Sprint field filled with talent
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Friday is supposed to be delegated to leftovers, but don't tell that to the cast of the day's featured ninth race at Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs. While not quite as glamorous as the group in Thursday's Thanksgiving Day Handicap, Friday's field of 11 packs some solid stakes credentials.
, a Mississippi-bred son of Evansville Slew, could rule a slight choice in the six-furlong race, a two-other-than allowance with an optional claiming price of $40,000. He finished second in a similar spot here on closing weekend of the Louisiana Downs meeting last month and has four exacta finishes from seven starts over this track.
Louisiana Downs's perennial training champ, Cole Norman, will send out the veteran for just his second try on the main track this year. The 7-year-old has been plying his trade in turf sprints for the majority of the year but has been his usual salty self, winning twice from six starts both here and at Lone Star Park. He is no stranger to the local main track, having won two of his three previous attempts.
, a Grade 3 winner in New York last year as a 2-year-old but winless since, is the lone Kentucky invader in Friday's feature. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Primal Storm returned to action recently in an allowance sprint at Keeneland after being idle since January, should improve in his second start back. Roman Chapa has been given the call.
is a speedy Rare Brick colt who has flashed considerable talent in his six-race career. He exits a runner-up performance as the favorite here in late August. The six furlongs of that race were run in 1:09 over a strip that was not particularly glib. Trainer Pat Mouton will give E.J. Perrodin, his brother-in-law and Venomous's regular rider, a leg up. Both are off to great starts at the young meeting.
The most consistent of the group appears to be Magtown Missile. Second to Venomous when they met over the summer, the Morris Nicks trainee has not been off the board since. He delivered as the heavy favorite in a turf sprint in his most recent start but appears as effective on dirt. Brian Hernandez Jr. will handle the riding chores.