Fair Grounds: Avie's Sense Gallops Away

Tall Oaks Farm’s Avie’s Sense joined the ranks of those who must be considered for the latter legs of Fair Grounds’ upcoming sophomore filly series when she galloped home a front-running 5 3/4-length victress in Thursday’s mile and 70-yard $46,000 feature for 3-year-old maiden fillies.

That series begins with the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 21, continues with the Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes Feb. 25 and concludes with the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks March 31 – penultimate race day of Fair Grounds 2011-2012 meeting.

Avie’s Sense, a daughter of 2008 Kentucky Derby  winner Street Sense trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by Shane Sellers, broke in stride to make the pace and then increased her lead in the late stages while never seriously threatened. Out of a Lord Avie mare, the Kentucky-bred accomplished the final time in 1:42.53 after early splits of 23.36 and 47.03, increased her career earnings to $35,219 with her initial win in three lifetime starts and returned mutuels of $7.80, $4.40 and $2.40.

Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Uptown Bertie rallied to be easily second best, paying $4 and $2.60 while finishing 2 3/4-lengths in front of Spendthrift Farm’s Treasured Up, who returned $2.40 to show.

Racing resumes Friday evening at Fair Grounds with the first Starlight Racing program of the 2011-2012 season with its first-race post time of 5 p.m.