden race.

“I was greatly impressed with his race,” Roussel said. “He was coming off that route race, and it might take him a while to get in gear. Hopefully, with adequate rest he can come back and run another good race.”

Roussel said he has rented a condominium in Hollywood, Fla., but said he won’t leave the New Orleans area until the pandemic’s impact lessens in that area.

◗ Gulfstream Park has received approval from the state of Florida to add live racing on Wednesdays and discontinue live racing programs on Thursday’s starting June 3. In addition, post time will be advanced to noon on a daily basis beginning with the June 3 card.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch