Ide Ball Takes Starlight Feature

South Georgia Tigers’ odds-on favorite Ide Ball, placed just behind the early leaders in Friday’s Starlight Racing $45,000 optional claiming feature at Fair Grounds, appeared to lose interest in the running in upper stretch but rallied on the outside in the late stages to be best by 2 3/4-lengths at the wire.

Trained by Eddie Johnston, Ide Ball was ridden by John Jacinto, scoring his first win since returning from a broken wrist suffered earlier in the meeting.  The winner returned mutuels of $3.60, $2.40 and $2.10 as the choice of the fans, increased his career earnings to $308,353 with his 10th win in 34 lifetime starts and accomplished the six furlong distance in 1:10.35.

Louie Roussel III’s Seven Mile Bridge, unhurried early, rallied to gain the place by a neck from CCD Racing Stable’s Power Surge.  Seven Mile Bridge paid $3.80 and $2.60 in the runner-up spot while Power Surge returned $2.40 to show.

Jerry Cart’s Red Salt made the pace with early splits of 21.70 and 44.79 but gave way entering the lane.

Racing resumes Saturday at Fair Grounds for a 12-race Louisiana Derby Day Preview program headed by the Grade II Risen Star Stakes and featuring a total of six stakes races, four of which are graded.