Trip Notes for March 26: Fair Grounds Oaks, Louisiana Derby, Santa Ana and more...

Saturday, March 26

Fair Grounds - New Orleans Handicap (race 7)

COMMENT: S’marvelous rode a stalking trip to a 20-1 upset here. He went right out to dog pacesetter Coup de Grace, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, opened up a clear lead and had little trouble maintaining his advantage to the wire. This was a nice show of versatility as he came from well off the pace in his optional-claiming win here March 3. The 6-year-old was claimed for $32,000 last summer at Belmont. Jessica’s Star, another longshot, was just behind the winner early while inside, didn’t accelerate as quickly but got going in the lane, came out in deep stretch, and finished well to get second. However, when he came out in the lane he forced Majestic Harbor to steady and was disqualified and placed fifth. International Star, fourth as the 7-10 favorite to Majestic Harbor and Eagle in the Grade 3 Mineshaft here Feb. 20, sat midpack while saving ground, came out into the lane, surged into contention but couldn’t sustain his run. Eagle lagged well back and steadily improved his position, though he was never a threat to the winner. Majestic Harbor stalked the pace and was making a move into the lane when forced to steady. He was moved up to fourth with the disqualification of Jessica’s Star.

Fair Grounds - Mervyn Muniz Memorial Handicap (race 8)

COMMENT: Take the Stand gave us all a little reminder as to what can happen when you let a good horse loose on the lead. Coming off a second at 61-1 in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Feb. 13, his first start in almost three months, he went right out to the lead from his rail slot, set modest splits, and then kicked clear into the lane to put the race on ice, setting a course mark. World Approval, the second choice off an optional-claiming win at Gulfstream March 5 in his first start in five months, bided his time early, swung wide into the lane, and finished well to close the gap on the winner. Closing Bell sat midpack while saving ground, came with a steady run in the lane, but was no real threat. Chocolate Ride, the 2-1 favorite, won this race last year and was coming off three straight wins. He sat third and tried to make a run at the winner into the lane. String King, a Louisiana-bred with 18 wins, lunged at the start and was no factor.

Fair Grounds - Fair Grounds Oaks (race 9)

COMMENT: Land Over Sea had chased Songbird in her last five starts, so her connections opted to ship east, and the daughter of Bellamy Road got her first stakes win. She broke slowly and was content to lag well back early. She swung wide on the far turn and unleashed a strong run that overwhelmed her rivals. After seeing this, how good must Songbird be? Dream Dance, making her first start since running third in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Nov. 28, sat back just behind the eventual winner while saving ground, rallied just behind her, but was no match in the lane. Adore, stepping up in class after two wins at Oaklawn, dogged early pacesetter Midnight On Oconee, took over from that gal on the turn, and kept on gamely to only lose second in the final strides. Stageplay, who looked like a legitimate Kentucky Oaks contender after four strong outings to start her career before fading to fifth as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra here Feb. 20, seemed in a good position early but never mustered a run and faded some in the final furlong. Street Fancy, winner of the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos last fall, stalked in fourth and then tired to end up last.

Fair Grounds - Louisiana Derby (race 10)

COMMENT: Gun Runner looks a legitimate Kentucky Derby hopeful as the son of Candy Ride validated his win in the Grade 2 Risen Star here Feb. 20 with an impressive performance here. From his rail slot he stalked in third as Candy My Boy set a modest pace, moved closer going to the far turn, took over into the lane, and drew off to win with ease. He’s now won 4 of 5 and it’s on to the Derby, though that means a break of six weeks. Tom’s Ready, seventh in the Risen Star, lagged well back after getting bumped at the start, came with a nice run into the lane, and continued on well for second. Dazzling Gem, making just his third start, dogged pacesetter Candy My Boy, moved up to challenge for the lead with the winner turning for home, and kept to his task well to hold third. Mo Tom, winner of the Grade 3 Lecomte here Jan. 16 and a troubled third in the Risen Star, was away slowly and was last to the far turn. He started a strong run, tried to go inside to get around tiring pacesetter Candy My Boy in the stretch, but then had to check sharply when in tight, got going again, but the damage had already been done. His Lecomte trip was similar, and while you can be forgiving his late-running style invites trouble. Greenpointcrusader, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne last fall and second to Mohaymen in the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Jan. 30, was well back early while saving ground, swung out turning for home, but never mustered a run.

[bc_video_id:379949:]

Santa Anita - Santa Ana (race 5)

COMMENT: Tuttipaesi picked the right time to invade from the East as many of the best West Coast distaff turfers skipped this. A winner of 2 of her last 3 and last seen rallying for third in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River at Gulfstream Jan. 9, Tuttipaesi was last early as 4-5 favorite Her Emmynency set a slow pace. Tuttipaesi waited for room coming into the lane and came through a snug opening between horses to get the nod. Glory stalked Her Emmynency, got the better of her into the lane, and looked like the winner until Tuttipaesi nudged past late. Fresh Feline stalked the pace, moved up to challenge Glory by midstretch but couldn’t go by. Her Emmynency, winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland last fall, set a slow pace while saving ground but was basically done once she was headed into the lane, finishing last of the five. She reportedly lost a shoe soon after the start. Nancy From Nairobi, 5-2 second choice on the morning line, was scratched.