Fair Grounds wrap: Her Laugh, Saudi Crown win on undercard

Stretching to a mile and 70 yards after debuting as a winner at six furlongs, Her Laugh shot to the front of the $100,000 Untapable Stakes field and never looked back.

Banking 10 points on the road to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks with her win Saturday at Fair Grounds, the Practical Joke filly trained by Whit Beckman beat post-time favorite Golden Gamble by 2 1/2 lengths with a final time of 1:43.72.

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“I told Axel just break and put her where she is comfortable,” Beckman said. “Seeing the fractions, how she was carrying him and how composed she was, I knew we were in the best spot. It was perfect. This day worked out very well.”

Beckman teamed with jockey Axel Concepción to win two stakes Saturday. They also won with Simply Joking in the Letellier. Both Her Laugh and Simply Joking are owned by Grantley Acres, which bred Her Laugh.

“She broke good, relaxed very well,” Concepción said. “I asked at the quarter pole, and she responded. I knew she had a lot of talent from working her since she was in Kentucky three months ago. She did it all, and I am very grateful for the owners and the trainer for the opportunity.”

Golden Gamble traveled wide off the pace and appeared green down the stretch but managed to rally for second over a gallant effort from last by California Sunset.

Golden Gamble earned five Oaks qualifying points and California Sunset three. After threatening at the top of the stretch, Stable Currency held on for fourth to earn two points. Drexel Hill, Beckman’s other entrant in the Untapable, finished fifth for one point.

Now 2-for-2, Her Laugh has earned $102,000.

Saudi Crown stalks and scores in Tenacious

Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown returned to Fair Grounds to add the $100,000 Tenacious to his titles. After pressing Track Phantom through the early stages, he made his bid passing the quarter pole and proved victorious, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.35, just shy of the track record of 1:42.01 set by Olympiad in 2022.

The Brad Cox trained exacta included the lightly raced Kinetic, who rallied from off the pace for second, two lengths from his stablemate.

“We were thinking about entering Saudi Crown in the Cigar Mile (G2) after the Breeders’ Cup,” Cox said. “I felt like I needed to work him a few more times, find a little bit softer spot. I didn’t want to do too much with him so we could get his confidence back up, and I thought this was a great spot to try. Hopefully we can move forward off this.”

The 4-year-old colt owned by Qatar-based FMQ Stables was reunited with Florent Géroux, who has been aboard Saudi Crown for all but one of his 12 starts. Those included victories in the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx and the 2024 Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds.

“He was by far the class of the race,” Géroux said. “He relaxed very nicely. Sometimes when he doesn’t make the lead, he gets eager, but I was pleased with how comfortably he was traveling. I thought he came home very nicely, especially the last quarter of the mile. He put away Track Phantom right before the quarter pole and did it on his own, finishing with a lot of reserves. I’m very pleased with him.”

Saudi Crown, who also finished third in the 2024 Saudi Cup (G1), has $3,130,985 in career earnings with a 12: 6-2-1 lifetime record.

Gigante recovers to finish 1st in Diliberto

Gigante overcame an awkward start to win the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes, running down loose leader Swiftsure and holding off late rallies from eventual runner-up Idratherbeblessed and third-place Another Mystery.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and with José Ortiz in the irons, Gigante covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.62 over a firm turf course, winning by one length in the raced named for the late New Orleans sports-media personality.

“He’s such a cool horse,” Ortiz said. “He kind of bobbled a bit out of the gate, but Steve always gives me confidence to ride his horses my way. I was able to get him back in the race, and going into the first turn Gigante gave me his head, relaxed nicely, and when I asked him in the stretch, he was there.”

Having won the 2023 Woodchopper and finished second in the 2024 Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2), Gigante’s campaign could include a return in the Muniz at the end of the meet, according to Asmussen.

“We’re glad to have him back at the Fair Grounds,” Asmussen said. “It’s very special to win a race named after Buddy Diliberto. Nobody loved racing more than he did, and it’s a great honor to win a race named after him.”

A Virginia-bred by Not This Time, Gigante’s career record reads 18: 7-1-2 with a bankroll of $1,127,650.

Bear River sprints to win in Scherer

Bear River got the jump on five foes in the $100,000 Richard R. Scherer Memorial and proved best to win his second stakes, this one by 2 1/4 lengths over Minnesota Ready.

Trained by Keith Desormeaux, the 3-year-old chestnut ridgling traveled 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.61 over a firm turf course. With a career record of 18: 5-0-2, Bear River has banked $383,848.

“I thought maybe I was overdoing it with the 12 starts in 2024,” Desormeaux said. “He’s been so good to us, and he’s so sound.”

Threatened in the stretch by post-time favorite Panther Island, Bear River wandered about under Concepción, warding off any serious bids.

“The most important part in the race was the break,” Concepción said. “After that he relaxed very well.”