Louisiana Downs is going green on Saturday.
The track is putting on an all-turf card, the first of two such programs planned for the meet, with the other July 16.
The concept appears to be a hit with horsemen. Saturday’s seven-race program drew 75 entrants for an average of more than 10 horses per race. Mother Nature appears to be on board, too. The forecast calls for highs in the mid-90s and the possibility of a “stray” shower, according to The Weather Channel.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Ralis reversed months of disappointing performances with a nose loss to Gold Rush Dancer in the $188,000 Snow Chief Stakes on the Santa Anita turf on May 28.
The Snow Chief, restricted to California-breds, was the first start on turf for Ralis, who is likely to stay on the surface through the summer. On Saturday, Ralis can win his first stakes since the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last September in the $75,000 Rainbow Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
Jockey Don Simington is debating whether to resume his riding career as he continues to heal from injuries sustained in an Oct. 29 spill at Delta Downs. A winner of more than 3,400 races, Simington has just started working as an agent at Louisiana Downs, representing his nephew, Garrett Steinberg, and Kevin Smith. Simington said he is waiting to see how his injured right arm and shoulder blade heal before making a call on returning to the saddle.
Local owner Bob Lothenbach and Chicago-based trainer Chris Block won the inaugural Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury Park in 2013 with Mister Marti Gras, who still is going solidly along at age 9, and the same connections will have a chance to win it again this season with Nun the Less.
Nun the Less shipped from Arlington to Canterbury last summer and won the Mystic Lake Derby, and he figures to be among the choices again Sunday despite the fact that he’ll be making his first start since Nov. 27.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Recount, who won the Addison Cammack Stakes here last Saturday, has no certain target race, nor does Puntsville, who captured the Isaac Murphy Stakes on the same card. But both horses came out of their races in good shape and have plenty of options since each handles dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces.
Recount led early, was headed at the top of the stretch, but came back on to win the Cammack by two lengths, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. He won for the seventh time in 19 starts and is now 5 for 6 on Arlington’s main track.
Hastings-based trainers Rosann Anderson and Robert Gilker are planning to return to Emerald Downs in the near future.
Anderson won a first-level allowance race at Emerald with Bonus Spin last Sunday. Gilker won the $50,000 Irish Day for 3-year-old fillies with Princess Katie on May 29.
Bonus Spin came from a stalking position to win the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, and Anderson was happy with the way she came out of the race.
“She’s doing well,” she said. “She’s eligible for the same condition, so we’ll probably go back down with her.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Effinex has been assigned post 3 as the favorite in a field of seven older horses for the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, which will help kick off the unofficial second half of the North American racing season with its 35th running Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
Effinex, with Gary Stevens to ride, will carry 122 pounds as the highweight in the 1 1/8-mile Foster, which not only offers a $500,000 purse but also a Win and You’re In berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, is likely to have two starts before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita in November.
Trainer John Sadler said on Wednesday that Stellar Wind is likely to start in the summer and in early autumn before the BC Distaff. Last October at Keeneland, Stellar Wind was second in the BC Distaff.
