Heitai Too Quick in Costa Rising

Rowell Enterprises’ Heitai, cleverly ridden by Diego Saenz once again, teamed up to use the same tactics they did four weeks ago in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint to capture Saturday’s $60,000 Costa Rising Stakes for Louisiana-breds by 2 ¾-lengths at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Taking command just after the start, Heitai cut out early fractions of 22.16 and 44.89 before drawing off steadily in the lane to get the 5 ½ furlong distance in the race taken off the grass in 1:03.46.

The Karl Broberg-trained son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus returned mutuels of $6.60 $3.80 and $3.40 and increased his career earnings to $274,943 with his fifth victory in 15 lifetime starts.

“This is a nice horse,” said Saenz immediately after the race.  “He made the lead pretty easy.  The #4 horse (Midwest Thoroughbreds’ favored Southern Dude) had a little speed too, but my horse – he did it all on his own.”

Glen Warren & Andrew Leggio Jr.’s Skip the Pinot, never far back, rallied late to easily gain the place, paying $4.40 and $3 while finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Merrill Scherer and Dan Lynch’s Nubin Ridge who returned $5.20 to show.

Completing the order of finish was Southern Dude, Heavy On Themister, Unitas and Palmy Bay.