NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Jeff Thornbury, who hasn’t run many horses at the Fair Grounds meet, struck last week for three victories in five starts. He won a race on each of three consecutive days.
The winners were Tonto’s Sister ($10.20) in a maiden-claiming race Jan. 29, Cone of Light ($10.80) in a claiming race Jan. 30, and Quality Indeed ($22.40) in a maiden-claiming race Jan. 31.
NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Grant Forster said he’s going to take a conservative approach with Jerald, who routed first-level optional-claiming rivals Thursday at Fair Grounds. But Forster was thrilled with Jerald’s performance.
“We’ve been high on him all along,” Forster said after Jerald controlled a sharp pace and cruised to a 4 1/4-length victory. He ran the mile and 70 yards in 1:43.45. A 4-year-old Include gelding, Jerald is 2 for 2 at the meet. He won a maiden sprint Jan. 9 in his first start in 10 months.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said a stakes race is on the horizon for Madefromlucky, who had to dig deep before edging away to a 1 1/4-length victory over a game Quimet in a 1 1/8-mile entry-level allowance race for 3-year-olds here Wednesday.
The outing was the first for Madefromlucky since being turned over to Pletcher. Cheyenne Stables purchased a majority interest in Madefromlucky following a maiden victory for trainer John Mazza earlier in the meet.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown already has the top 3-year-old turf filly in the country, the undefeated Breeders’ Cup winner Lady Eli. On Wednesday here, Brown unveiled another 3-year-old filly prospect, Mrs McDougal, who won her career debut by three lengths as the even-money choice going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Mrs McDougal is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of the three-time stakes winner Distorted Passion. She is owned by William K. Warren Jr.
NEW ORLEANS – Fair Grounds is the hometown track for trainer Eddie Johnston, and every season he focuses on having his horses ready to perform their best here.
His results at this meet, as usual, are demonstrating the point. Entering Friday’s racing, Johnston had won 12 of 54 races (a 22 percent win rate), and he was tied for ninth in the trainers’ standings.
Churchill Downs released its 2015 spring stakes schedule Friday with something of a bombshell for racing traditionalists: the Derby Trial is no longer.
Run in recent years as the opening-night feature of the spring meet, the Derby Trial has been renamed the Pat Day Mile and moved to the Kentucky Derby undercard. The $200,000 race will maintain its Grade 3 status.
In place of the Derby Trial on opening night, April 25, Churchill is using a new $100,000 sprint for 3-year-olds named the William Walker, honoring the jockey of the 1877 Derby winner, Baden-Baden.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is expected to send out his first Maryland starters since the 2002 Preakness next weekend.
Hollendorfer plans to send in Sam’s Sister for the Grade 2, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap next Saturday. He also has Outside Nashville for the Grade 3, $250,000 General George on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 16.
The Fritchie, for fillies and mares, and the General George, for both sexes, will be run at seven furlongs.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – With the next huge day of racing at Gulfstream set for Feb. 21, the only stakes here next weekend is the Grade 3, $150,000 Hurricane Bertie on Saturday.
Among the 20 fillies and mares nominated to the 6 1/2-furlong Hurricane Bertie are Dame Dorothy, Merry Meadow, Wedding Toast, Classic Point, and R Free Roll.
Feb. 21 is a date to circle on your calendar. The Gulfstream program will be anchored by a major Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, and will include seven other stakes, six of them graded.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dave Kassen was as surprised as everyone else when Celebrity Star rolled home a six-length winner at 28-1 in a first-level allowance race Thursday at Gulfstream Park.
“I entered her for never-won-two for $12,500 and $20,000, but none of her races would go,” said Kassen, who trains Celebrity Star for Mike Raymaley, Denise Bujold, and Five Keys Stables. “I went in this race because there was nothing else for her.”
Ivan Fallunovalot, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108 for an allowance win at Oaklawn Park, drew the rail for the track’s $100,000 King Cotton on Saturday. The six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and up will go with eight, including the multiple stakes winners Alsvid, Apprehender, and Brewing.
Ivan Fallunovalot led throughout to win a Jan. 22 allowance at Oaklawn in his first start since September. He covered six furlongs in 1:09.74. Calvin Borel was aboard and has the mount again for trainer Tom Howard.
