Stidham Eyes March 26 Stakes at FG

Photo: CDI

Oakcrest Farm et al.’s Upperline, heroine of Saturday’s $58,800 Allen LaCombe Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds, came out of her race well and was doing fine Sunday morning, according to trainer Mike Stidham.

“She looks good today,” said Stidham. “The ($100,000) Bayou Handicap (at about 1 1/16-miles over the Stall-Wilson turf course March 26) is under strong consideration for her next start.”

Asked about Estrorace’s Workin for Hops and Feel the Thunder Stable’s Gran Estreno, fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap over the Stall-Wilson turf course Feb. 19, Stidham said, “As of right now, we’re looking at the (Grade II) Mervin Muniz (Memorial Handicap March 26) for both of them.”

The Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap, top turf race of the New Orleans Thoroughbred racing season, offers a $300,000 purse and will be one of four Grade II stakes races carded on Louisiana Derby Day March 26.

 

Gran Estreno won the Grade III Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap on the grass here Jan. 22, and Workin for Hops won the $60,000 Grindstone Stakes on the grass here a year ago on Louisiana Derby Day.

Read More

Classic runners: Who’s retired and which stars will return?
In the 10 days since the Breeders’ Cup Classic, word has filtered out about which runners will return...
Beckman sees a 'big year' for Regaled after BC Distaff effort
If Whit Beckman was disappointed with Regaled 's third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, you wouldn't know...
Speed figures: These are last week's fastest stakes winners
Touchuponastar earned a 138 Horse Racing Nation speed figure for his 10-length win in Saturday's Delta Mile at...
Concrete Glory goes for repeat in Claiming Crown Express
Even though the 6-year-old gelding Concrete Glory has competed in graded stakes and most recently won a top-level...
Tuesday works: Ozara leads graded winners on tab
Ozara breezed four furlongs in 51.4 at Belmont Park on Tuesday. It was the 22nd fastest of 25...