Tuttipaesi Gets Significant Class Relief in New Orleans Ladies
Valor Ladies’ Bill Mott-trained Tuttipaesi invades New Orleans to tackle a consistent local contingent in Saturday’s $50,000 New Orleans Ladies Overnight, scheduled for a 1 1/16 miles on the Stall-Wilson turf course as one of five undercard stakes supporting four Grade II events on Louisiana Derby Day next Saturday.
A multiple Listed stakes winner, Tuttipaesi gets significant class relief in the New Orleans Ladies, having most recently run a good third against Grade III company in the Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January. The daughter of Irish stallion Clodovil will get the riding services of Jose Lezcano from post seven in the 11-horse field.
A pair of local stakes winners await the likely favorite, led by Grade III winner Mizz Money. Trained by Bernie Flint for L T B Inc and Hillerich Racing, the daughter of Mizzen Mast owns a 3-for-6 record on the Stall-Wilson turf course and was victorious in last summer’s Grade III Pucker Up Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse. Robby Albarado, aboard for that graded tally, regains the mount from post 11.
In Mizz Money’s most recent start, she was beaten just a head by Richard and Bertram Klein’s Brad Cox-trained Cash Control, a two-time stakes winner at the 144th live race meeting in New Orleans, who successfully transferred her sharp dirt form over to the local lawn for the first time when earning that hard-fought victory in the Daisy Devine Stakes. Regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan will again ride the daughter of Pioneerof the Nile from post five.
Mexican Miss (Brian Hernandez, Jr., rail), Christie’s Ready (James Graham, post two), Bibby (Kerwin Clark, post three),Stoupinator (Marcelino Pedroza, post four), Steel Cut (Miguel Mena, post six), La Majestique (Corey Lanerie, post eight), Magnificent Margo (Joe Rocco, Jr., post nine) and Susie Bee (Javier Castellano, post 10) complete the New Orleans Ladies field.
Louisiana Derby Day also includes a series of stakes races restricted to Louisiana-breds.
Star Guitar Stakes
Brittlyn Stable’s Louisiana-bred millionaire Sunbean heads Saturday’s $60,000 Star Guitar Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the Fair Grounds main track. The Star Guitar, named after Brittlyn Stable’s five-time Louisiana Champions Day winner, is restricted to older Louisiana-breds and is carded as the second race on a 15-race Louisiana Derby Day card.
Fourth last out in his turf debut while returning from a layoff, Sunbean will get back to a surface over which he has won six of his nine lifetime starts. The Ron Faucheux-trained son of Brahms will break from the rail under regular rider Richard Eramia. The main competition may come in the form of Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s One King’s Man, who defeated Sunbean in the Delta Premier Night Championship in February 2015 and will look to bounce back off a dull effort on the turf last time out. Trained by Joe Sharp, One King’s Man will be ridden by Miguel Mena from post four.
Next Event (Brian Hernandez, Jr., post two), Stormdriver (Diego Saenz, post three), Hot Zapper (Colby Hernandez, post five) and Hopeful Notion (Florent Geroux, post six) complete the Star Guitar field.
Costa Rising Stakes
Heitai, Rowell Enterprises’ recently minted Louisiana millionaire, heads the field in the $60,000 Costa Rising Stakes for older turf sprinters going 5½ furlongs. Now in the hands of Eduardo Ramirez, Heitai exits an easy score in Delta’s Premier Night Sprint and will look to defend his title in the Costa Rising. Diego Saenz, aboard for several of Heitai’s 16 lifetime victories, has the return call from post 10 of 11.
Perhaps the most intriguing contender in the Costa Rising is Phyllis Hodges’ undefeated Mr. L. S. Shoe, who returns off a layoff of more than a year toting a perfect 4-for-4 record in his career. The Costa Rising will be the Sweet Hodges trainee’s first start on the turf, and James Graham will be aboard from post seven.
Dare to Dream Stable’s Louisiana Champions Day Sprint winner Jockamo’s Song has twice raced in turf routes but will make his turf sprint debut in the Costa Rising for trainer Mike Stidham. A three-time winner at the meet, Jockamo’s Song will wheel back on 12 days rest after posting a neck victory against allowance optional-claiming company. Mitchell Murrill has the return call.
Brilliant Interest (John Velazquez, post two), Masster Chief Ron (Tyler Woodley, post three), Hail to the Nile (Francisco Torres, post four), Too Dim (Miguel Mena, post five), Win Lion Win (Donnie Meche, post six), Just Kissing Buck (Colby Hernandez, post eight), McGehee’s Mercy (Robby Albarado, post nine) and Eden Grey’s Kitten (Florent Geroux, post 11) complete the Costa Rising lineup.
Crescent City Derby
Ironwater Farms Joint Venture’s Icy Gentleman, a three-time stakes winner coming off a pair of stakes victories at Delta Downs, headlines a competitive renewal of the $75,000 Crescent City Derby for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
A nine-length winner as the even-money choice in the Pelican Stakes last out at Delta going 7½ furlongs around two turns, the Henry Johnson-trained son of Yankee Gentleman will be ridden again by Jorge Guzman from post eight in the 13-horse field.
Trainer Ronda Hutchinson sends out Double Dam Farm’s recent allowance winner Mageez in search of his first stakes win. Second in December’s Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, the son of Musket Man has not been worse than third in five starts in New Orleans this season. Mitchell Murrill has the return call from the rail.
The remainder of the Crescent City Derby field is Ekati Warrior (Brian Hernandez, Jr., post two), Chattanoogan (Jose Valdivia, Jr., post three), John’s Luck (Corey Lanerie, post four), Sea Vow (Alexander Castillo, post five), Ole Skip Rope(Jose Riquelme, post six), Half Cajun (Richard Eramia, post seven), Mick (Eddie Martin, Jr., post nine), Extra Credit(Shaun Bridgmohan, post 10), Hunker Down (Robby Albarado, post 11), Great Value (Diego Saenz, post 12) and Classy Bird (Franciscio Torres, post 13)
Crescent City Oaks
Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies led by Carl R. Moore Management’s Grade III winner Jet Black Magic will compete in the day’s final stakes race, the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks at a mile and 70 yards on the main track.
Trained by Bret Calhoun, Jet Black Magic captured the Grade III Delta Princess at Delta Downs in November and exits a commanding score in the Vinton track’s $100,000 Azalea Stakes earlier this month. Colby Hernandez, aboard for the most recent stakes tally, gets the return call from post eight.
East West Stables’ David Carroll-trained Calamity Jane could prove the toughest competition for the class of the field, having rattled off a pair of impressive victories since being moved against Louisiana-bred competition earlier this season. A winner on the turf and dirt in her two most recent runs, the daughter of Cowboy Cal will again be ridden by the meet’s leading rider Florent Geroux from post four.
Thegoodwitch (Javier Castellano, rail), Our Lady Allie (Corey Lanerie, post two), Sunny Oak (Miguel Mena, post three),Hopette (Mitchell Murrill, post five), Jaded Rose (Richard Eramia, post six), Ide Biduadeau (Robby Albarado, post seven) and Aunt Nellie (Kerwin Clark, post nine) complete the field.
Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots