Fair Grounds

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PLETCHER, BROWN SADDLE INTRIGUING FIRSTERS 7th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 2:44p.m. Chad Brown unveils Christine and Phil Hatfield's ARISTON (Flatter) in this event. The $500,000 FTSAUG buy is a full to GSW Plainsman and a half to GSP Liam (Liam's Map). Their dam is a half to MGSW Southdale (Street Cry {Ire}). Todd Pletcher also saddles an interesting first timer in Avenue (Quality Road). Out of GSP Magic Union (Dixie Union), the $450,000 KEESEP acquisition is a half to GSP Tizamagician (Tiznow). TJCIS PPs...

Trainer Joe Sharp has been hit with a 30-day suspension and fined $2,500 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) after five horses he trained tested positive for the medication levamisole during a 16-day period at Churchill Downs in November, 2019. Sharp has said that the levamisole was found in an over-the-counter dewormer he purchased and used to treat his horses. He said he consulted with veterinarians before using the product and was told that it complied with pertinent racing and medication regulations. In addition to the Kentucky positives, eight...

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) came out of his wire-to-wire victory in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. in fine shape, Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said Sunday. The Winchell Thoroughbreds runner is expected to start next in the Feb. 13 GII Risen Star S. Mandaloun (Into Mischief), the beaten favorite when third in the Lecomte, may get a change of equipment for his  next start, according to trainer Brad Cox. "We still think he is a very good horse," Cox said of the Juddmonte Farm homebred. "He raced wide around both...

After Saturday's GIII Lecomte S., one thing's for certain: the offspring of broodmare Catch the Moon have a strong affinity for that main track in New Orleans. Three of the four graded stakes winners the Malibu Moon mare has produced are now a collective 5-for-6 over the Fair Grounds dirt after the one-length wire job by Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) in the first leg of the track's Road to the GI Kentucky Derby series. Trainer Steve Asmussen's job will now involve trying to build upon that home-track advantage as Midnight Bourbon...

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) put himself on the GI Kentucky Derby trail with a tenacious, one-length front-running score in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds. Proxy (Tapit) was second; 4-5 favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) was third after a wide trip in his two-turn debut. The 7-2 shot left the gate running from his rail draw and led the scratched-down field of eight into the clubhouse turn. Midnight Bourbon cruised along on the front end beneath Joe Talamo through fractions of :24.68 and :48.99, while Proxy, a...

A dominant debut winner on the Arlington synthetic Sept. 17, Charlie's Penny was fourth to Souper Sensational next out in Woodbine's Glorious Song S. a month later. Capturing an optional claimer on the dirt at Churchill Nov. 28, she was third in this venue's six-panel Letelier Memorial S. Dec. 19. Stretching out to two turns for the first time here, Charlie's Penny was away alertly and established herself in third, running off the fence through glacial early fractions. Three wide exiting the bend, the gray motored clear in the lane...

The same week that Juddmonte Farms' owner and founder Khalid Abdullah passed away, the legendary outfit has a chance to take a step toward its long-sought first GI Kentucky Derby win when undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) goes postward as a likely favorite in the GIII Lecomte S. Saturday at Fair Grounds. The race kicks off the Louisiana oval's three-race Derby prep schedule, to be followed by the GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby. Hammered down to 11-10 favoritism debuting Oct. 24 at Keeneland, the homebred...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 2.29 p.m. ET A number of freshly minted sophomores who were pricey sales horses kick off their careers in this six-panel maiden, led by Tom Durant's RUN CLASSIC (Runhappy), a $475,000 OBS purchase  (:20 3/5) and the highest-priced juvenile to sell by his sire. Trainer Bret Calhoun sends him to post, where he will have to face former $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling Constituency (Candy Ride {Arg}). The CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm runner, who is conditioned by Dallas...

America's Day at the Races returns Saturday in what will be the first of 22 days of the telecast to air throughout January, February and March on FOX Sports. It will air on FS1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will feature live racing from Fair Grounds, including the GIII Lecomte S. and Silverbulletday S. Presented in 2021 by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, the telecasts will feature live racing from the Aqueduct winter meet as well as partner tracks, including Fair Grounds Race Course, Oaklawn Park, Tampa...

Graded stakes winner Bobby's Wicked One (Speightstown--Wicked Charm, by Ghostzapper) will stand the 2021 season at Acadia Equine at Copper Crowne in Opelousas, LA. One of the few horses to beat champion Mitole (Eskendereya) when winning his debut by five lengths, Bobby's Wicked One scored a victory in the 2019 GIII Commonwealth S. at Keeneland before running second to Mitole in the GI Churchill Downs S. He went on to add two more stakes victories at Fair Grounds and retired with a record of 18-6-4-1 and earnings of $547,673 for...

For the second time in the young 2020-21 meet, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has announced a 10% purse increase across the board. Much like the first, the boost was inspired by strong simulcast handle during the first seven weeks of the 149th racing season, which includes solid bettor response to the newly implemented traditional early and late Pick 5 wagers. "Despite losing multiple days of turf racing, handle has remained quite strong," Fair Grounds' racing secretary Scott Jones said. "Condition book four will be released the beginning of...

GSW Shancelot (Shanghai Bobby--True Kiss, by Is It True) has been retired from racing after exiting his breeze Monday with a soft tissue injury. The story was originally reported by the Daily Racing Form. A $50,000 FTSAUG buy turned $245,000 OBSMAR juvenile purchase, the Crawford Farms Racing colorbearer opened his career with a trio of impressive wins, including Saratoga's GII Amsterdam S. in 2019. Third in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. there next out, he was second in the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. and completed the exacta...