Trust Factor overcomes trouble in Dixie Poker Ace Stakes

Trust Factor tried to be his own worst enemy in the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, but in the end that role fell to Morning Mischief.

No matter – Trust Factor won the turf mile for older Louisiana-breds anyway, though it took a photograph to separate him and 3-2 favorite Extra Credit.

Typically free-running Trust Factor was unsettled early in the Dixie Poker Ace when taken back a bit by jockey Corey Lanerie to race just behind Morning Mischief’s slow fractions of 24.57 for the first quarter-mile and 49.40 to the half.

“He was a little rank, but I finally got him to turn it off a little bit at the five–furlong [marker],” Lanerie said.

Sitting in the pocket behind the leader and along the fence, rail-loving Lanerie just bided his time, waiting for Morning Mischief to drift out enough for him to send Trust Factor through. That appeared to be happening at about the three-sixteenths pole, just after the field had straightened into the homestretch, but no sooner had Trust Factor gotten up into his gap, Morning Mischief and jockey Florent Geroux came down hard to shut it off. The two horses bumped, and Trust Factor had to wait again when, after initially drifting out, Morning Mischief threatened to tighten things up again. But this time, Geroux kept his mount straight enough to provide Trust Factor clear passage, and Trust Factor turned in a late burst just in time to nip Extra Credit, who had gotten a nice clean run down the outside.

“They tried to close it on him,” Lanerie said. “He was lucky. They tried to put us over the fence. But he was much the best, and I’m glad I didn’t mess it up.”

Trust Factor, who was indeed much the best, was timed in 1:37.93 for about one mile on firm turf and paid $6 to win. Three lengths behind the top two came Morning Mischief, who held third by a neck over Zarb’s Gift.

Trust Factor is a 5-year-old horse by Paddy O’Prado out of Mainsail, by Mizzen Mast, and is owned by the Scrivener Stable. Mike Maker trains him, and Maker’s Fair Grounds team has done solid work getting Trust Factor, who often is headstrong while racing, to settle better this winter.

Dragon Drew upsets Black Gold

Dragon Drew was 21-1 but won the $60,000 Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds like an odds-on favorite. Under James Graham, Dragon Drew raced close to the lead, took over in upper stretch, and beat 31-1 G's Turn by about five lengths in this "about" one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. He was timed in 1:37.55 and paid $45.20.

Buff Bradley, part of the colt’s ownership group, trains the son of Get Stormy, who had won a Fair Grounds maiden turf race in his most recent start. Tap Daddy, the 6-5 favorite, raced near the back of the pack and never got involved in a flat performance. Fascilitator finished third but was disqualified to seventh for midstretch interference, elevating Major Brown from fourth to third.

Bradley said Dragon Drew was a candidate for the Transylvania Stakes next month at Keeneland.