Royal Copenhagen's wait may be over

NEW ORLEANS - Royal Copenhagen may finally get her preferred surface in Sunday's feature race at Fair Grounds, a third-level allowance for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Royal Copenhagen has been entered twice in Fair Grounds turf races this meet that have been switched to the main track, but with only a slight chance of rain in the forecast, Sunday's feature should stay on the grass.

A frustrating 2006, in which Royal Copenhagen faced top competition but was unable to win, came to an end for her handlers last month when the Furl Sail Handicap was rained off the turf and she was scratched. Her last win came in the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington Park in September 2005. She ran in five graded stakes races last year for trainer Laura De Seroux, including the Grade 1 Beverly D., before being moved to Chris Block's barn.

Royal Copenhagen ran third in the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs before Block sent her to winter at the Fair Grounds under the care of Richie Scherer, who has been unable to start her.

"You can't do anything about it," said Scherer of the rainouts. "She's a nice filly who seems ready for a big effort. We won't run her if a race comes off the grass."

Royal Copenhagen, 5, was imported from France in 2004 by owner Richard Duchossois. She has won 3 of 20 career starts while earning $342,000.

You Dancing Devil and Beau Happy are also in here after scratching out of the Furl Sail.

Regal Approach has won five races on grass, the most in the field, and usually gives a good account of herself.

Sobresaliente won an allowance race over a yielding turf course at Fair Grounds on Dec. 15 for trainer Frank Springer. Siberian Lily, with three wins and a second in her four career starts, will try the turf for the first time.

Asmussen returns from suspension

Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out his first Fair Grounds starters of the meet on Sunday after serving a six-month suspension. He has five horses entered on the card, including My Three Sisters in the feature. My Three Sisters finished second at this condition level in an off-the-turf race in her last start.

Asmussen also has Fourth of Gold, a maiden who is 0 for 12, entered in the first race.

"Maybe he was waiting for this day," Asmussen deadpanned Friday morning.