Eden Prairie Seeks Fifth Stakes Win at Fair Grounds

Lothenbach Stables’ Eden Prairie is approaching the end of what has been a productive and celebrated career. A four-time stakes winner – all over the Stall-Wilson turf course – she has also been multiple graded stakes-placed elsewhere and performed well at various trips and on many surfaces. One footing she seems to like most, though, is that of Fair Grounds firm turf course.

 

On Saturday the daughter of Mizzen Mast tops a full field in the $50,000 Big Easy Stakes over 5½ furlongs on the grass, a race that attracted many also-rans from last month’s $60,000 Mardi Gras Stakes over the same trip. The winner that day, Speedway Stable’s Leigh Court, is sitting this one out to focus on the remainder of her 2016 campaign. In the meantime, runner-up Eden Prairie looms large when she breaks from post 12 under Brian Hernandez, Jr.

 

One who appears to be her main threat is fellow course stakes winner Adrianne G, who won the $60,000 Battle of New Orleans over this trip in late November before finishing a lackluster sixth in the Mardi Gras. Expected to be sharper this time around for trainer Bret Calhoun and owner Thomas Galvin, she has drawn favorably in post seven of the 13 fillies and mares and has the riding services of Richard Eramia.

 

Arguably the most intriguing entrant in the event is 4-year-old filly Zipessa, from the Mike Stidham barn. Owned by Empyrean Stables, she was a smashing winner on debut last year going a sprint over Arlington’s Polytrack surface, closing her final quarter in 23.47 seconds. She returned in a one-mile turf allowance at Del Mar and easily handled those foes by nearly three lengths, which prompted her connections to try her in the nine-furlong Grade I Del Mar Oaks. Such a risk did not pan out for the flashy chestnut daughter of City Zip, as she never settled when attempting to rate and floundered to last of eight behind top fillies Sharla Rae and Her Emmynency. She gets the services of Mitchell Murril, who was aboard for her debut win, and breaks form the four-hole.

 

The remainder of the Big Easy line-up is comprised of Strawberry Baby (Colby Hernandez, rail), Anusara (Francisco Torres, post two), Calypso Run (Jamie Theriot, post three), Seeking Treasure (Robby Albarado, post five), Warriorscmoutoplay (James Graham, post six), Chiding (Jose Valdivia, Jr., post eight), Lindisfarne (Shaun Bridghmohan, post nine), Rapid Rhythm (Florent Geroux, post 10), D’boldest (Miguel Mena, post 11) and Stoupinator (Marcelino Pedroza, post 13).

 

Earlier in the Saturday Fair Grounds card is the $60,000 Red Camelia Stakes for Louisiana-bred older fillies and mares going one mile on the grass. Topping the eight-horse field is the improving and promising Safari Calamari, who has won two of her three tries thus far during the 2015-16 meet, including a sharp win last out in allowance/optional claiming company over this trip. A handy type who has done well rallying between horses, the attractive gray daughter of top Louisiana stallion Half Hours has the return services of Jose Valdivia, Jr., from the six-hole for trainer Ron Faucheux and the meet’s leading money-earning owner Brittlyn Stable.

 

Safari Calamari’s greatest challenge could come from EquiPar, Inc.’s Morris Nicks-trained Discreetly Grand, who drops in class after finishing off the board in open company in the $60,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial on Jan. 16. A stakes-placed filly who has finished in the exacta in five of her nine starts, the daughter of Discreetly Mine picks up defending meet champion jockey James Graham from the outside post eight.