Scrappy Roo Wins Fair Grounds Feature

Steve Asmussen’s Scrappy Roo, always well placed, came up to challenge H & H Ranch’s front-running Valid Message entering the lane, took command approaching the furlong grounds and drew off the rest of the way for a three-length tally in Monday’s $27,000 starter allowance optional claiming feature at about nine furlongs over Fair Grounds’ yielding Stall-Wilson turf course.

Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan and conditioned by the Eclipse-Award winning trainer Asmussen, Scrappy Roo toured the distance in 1:55.23, increased his career earnings to $261,472 with his 13th lifetime victory in 33 career starts, and returned mutuels of $8.20, $4.20 and $3.

Allshouse Racing Stable’s Gangbuster rallied late to gain the place, finishing a nose to the good of Handy Farms’ Deputiformer. Gangbuster returned $8.80 and $4.80 and Deputiformer paid $3.

Valid Message accomplished early splits of 25.58 and 52.65 before giving way in the drive.