Burt's A Stitch Wins Starlight Feature

The third and last Starlight Racing program of Fair Grounds’ 2009-2010 Thoroughbred racing season presented by Miller Lite was blessed with long overdue spring-like weather Friday night, allowing the younger, party-going New Orleans-based demographic the marketing experiment was designed to reach an outdoor experience it obviously enjoyed to the fullest. A Louisiana Derby Day-sized crowd turned out for the drink specials, live music, Drago’s chargrilled oysters and, most importantly, nine live races.

In the featured $41,000 allowance affair at a mile and 40 yards, Long Odds Racing Stable’s Burt’s a Stitch, trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Richard Eramia, was allowed to settle, launched a bold bid when set down for the drive and got up to be best by a neck in the final strides.

The winner returned mutuels of $23.80, $12.80 and $6.20, toured the distance in 1:40.83 and increased his career earnings to $58,720 with his second win in eight lifetime starts.

Paul Saylor’s Peahi, always well placed, rallied to take clear command in mid-stretch, could not withstand the winner in the late stages but held the runner-up spot by a neck from Ronnie Lamarque’s Brilliantbrilliant, who had trailed the field in the early going.

Peahi paid $4.20 and $2.80 and Brilliantbrilliant returned $3.

Tri-Star Racing’s Built to Precision made the pace with splits of 23.46 and 46.38 but weakened to finish sixth.

Racing resumes Saturday at Fair Grounds on the penultimate weekend of its season with a 10-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.