Two Emmys dominates Fair Grounds Stakes on front end
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – Two Emmys laid waste to the Fair Grounds Stakes on Saturday in New Orleans. Late on a loud Mardi Gras weekend afternoon, the 7-year-old gelding quietly validated his position as one of America’s best middle-distance grass horses.
Narrowly beaten by Gentle Soul last month in the Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes, a race he badly needed following a layoff of more than seven months, Two Emmys didn’t just turn the tables on Gentle Soul, he threw Gentle Soul under the table.
Gentle Soul picked up weight off his Bradley win and gave Two Emmys four pounds Saturday, but even after getting the same trip that won him the Bradley, coming home way outside on the best part of the turf course, runner-up Gentle Soul was beaten 4 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3, $145,500 Fair Grounds.
“He got them today,” said trainer Hugh Robertson, the Nebraskan who bought Two Emmys at a yearling auction for $4,500 and owns him with Wolf Racing.
Robertson watched the first two grass races Saturday and didn’t like what he saw. The Fair Grounds lawn, races restricted to eight runners because the inner part of the course has been unusable all meet, generally has played to outside closers this season, and that’s what the two earlier grass races looked like. “I thought we were up against it,” Robertson said.
Jockey James Graham was well aware of the bias, but also knows Two Emmys likes to stride free and get into a good rhythm. Breaking from post 2 as the clear speed of the race, Graham had no choice but to go forward and lead. Who knows what the pace actually was - no half and three-quarter splits were posted in the official chart - but leading at all, regardless how slow, seemed hazardous Saturday.
Yet, as far out as the three-furlong marker, midway around the far turn, it became obvious none of that was going to matter. Two Emmys effortlessly pushed clear of pace-pressing Cavalry Charge, was taken even wider out on the course after turning for home, reached out beautifully to open a big lead, and never let anyone get within shouting distance.
The timer stopped in 1:54.73 for about 1 1/8 miles, whatever that means, and Two Emmys paid a generous $5.60 as the favorite. Two Emmys was awarded a 99 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Hugh had him ready today. He’s a fantastic horse,” said Graham.
Gentle Soul had a neck on third-place English Tavern at the finish, followed by Bay Street Money, Pixelate, Tiz the Bomb, and Cavalry Charge. Corelli was scratched.
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Two Emmys now has won seven times from 24 starts. He beat Domestic Spending two summers ago in the Grade 1 Mr. D., formerly the Arlington Million, and after finishing second behind Colonel Liam in the 2021 Muniz Memorial, the biggest turf race in New Orleans, Two Emmy won it last March.
By English Channel out of Miss Emmy, by Buddha, Two Emmys is by a sire whose get mature very late and like long distances on turf. He’s right on target for another run at the Muniz Memorial – and points beyond.
“I don’t see why he wouldn’t have his best year this year,” Robertson said.
Robertson, 72, has been training for decades. He has cleverly, carefully managed Two Emmys to a remarkable career. And now, after his wonderful gelding showed he’s still on top of his game, it was time for a Mardi Gras style celebration – Nebraska farm-boy style.
“I’m going to go home,” Robertson said.
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