Tough Post for Populist Politics in Mr Sulu

The $60,000 Mr. Sulu was moved to a high-profile spot on Opening Day because it traditionally attracts a large and competitive field of quality turf runners. That form held true again this year, as 11 older Louisiana-breds entered, six of which are Fair Grounds stakes winners.

Three-year-old Populist Politics, third in the Grade II Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, will likely vie for favoritism with Snakebite Kit, who was six-for-nine as a 4-year-old but hasn’t raced since winning the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf here last December. Although off for nearly a year, Snakebite Kit has fired off a series of bullet workouts in the mornings for trainer Eddie Johnston.

Other rich Louisiana-breds to consider, both with past success over the Stall-Wilson turf course, include Kissimmee Kyle, winner of the 5 ½-furlong Bayou St. John Stakes here in March last time out, and Tensas Cat, the 2010 Gentilly Stakes winner going two turns as a 3-year-old.

Here’s the full field, from the rail out (with jockeys and trainers): Blackntansatlarrys (Richard Eramia, Morris Nicks), Kissimmee Kyle (Robby Albarado, Al Stall Jr.), Productive Envoy (Miguel Mena, Tony Richey), Royal and Flashy (Kerwin Clark, Sam Breaux), Ide Like a Double (Jermaine Bridgmohan, Sturges Ducoing), Tensas Cat (John Jacinto, Steve Garber), Snakebite Kit (Rosie Napravnik, Eddie Johnston), Expressiano (Tracy Hebert, Allen Landry), One Pretty Penny (Gerard Melancon, Scott Gelner), Classy Deelites (Jamie Theriot, Donald Moran Sr.) and Populist Politics (James Graham, Tom Amoss).

The one-mile Mr. Sulu will be run as Race 8 at 2:40 p.m. CST.