Stall on a Green Streak at the Fair Grounds

Veteran trainer Al Stall, Jr. has had a successful Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots season by any conditioner’s standards, but such came after a somewhat slow November and December. Since the start of 2015, the New Orleans native has picked things up quickly, while also keenly taking full advantage of a turf course co-named after his grandfather that has held up well in the adverse winter weather.

Currently eighth in the standings with 19 wins from 84 starts for a 23% overall strike rate, the respected 53-year-old horseman’s barn – stocked with everything from mid-level Louisiana-bred claiming horses to Claiborne Farm bluebloods and a Breeders’ Cup runner-up – is batting a meet-leading 35% with grass horses. With a turf record of 26-9-4-2, the famously patient trainer boasts an in-the-money rate of 58% and is currently – going into Saturday’s card – third in turf wins behind Mike Stidham and Joe Sharp, who are tied with 12 victories from 45 and 64 starts, respectively.

“Honestly we just must have horses that can run on the grass – it’s pretty much that simple,” Stall explained. “It’s all a function of having a turf course that’s been good all season long and the horses got to get their races in them. All our turf horses have come back well, too.

“We (start slower in the meet) sometimes because that’s the kind of stable we have,” Stall continued. “Every horse we have, we start from scratch with and it takes time; it’s a whole different ballgame than having ready-made stock – which is why we can have streaks.”

On Thursday afternoon, the two-time leading trainer’s turf prowess was once again on display when he sent out three horses to race – two on grass – and won with both of the turf horses at a price. Vince Wilfork’s Great Minds out-sprinted a competitive field of eight in a first-level turf sprint allowance at nearly 7-1, while the historic Lazy Lane Farm’s homebred first-time starter Rapid Rhythm inhaled her rivals to win a maiden special weight in a dead-heat at the same 5 ½-furlong distance in the nightcap at odds of nearly 16-1.

IKE WALKER EXITS STAKES WIN WELL
Ike and Dawn Thrash’s always well-regarded Ike Walker woke up from a four-race losing streak under jockey James Graham and outclassed eight rivals in Friday’s restricted $40,000 South Mississippi Owners and Breeders’ Stakes over six furlongs at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Making the second start of his sophomore year, he previously finished fourth in a rained-off one-mile allowance at Fair Grounds behind Grade III $550,000 Spiral Stakes-bound Wireless Future.

A handsome $125,000 Keeneland purchase named after the Thrashes’ son Ike ‘Walker’ Thrash, Jr., the son of Bellamy Road broke alertly and contested the lead through a quarter in :22.33 before taking over around the far turn and hitting the top of the stretch in command after a half-mile in :46.22. The son of the Hold That Tiger mare Quite Familiar – a half-sister to four-time graded stakes-winning turf specialist Stream Cat – crossed the line a comfortable 4¾-length winner in a time of 1:11.35. 

The victory was his second in seven starts and first since breaking his maiden on Aug. 7 at Arlington International Racecourse in similar fashion. Since, the dark bay colt whom owner Ike Walker Thrash, Sr. calls “one of my favorite horses ever” was unplaced in two graded stakes and two allowances, including the aforementioned, and was also gelded. Now, with a victory back under his belt, the Mike Stidham trainee will move onward.

Stidham reported on Saturday morning that Ike Walker exited his effort well and that there are no specific plans. Now a winner in sprints on both dirt and synthetic surfaces, while also running creditably behind three stakes horses in his lone two-turn grass attempt – the gelding’s preferred trip is still up for debate.

TOP OF THE PAGE MORE THAN A FOOTNOTE IN THURSDAY FEATURE
Thursday’s featured allowance at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots features the return of H. V. Farms’ Steve Asmussen-trained 5-2 morning line favorite Paternal Pride who was a solid second last out behind graded stakes-bound Wireless Future. Still, the most intriguing entrant is arguably Tom Van Meter et al’s Top of the Page from the Andrew McKeever barn.

Installed as the 7-2 second choice in a seven-horse field listing five contenders at 6-1 or less, the son of Parading was an exciting winner on Jan. 31 – breaking his maiden over the same one-mile turf distance as Thursday’s heat by 1¼ lengths under James Graham. The win was his third attempt and followed two dirt tries. In his debut, a six-furlong $75,000 maiden claiming event at Keeneland, he was a game second, beaten only 2½ lengths. Nearly two months later, the chestnut charge returned at Fair Grounds and ran into a runaway graded stakes-bound Tiznow R J in a mile and 70-yard maiden special weight – checking in third, beaten 13 ¼ lengths. 

Six weeks later, in Top of the Page’s first attempt on grass – a surface over which his sire was a graded stakes winner – the Kentucky-bred was adorned with pacifiers (screened goggles) and responded to all aforementioned novelties in a positive manner at odds of 5-1. Out of the Deputy Minister mare Fumble, a half-sister to Grade I Hollywood Starlet winner Diplomat Lady, the jury is still out on how far his talent will take him and upon which surface said journey will take place.

“He’s doing well,” McKeever said. “He’s actually improved a little since he’s run and I think it looks like a good spot for him. I looked at (last week’s $60,000 Black Gold Stakes at 7 ½ furlongs on the grass), but I thought this was an easier spot for him. There were some horses in there who had two or three wins and I also prefer the mile distance for him.

Thursday’s feature also includes Norman Stables’ Scott Gelner-trained Fusaichi Flame, who was installed as the 4-1 third choice on the morning line. The stakes-placed son of Fusaichi Pegasus was last in the Black Gold a week ago after an unfortunate trip that saw him bumped soundly at the start, in tight almost completely throughout and wide on both turns. Said finish was the first poor performance of his career. The remainder of the field includes local turf maiden winner Help From Heaven, Turfway Park invader Whoopie Pie, stakes-placed I’m Venezuelan and longshot Killingit.

Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes