Wicked Uno samples turf in allowance
NEW ORLEANS - Trainer Tom Amoss has been giving his talented filly Wicked Uno extra time at the track during training hours, hoping to get her more comfortable for afternoon racing.
"She is a bit of a high-strung filly," Amoss said. "We work on that a lot with her."
:: RACE OF THE DAY:
Amoss will see how his lessons have been absorbed when Wicked Uno meets seven rivals in Monday's feature race, a first-level allowance with a $50,000 claiming option going about 5 1/2 furlongs over the Fair Grounds turf course.
Wicked Uno ran her first race Nov. 19 in a Churchill Downs maiden race. She never relaxed, finishing fourth, beaten seven lengths.
Amoss spent extra time with her in the mornings prior to her next start.
"We gave her a lot of practice in the paddock and at the starting gate, just a lot of time on the track in the morning," Amoss said. "The idea is to do the routine so often that it becomes routine and the race is not a stress."
Wicked Uno turned in a nice race in her second start, wiring a six-furlong maiden race Jan. 2 at Fair Grounds.
With a pedigree for turf, Amoss believes Wicked Uno will move forward again with the switch to the grass.
"This is a move that we are looking forward to," Amoss said. "I think the transition to grass will go well for her."
Wicked Uno will meet several talented fillies, including Blading Gold Ring, who was scheduled to run in Saturday's Tiffany Lass but scratched. She will run for the $50,000 claiming tag.
Blading Gold Ring ran her first two races over the turf. She won at first asking and then finished second in the $50,000 Princess over the turf at Louisiana Downs.
Since her first two races, Blading Gold Ring has been running on the main track. She won a first-level allowance at Fair Grounds two starts back.
Baby Sister, trained by David Carroll, took four tries to win her maiden, but finally got the job done in her last race, winning by 1 1/2 lengths at this distance over the Fair Grounds turf.
With the possibility of a solid pace up front, the race may set up well for Baby Sister's closing style.