Oscar Nominated, Hail to the Nile Win at Fair Grounds

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Mike Maker-trained Oscar Nominated ($6.60, $3.40 and $2.60) turned the tables on Hillerich Racing and trainer Bernie Flint’s One Mean Man ($8.20 and $4.20) to reward his backers and win as the 2-1 favorite in Saturday’s $50,000 Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

 

A son of Ramsey’s flagship stallion Kitten’s Joy, the Kentucky-bred colt sat mid-pack after settling toward the rail while Sugar Bowl Stakes winner Taylors Angiel breezed through early fractions of 23.84 and 47.45 for a half-mile. Tipped out approaching the stretch and seizing command, Oscar Nominated completed six furlongs in 1:11.91 en route to a 1½-length win over One Mean Man and jockey Colby Hernandez, who defeated him in a photo finish last out in the $50,000 Keith Gee Memorial in late January. Ridden for the first time by Robby Albarado, the chestnut finished up the 7½ furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course in 1:29.63 – less than two-fifths of a second off the course record set by Northcote Road in 2000. Second choice Extra Credit ($2.60) was a rallying third, 2¼ lengths behind One Mean Man, with the same gap back to Taylors Angiel.

 

“I had a great trip and was laying fourth or fifth early,” Albarado said. “He was very comfortable on the rail. I had no instructions, I just got after him on the turn and he flew home. He’s getting better. There was no pace last time, but today there was. He ran big.”

 

The effort was Oscar Nominated’s second career victory from six starts and the $29,760 increased his career earnings to $89,860.

 

“It was a perfect trip,” Hernandez said of the game runner-up. “Our horse ran well. You can’t ask for anything better. The pace was quicker today. We had a small field and slow pace last time, but today I let him place himself. I thought we were a winner at the head of the stretch before Robby’s horse spurted away from us.”

 

Mundo Mutadda, Gotsomemojo, Cashel Rock, and Bellamy Boy completed the order of finish. A He’s an O’Prado unseated his rider in midstretch and walked off.

 

Later in the card, older Louisiana-breds took to the Stall-Wilson turf course in the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace over a mile. Valene Farms’ Hail to the Nile ($25.80, $14 and $9.60) took the shortest way around under Francisco Torres for trainer Sturges Ducoing, wiring the field from his rail post through fractions of 23.74, 48.01, 1:12.69 and 1:36.20. A valiant second throughout was fellow longshot Next Event ($19.40 and $14), with defending champ McGehee’s Mercy ($10.20) 2¾ lengths back in third. The victory was his fifth from 25 lifetime starts and the $36,000 winner’s portion of the purse increased his career earnings to $177,921.

 

“I had a lot of horse and he peaked at the right time,” Torres said. “Sturges did a great job and had him right for this race.”

“You have to give credit to the whole barn,” Ducoing said. “They work hard and make this happen and I just tell them what to do. Last time he only ran in the turf sprint because he was eligible for it. Horses tell you when they’re ready and he was ready today.”

 

Brittlyn Stable’s Ron Faucheux-trained Sunbean, the post-time favorite and 12-time stakes-winning Louisiana Horse of the Year, made his first start on the turf and first effort in over a year for his connections. The son of Brahms made a bold effort at the top of the stretch, but flattened out to finish an even fourth under Richard Eramia.

 

“He was really good,” Eramia said. “He ran a big race. He was doing really good on the grass, too. He got tired, but he did great for coming back. I’m really happy about this race.”