Daisy Devine Headlines Santa Super Saturday Program
A Grade II Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, a Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks winner and a third multiple-graded stakes winner are each favored in the three $75,000 stakes races on the grass that make up this weekend’s Santa Super Saturday Presented by Lee Tractor Co. & Kubota Tractors at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
In addition to that top troika, a pair of overnight stakes for 2-year-olds are also featured on the same program that marks a holiday-themed Family Fun Day. That added garnish to perk the interest of future Fair Grounds fans will include the visit of two live reindeer that will be located in the tent area on the track apron, and opportunities for pictures with Santa will also be available, along with cookie-decorating, ornament-making and other family-friendly activities.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner is the 8-year-old gelding Chamberlain Bridge, owned by Carl Moore, who also won Fair Grounds’ Colonel Power Stakes earlier that same season as well as last season’s $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes. The Bret Calhoun trainee will be ridden by Jamie Theriot, and is installed as the 5-2 early choice to defend in the Bonapaw, slated at about 5 1/2-furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course. Named to oppose him are Hollywood Hit, China, Cash Refund, Zeb, Next Right Thing, Ready for More, Icon Ike and Global Power.
James Miller’s Daisy Devine, heroine of the 2011 Fair Grounds Oaks as well as last season’s Pago Hop and Mardi Gras at the Crescent City oval, has been pegged as the 4-5 choice in Saturday’s $75,000 Blushing K. D. Handicap. Andy McKeever trains and Brian Hernandez Jr. is listed to ride. Her challengers are Necessary Luxury, Aquapazza, Artemus Kitten, Forgotten People, Forest Uproar and Francisca.
Melnyk Racing’s James Street is predicted to be 5-2 in Saturday’s $75,000 “Buddy” Diliberto Memorial Handicap. The winner of Woodbine’s Grade II Autumn Stakes at last asking on Nov. 10 is trained by Josie Carroll and has defending jockey champion Rosie Napravnik named in the saddle.
Others named to the “Buddy D.” are Dubious Miss, Workin for Hops, Heavenville, Strike Impact, Skyring and Hotep.
Two supporting overnight stakes – the $60,000 Sugar Bowl for juveniles and the $60,000 Letellier Memorial for 2-year-old fillies – are also scheduled Saturday.
Gary and Mary West’s Tour Guide has been installed the 7-5 morning line choice in the Sugar Bowl and Pop-A-Top LLC’s Coastal Sunrise is listed at 5-2 in the Letellier.
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