Tetradrachm Wins Starlight Feature

Mrs. Jerry Amerman’s Tetradrachm, always well placed, gained the advantage in mid-stretch and withstood a late challenge from Gus King’s Proper Empire to score a neck victory in Friday night’s featured $46,000 middle-distance maiden event that highlighted the first Starlight Racing program of the New Orleans 2011-2012 racing season.

Trained by Paul McGee and ridden by Corey Lanerie, Tetradrachm paid $29, $8.40 and $4.60, accomplished the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.76, and increased his career earnings to $32,565 with his initial victory in three lifetime starts.

Proper Empire, unhurried early, launched a belated bid to gain the place, paying $4.20 and $2.60, while Jerry Durant’s odds-on favorite Sir Bond challenged in mid-stretch but weakened late to finish a neck farther back to return a $2.10 show price.

Vinery Stable’s Money Only and Erich Brehm and Gene Voss’s Speargun alternated for the early lead with splits of 24.36 and 48.89 but tired in the lane.

Racing resumes Saturday at Fair Grounds with a 10-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.