Shang targets Crescent City Derby

Shang was one of the most impressive winners during the Louisiana Premier Night program Feb. 9 at Delta Downs. He was up for a neck win in the $100,000 Prince, a one-mile race for 3-year-olds that marked his stakes debut. Shang earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

“Man, he came home well,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Shang for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

Shang was winning his third straight race from four career starts. Asmussen said the horse will now be pointed for the $75,000 Crescent City Derby at his base of Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana runs March 23.

Shang is a son of Shanghai Bobby. His dam, Humble Janet, was a four-time winner from the female family of multiple Grade 3 winner Humble Clerk.

In the biggest surprise on Premier Night, the previously undefeated Midnight Fantasy was caught on the wire by Goodprofit while making her two-turn debut in the $100,000 Starlet. Midnight Fantasy was favored at 1-5 after winning three races leading up to the Starlet by a combined 23 lengths.

“Midnight came out of it great,” said trainer Joe Sharp. “It was a really tough beat. It was one of those, ‘You got to be kidding me!’ But she got beat by a filly who is obviously talented and who had already won a stakes at that distance over that surface. Delta is a different surface from anywhere else we are.”

Midnight Fantasy returned to her base at Fair Grounds, and Sharp said she will be pointed for Louisiana-bred stakes opportunities there. She had won two sprint stakes at the track leading up to the Starlet. Midnight Fantasy is a daughter of Midnight Lute who races for Carl Moore.