Streaking Net a Bear switches to dirt for Magnolia Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Net a Bear will be making a notable surface switch Friday night, when she seeks to win her third consecutive stakes race in the $100,000 Magnolia at Delta Downs. The seven-furlong stakes, which will be run around two turns, is for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana.
Net a Bear has won back-to-back turf stakes. She accounted for the $60,000 Opelousas on July 2 at Evangeline Downs and last out won the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff on Aug. 21 at Louisiana Downs near Shreveport.
Trainer Allen Landry said he feels the mare is at her best on turf, but noted she’s a multiple main-track winner who has had success at Delta.
“A lot of grass horses seem to run good at Delta for some reason or another,” he said. “I’ve noticed that Shreveport horses come in and win races off the turf there. I think she’ll do good. She’s doing great.”
The Magnolia drew a field of eight, but Winning Romance, the 20-length winner of the Louisiana Legends Soiree in her last start June 5 at Evangeline, will not run, trainer Bret Calhoun said Tuesday. She instead was to start in a six-furlong allowance on Thursday at Indiana Grand.
“Off the layoff it’s a better spot,” Calhoun said. “We had entered several days and it didn’t go and we entered at Delta. Three-quarters at this point is better than two turns off the layoff.”
Net a Bear will be looking for her sixth stakes win. She races for Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro.
“She’s been pretty honest,” Landry said. “She’s just been great.”
Net a Bear rallied from off the pace for a length win in the Louisiana Cup Distaff, a 1 1/16-mile race for which she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
“It was beautiful,” Landry said. “She likes to sit back and come from off the pace and make that one run.”
Tim Thornton has been aboard Net a Bear during her stakes streak and has the mount Friday from post 6.
Landry also will saddle Sarah’s Passion, who was second in last year’s Magnolia won by her stablemate Saints N Muskets. Sarah’s Passion, who is a front-runner, will break from post 8.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of speed in the race,” Landry said. “If she can get that advantage, get a little breather, she’ll finish up pretty decent.”
The field also includes stakes winners Snowball and Quickfast N Ahurry.