This weekend's horse racing action is highlighted by the six stakes races on Saturday's card at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., with a pair of prep races for the first Friday and Saturday in May drawing significant attention.
Perhaps the best race on the afternoon, however, is the match-up between Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon in the G3 Louisiana Stakes. It will be the sixth time these millionaire rivals face one another, and good performances could propel them to the $20 million Saudi Cup next month.
Meanwhile, Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Pappacap will be challenged by Epicenter in the Lecomte. The latter has won his last two starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, including a listed stakes race over the local surface. Pappacap brings experience to the table for trainer Mark Casse, with two wins and two seconds from five starts thus far.
Also on Saturday are listed stakes at Oaklawn, Aqueduct, Gulfstream, and Santa Anita, while Sunday's feature is the Oaks points-offering Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct.
Saturday
5:52 PM – $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds
Off an easy win in her career debut at Churchill Downs on Nov. 20, Stonestreet Stables' La Crete has been installed as the 2-1 morning line against five rivals for Saturday's $150,000 Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies to be run over 1 mile 70 yards at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. By Medaglia d'Oro, La Crete is a half-sister to millionaire Clairiere.
Off a maiden win and a fourth in the Tempted Stakes at Belmont, Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Sweet as Pie invades from her home base at Palm Beach Downs in Florida to contest the Silverbulletday for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Columbine Stables' Fannie and Freddie swings back off a recent second behind the undefeated North County in the Untapable Stakes for trainer Al Stall, Jr. The daughter of Malibu Moon won her two-turn debut in the start prior, and she looked home free in the stretch of her stakes debut, only to be run down late.
The top four finishers will earn Kentucky Oaks qualifying points (10-4-2-1).
6:49 PM – G3 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds
Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Kentucky Derby, Haskell: this Saturday's 76th running of the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds will be the sixth time both Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon enter the starting gate as rivals. Mandaloun has bragging rights, winning or finishing in front of Midnight Bourbon in three out of five match-ups thus far.
Mandaloun's last start was July 17 in the Haskell (G1) when he dueled through the final furlong finishing a nose short of Hot Rod Charlie, but an impending DQ awarded the Brad Cox-trained Mandaloun his fifth career win out of eight starts.
Last seen setting the pace in November's Clark (G1) with jockey Joel Rosario on board, Midnight Bourbon ran well, only to be overtaken in the stretch by the classy Maxfield and Happy Saver. He gets a slight cut-back in distance to 1 1/16 miles for the Louisiana. As in the Clark, Rosario gets the call.
7:20 PM – G3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds
Rustlewood Farm's Pappacap, the current points leader on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 12, headlines a field of nine 3-year-olds for the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3). A sprint winner on debut on May 14 at Gulfstream, the Florida-bred Pappacap has raced in four graded stakes in California since, winning the Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar and most recently finishing as the runner-up behind Corniche in both the American Pharoah (G2) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
The close second choice at 9-5, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter eyes his third consecutive win for trainer Steve Asmussen. After breaking his maiden on the lead, the son of Not This Time dominated the Gun Runner last time out, sitting just off the pace before taking over off the turn and drawing away by 6 ½ lengths.
Columbine Stable's Trafalgar enters the Lecomte off a narrow Fair Grounds allowance victory in his two-turn debut on Dec. 2. After building a comfortable margin in the deep stretch, the son of Lord Nelson had to dig deep to score his second consecutive win for trainer Al Stall, Jr.
Run over 1 1/16 miles, the Lecomte offers ten Kentucky Derby points to the winner, with the rest of the top four earning 4-2-1.
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