Moss Hopes For 'Some of That Magic' at Fair Grounds
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Maggi Moss’s throng of thoroughbreds returns to the Fair Grounds for the 2014-15 season one year after it began a phenomenal show at the historic New Orleans sports complex – completing a tetrad of consecutive owner’s titles for the longtime racing supporter. With trainer Tom Amoss at the helm, Moss’s band of racehorses played themselves into the winner’s enclosure an impressive 30% of the time, with 21 wins in 69 starts and earnings of $520,169 – good for second behind Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Louisiana Derby-abetted $1,017,657. Equally as impressive, Moss charges found themselves hitting the board 65% of the time and doing so at a variety of different class levels.
“It’s great to win, but I don’t really think about titles,” Moss reflected. “I try to focus more on quality over quantity.”
That being said, quality has definitely been in growing quantity for the Des Moines-based semi-retired barrister – including talented graded stakes horses like sprinter Delaunay and miler Grand Contender - two older horses expected to make starts at the Fair Grounds before year’s end. Moss, who has finished in the Top 10 owners nationally in earnings and wins over the last eight years, holds those two charges near and dear to her heart.
“Delaunay and Grand Contender are just the coolest horses,” she explained. “I look forward to seeing them up close and personal more than actually running them. To me, these horses give so much; it’s pretty amazing. They are really majestic animals and have been so good to me. I would love to see Grand Contender this weekend, but I won’t be able to. Delaunay is making his comeback on Thanksgiving.”
Both under the tutelage of Amoss, Grand Contender is entered to run Saturday in the $250,000 Delta Mile Stakes at Delta Downs and Delaunay is expected to contest the Listed $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at the Fair Grounds on Nov. 27 – a race he won in 2012. Collectively, the 6- and 7-year-olds have earned nearly $1.6 million and won 24 of 71 starts – including finishing first or second in seven of eight Fair Grounds starts under Moss’s ownership.
“When I started in racing in my first years at the Fair Grounds, it was pretty magical and I’ve supported it for about 15 years,” Moss reminisced. “I’m looking at supporting Fair Grounds (this year) and hoping to recapture some of that magic.”
A proverbial straight shooter who seems to balance a realistic perspective of the present with an unwavering ardor and optimism for the future of racing, Moss looks forward to seeing her horses compete and visiting the New Orleans area.
“I simply love New Orleans. It’s probably my favorite city,” she concluded. “It’s just such a great time when I’m there and I hope to get there soon.”
Source: Fair Grounds Communications
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