'Triple' seeks quadruple

BOOSIER CITY, La. - Triple Card, currently riding a three-race win streak, including the Airline Stakes here at Louisiana Downs in his most recent start, heads the field for Saturday's Bossier City Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile turf test for 3-year-olds carries a $40,000 purse.

Triple Play has been unbeatable since being freshened in the spring. The Eddie Milligan charge began his comeback on the main track at Lone Star on May 28 in the McGregor Stakes for Texas-breds. He promptly set a track record for six furlongs, covering the distance in a blistering 1:08.06, and paying $62.80. After defeating state-bred stakes company in his next start, Triple Card made his first local appearance in the Airline. Despite being carried five wide out of the turn that afternoon by heavily favored Joyful Tune, he prevailed by a length, stopping the timer in 1:09.13, a stakes record.

Saturday marks the first time that Triple Card will try turf. While he is unbeaten sprinting, his two-turn record is another matter. Since winning his second career start going a mile at Sam Houston in January facing allowance foes, he has not hit the board in three attempts at a distance of ground, including the Southwest and Northern Spur stakes at Oaklawn. Don Simington, aboard for every one of Triple Card's starts, will again handle the riding chores at 118 pounds.

Seattle Knight, who had won two straight races on the grass, will be seeking to make amends for his disappointing effort as the 3-5 favorite in a nonwinners-of-three allowance test July 21. Trained by Cole Norman, who swept last weekend's stakes here, Seattle Knight will be ridden by Anthony Lovato at 114 pounds.