Bravo Habibi Too Good on Fair Grounds Turf

Zayat Stables’ Bravo Habibi, away alertly and never far back, rallied boldly in the final furlong to be best by a length and a half in Sunday’s $46,000 Fair Grounds feature restricted to 3-year-old maidens and contested at about 5 1/2-furlongs over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated “good.”

Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan and trained by Steve Asmussen, the winner returned mutuels of $4.40, $2.80 and $2.40, toured the distance in 1:05.36 and increased his career earnings to $35,533 with his initial win from four lifetime starts.

Elizabeth Tobin and Joe Vaudo’s Hilarium pressed the pace most of the way, gained the advantage briefly in mid-stretch, could not withstand the winner but saved the place, paying $4 and $3.40 while holding off Woodford Racing’s Marching Orders, who returned $5.80 to show.