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After Eventful Campaign, Mandaloun Returns at Fair Grounds

Mandaloun (Into Mischief) finished second in the GI Kentucky Derby and will be declared the winner if Medina Spirit (Protonico) is ever disqualified for a betamethasone positive. He didn't cross the wire first in the GI Haskell S. either, but was awarded the win after the stewards disqualified Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) for interference. It pays to be both lucky and good.

But a page has been turned and Mandaloun will kick off his 4-year-old season Saturday at the Fair Grounds in the GIII Louisiana S., the first step in a campaign where he very well could prove that he can win at the Grade I level without the assistance of the stewards or a drug testing laboratory.

“You're always looking forward to a horses maturing and getting faster as they get older,” said his trainer, Brad Cox. “He's trained really well and his gallop-outs are really good. He's in a really good place right now, mentally and physically. I think this is a good spot to get him back started and see where he takes us.”

Mandaloun, 26-1 in the Derby, exceeded most expectations to finish second, a half-length behind the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit. More than eight months later, there hasn't been a word from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission about Medina Spirit's positive, one reason among many that it could take years for the 2021 Derby to be declared official. It's not something that Cox is worried about.

“I don't think about it,” Cox said of the Derby. “I really don't and that's because it is out of my hands. I've got enough going on that I don't need to worry about what ifs or what's going to happen. It's not the way you want to win a race of that caliber, so we'll just keep marching forward and develop Mandaloun and do enough with him to try to enhance his resume and get him off to the stallion barn where he can make some big, beautiful babies.”

Mandaloun skipped both the GI Preakness S. and the GI Belmont S. before resurfacing at Monmouth Park. He won the Pegasus, a prep for the Haskell, and then finished a nose behind Hot Rod Charlie in the the Haskell. Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified for bothering Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow).

“He was coming back on Hot Rod Charlie that day,” Cox said. “Obviously, Hot Rod Charlie got to the wire first, but I think that in a couple more jumps we could have got to him. It was a very courageous race and he showed a lot of grit and determination. It was really good race and it made him a Grade I winner.”

Mandaloun has not raced since the July 17 Haskell.

“He was asking for a break,” Cox said. “I wasn't real happy with his weight post-Haskell. He had two long ships from Churchill and it was really hot at Monmouth when he was there. He wasn't quire right. We did all the diagnostics on him and we never did find anything. We gave him some time and he's come back a fit, happy, healthy horse.”

In most Grade IIIs, a horse with Mandaloun's resume would be a heavy favorite, but he has to contend with Midnight Bourbon once again. It will be the fifth meeting between the two. Midnight Bourbon won last year's GIII Lecomte S. over Mandaloun but Mandaloun finished in front of his rival the next three times they met, including in the Derby where Midnight Bourbon was sixth. Midnight Bourbon is making his first start since finishing third in the Nov. 26 GI Clark S. at Churchill Downs.

“We've won this race twice and this is definitely the toughest edition we've ever been part of,” said Cox, who will also send out GIII Oklahoma Derby winner Warrant (Constitution) in the Louisiana. “Midnight Bourbon is a very good horse and I think they're thinking the same way we are, that this is a stepping stone to bigger and better things down the road. It's an opportunity for both horses to race out of their own stall, get a race under their belts and get their year kicked off.”

Cox said that Mandaloun's schedule beyond the Louisiana has yet to be determined, but the Feb. 26 GI Saudi Cup could be next for the colt owned by Juddmonte.

“(Juddmonte General Manager) Garrett O'Rourke will get together with the Juddmonte team and come up with a game plan in regards to the Saudi Cup and see of that is something we want to turn our attention toward,” Cox said. “For me, the mindset is it's one step at a time. Hopefully, he makes a good account of himself Saturday and then a race like the Saudi Cup could be part of his future.”

Cox has lost a likely Eclipse Award winner in Essential Quality (Tapit) to the breeding shed where he will soon be joined by former stablemate Knicks Go (Paynter). The latter, a cinch to be named Horse of the Year and champion older male, will be retired after starting in the Jan. 29 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. That will leave a big void in the Cox barn, but he's optimistic it is one that Mandaloun can fill.

“This horse has always trained well,” Cox said. “Since the fall of his 2-year-old season we thought he was a horse that could take us to the Kentucky Derby, and he did. Had a great season last year and we're hopeful he can do even better this year.”

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Stewart Diverts Fair Grounds Stalwart to Pegasus

Put Dallas Stewart in front of a chessboard, and you know that he'd almost always rather corner the king, with a potential checkmate scenario, than turn around and strike out a mere pawn or two. Sure enough, Wednesday the trainer announced that connections have agreed to go on the attack with Chess Chief (Into Mischief)–even though taking up an invitation for the GI Pegasus World Cup, at Gulfstream Jan. 29, entails renouncing a “home game” this weekend.

Chess Chief has developed a remarkable affinity for the Fair Grounds, scene of all five career wins to date. It was apt, as such, that the latest of those should have come in the Tenacious S. over Christmas–that race being named for the winner of 11 stakes round the track, including three editions (1958-1960) of the one for which Chess Chief holds an entry Saturday.

But it's not as though the GIII Louisiana S. represents much easier pickings than the $3-million prize in Florida: the presence of two elite sophomores of 2021, Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), makes it look an exceptionally tough field for the grade. And nor is it just the competition that is liable to prove white-hot at Gulfstream, where the pace could set up favorably for the kind of late charge Chess Chief deployed to nail the Tenacious.

“We're going to make a move and scratch on Saturday,” Stewart confirmed to TDN. “He has an invitation in Florida and we're going to see how we do over there. He's never been in a race where there's been a ton of speed, which it looks like there should be in the Pegasus. We kicked it around, back and forth, and I could see either side of it. It's going to be hard, very hard, but he's already made over $800,000, and if he can finish third that would put him over $1 million. And then we'd be starting to think about where he could be aiming, as far as being a stallion is concerned.”

Win, lose or draw in Miami, Chess Chief will still retain the option of the GII New Orleans Classic at the end of the meet–a race he won last year, and a natural opportunity to resume his bid to become a modern Tenacious. That's a fitting aspiration not only for Stewart, who laid down the roots of his own career here, but also for the family of the horse's late owner.

James J. Coleman, Jr. was a cherished figure in the Crescent City, a businessman and philanthropist who crossed the trans-Atlantic divide with such charm (an oarsman at both Princeton and Oxford) that he was twice honored by Queen Elizabeth II and even appointed her government's honorary consul in New Orleans.

“He was great man, a real fixture here in New Orleans,” Stewart said. “Unfortunately, he passed away [in 2019], but his son Jamie is picking up the reins. Jamie's daughter Jane-Owen is only about 12, but she's really interested, too.

“It just happens that their horse really likes the Fair Grounds. Some horses just like certain tracks. I don't know what it is, in this case, but he finishes off his races here real hard. He must really like the surface. But this would have been a very tough race for a minimal amount of money, compared to the other one. The other race is even tougher, of course, but there's more speed and it might just set up good for him.”

That dauntless approach is trademark Stewart, and has often paid dividends. A couple of years ago he won the GI Ashland S, with 52-1 shot Out For A Spin (Hard Spun), and he landed the GI Kentucky Oaks back in 2006 with a 47-1 shocker in Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid). In consecutive years, moreover, he saddled an outsider to finish second in the GI Kentucky Derby itself: Golden Soul (Perfect Soul) at 34-1 in 2013, and then Commanding Curve (Master Command) at 37-1.

And he sends two sophomores in pursuit of Derby starting points in the GIII Lecomte S. on Saturday's card. Unified Report (Unified) steps up in distance, and out of state-bred company, after extending his unbeaten start in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S.; but Surfer Dude (Curlin) appears to have his work cut out to reverse Gun Runner S. form with the impressive Epicenter (Not This Time).

“They've both got a lot to prove in a very good race, but they're training well and have run competitively here, so we're going to see where we're at,” Stewart reasoned. “I think Unified Report will [stay the new trip]: he's got a lot of strength, just looking at him, and he doesn't get tired when he's working. He's on a roll, three-for-three, so we'll see how good he is. Surfer Dude has to make a big move forward, but he did that before and hopefully can make another jump.”

There will be no less interest, however, in another 3-year-old from the barn who makes his debut in the ninth race. Vinco (Quality Road) was a knockout $1.5-million purchase by West Point Thoroughbreds at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic 2-Year-Old Sale last year and surfaces here in partnership with Gervais Racing LLC. “He's just getting started a little late, but he's a very nice colt,” Stewart said. “But none of those numbers matter, it's a horserace and they've all got to run.”

Another sophomore carrying a big tag shaped extremely well in defeat last weekend. Strava (Into Mischief) now represents a partnership including octogenarian Louisville Cardinals coaching legend Denny Crum after going through the ring for $825,000 at the Keeneland November Sale, following an impressive debut at the adjacent track's fall meet. He still looked green when resuming at the Fair Grounds, all but overcoming a messy trip through the slop in an optional claimer over just six furlongs.

“The conditions were very rough and he stumbled a little bit leaving the gate, but he finished up good and looked like was going to win despite a wide trip,” Stewart reflected. “I thought he ran big, we're hoping to stretch him out next time and he could be a very nice colt.”

Of his association with Crum, Stewart remarked: “Well, you know, these are very competitive people. They understand the game, they like to know the strategy, how we're going to accomplish things. I've worked with him for a long time, he certainly knows about winning, and that's what he likes to do. It's quite cool to have these type of people around you, it really is.”

Among his sophomore fillies, meanwhile, Stewart reported that the Grade I-placed Sequist (Nyquist) is closing on her first appearance since trying her luck in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. “She did her second 5/8ths [breeze] today in 1:01,” he said. “She's looking at running middle of next month, probably in an allowance.”

Of his older team, Title Ready (More Than Ready) is set to accompany Chess Chief to Gulfstream. Winner of the Louisiana S. last year, he disappeared after a crack at the G1 Dubai World Cup and shaped well on his comeback at Churchill in November, only to fail to build on that next time.

“He did not have a great race in the mud at Oaklawn,” conceded Stewart. “But he's come back and had two good works since, and was a very well accomplished horse last year who ran big off his lay-off. He's been invited, so we'll give him a shot also.”

But Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy), who put himself on the Derby trail when winning the GII Rebel S. for Steve Asmussen three years ago, is struggling to revive that sparkle after a second disappointing performance in Hot Springs last weekend. “I know he loves Churchill but I just don't how much he still loves Oaklawn,” said Stewart. “He's got me scratching my head, to be honest, but we'll try to figure it out.”

In the round, however, Stewart can only be delighted with the state of his barn. In his 25th year as a trainer, he accumulated over $4.3 million in prizemoney in 2021, a tally he has only once surpassed–and then only narrowly, two years previously.

“You know, we just got to keep getting good horses,” he said. “I think we had seven or eight first-time starters win last year, and 12 or 13 2-year-old winners. I think those are pretty good numbers for a 40-horse stable. Now we've just got to keep getting accomplishments in these big races.”

Sure enough, he will never worry about the Tote board, or the ratings–and hence the bold move with Chess Chief.

“Listen, I feel good about the horse,” he said. “And no, I'm not scared of any numbers.”

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Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon Rivalry Continues In Louisiana Stakes

Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Kentucky Derby, Haskell: this Saturday's 76th running of the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. 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.

The duo will be traveling 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, the same distance they ran in the 2021 Lecomte when facing one another for the first time. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon was fresh off a three-month layoff and wired the field. Now it's the even-money morning line favorite Mandaloun's turn to come in fresh. His 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 Juddmonte's Mandaloun his fifth career win out of eight starts.

“He needed time off. He made that decision easy,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We stopped on him and gave him time. For horses to progress, whether it be from (age) two to three or three to four, they need a break. He's received his break and he's come back. Listen, I'm not going to tell you that he's working better than ever because he's always a very, very good work horse to begin with. I think anybody that watched him train up to the Kentucky Derby could believe the way he ran (second at 26-1), the way he was training. He's definitely working as well as he was leading up to the Derby, or the Haskell, so we're in a good spot with him. I think this is a race that makes a lot of sense as far as getting back racing and seeing how it goes.”

Mandaloun will break from post two with his sole-rider Florent Geroux on board. He'll recognize the horse to his outside but not the rider.

On the track where it all began, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon has the neighboring spot in post three. Last seen setting the pace in November's Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs 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, his second on Midnight Bourbon who will break from the post three (6-5 ML).

This time, Midnight Bourbon has a new trick up his sleeve: blinkers.

“As good as he's been, I think there is more there,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It doesn't look like he's finishing it (his races) off. He's not exhausted when he comes back. I think we can get a little more out of him. There is the possibility that it makes him more aggressive and that he gets in too big of a hurry. The Louisiana Stakes is the perfect time to try it.”

With a field of horses who have shown strong early pace, they'll have their hands full throughout. Starting on the rail: Chess Chief, Sprawl, Pirate's Punch, Warrant, and Spa City make up the field of seven.

Adele B Dilschneider and Claiborne Farms' Sprawl finished sixth last out in October's Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs, the race prior was his first graded stakes victory, leading most of the way in the West Virginia Governor (G3) at Mountaineer. Trainer Tom Drury Jr. brought him to Fair Grounds to ready him specifically for the Louisiana.

“That little horse fought some wars for us,” Drury said. “We've had this race in mind and we've worked backwards from it. After the Lukas Classic, we sent him to Robby Harris in Florida and gave him a little downtime. Ever since it's been like clockwork. He walked off the van (at Fair Grounds) doing good and he's been doing good ever since, but I'll be honest, I didn't anticipate the race coming up as tough as it has. That being said, Sprawl is a seasoned, older horse and we are going to take our best shot and see what happens.”

By City Zip, his pace-setting presence adds uncertainty to how the race will unfold. Fair Grounds' leading rider Colby Hernandez is on board from post four (10-1 ML).

“We are just going to let Colby ride his race,” Drury said. “I do think he's going to want to be forward, but I'd love to see him in a stalking-type position. I don't want to leave there shooting ducks trying to make the lead at all costs.”

Approximately half of Chess Chief's earnings have come from his five wins, each of them taking place at Fair Grounds. Possibly a horse for the course, but the Estate of James J Coleman Jr's 6-year-old has been ambitiously placed throughout his career, losing to Maxfield four times, Knicks Go, and other classy rivals. He's coming off a thrilling win in the $100,000 Tenacious on “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” in which he bested Happy American by a scant nose. He is scheduled to break from the rail with Reylu Gutierrez aboard (12-1 ML), although trainer Dallas Stewart has indicated that a run in the Pegasus World Cup the following Saturday is also on the table.

Finishing third last out in the Tenacious, Craig W. Dragner and Gulliver Racing's Pirate's Punch has not won any of his six races since his 2020 back-to-back graded stakes wins. Breaking from post five at morning line odds of 20-1, Corey Lanerie returns after taking him to the lead last out. The Grant Forster-trained 6-year-old gelding will have options to pass or press his half-brother Midnight Bourbon.

That's right, dam Catch the Moon and breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings must be proud.

The remainder of the field with post position, jockey/trainer and morning line odds is as follows: Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Warrant (post six, Brian Hernandez Jr/Brad Cox, 12-1 ML), the 2021 Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner makes his 4-year-old debut; and Maggi Moss' Spa City (post seven James Graham/Tim Amoss, 20-1 ML), who was claimed for $40,000 four starts back.

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Oaks Trail: Clairiere’s Half-Sister La Crete A Tepid Favorite In Silverbulletday

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. The top four finishers will earn Kentucky Oaks qualifying points (10-4-2-1).

By Medaglia d'Oro, La Crete is a half-sister to Clairiere. The winner of last year's Rachel Alexandra (G2) presented by Fasig-Tipton, she has banked over $1.2 million in her career.

“Different filly, out of the great Cavorting,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who has won the Silverbulletday four times. “She is not as mature at the same age as Clairiere, mentally or physically.”

Unlike her more accomplished sibling who has done most of her work from off the pace, La Crete went straight to the lead in her November 20 maiden breaker at Churchill, and she was never menaced in that 2 ¼ length triumph.

“I was very impressed with her first race,” Asmussen said. “She would have benefitted from having a first-level allowance race, but due to lack of entries that option was not available to her. She's trained nicely at the Fair Grounds.”

From post two, La Crete will get the riding services of Joel Rosario.

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.

“We tried to get her into an allowance race at Gulfstream that didn't go,” Pletcher explained. “We were looking around for opportunities to stretch her out around two turns to continue her development. This race was kind of a short field, but there are some pretty high-quality fillies in there so we will get a gauge of where we are at.”

The daughter of Tapit will break from post four with Florent Geroux aboard as the 5-2 co-second choice.

“She's a little bit lazy in the mornings,” Pletcher said. “We thought she'd run decently first time out, but she actually ran a little better than we thought she would. The Tempted was an okay race for us, but horses who ran in there have turned out to do pretty well, including Nest, who won the Demoiselle. The two turns should serve us well. I do like that physically she's doing what you like to see this time of year. A little bigger and stronger. She seems to be taking her training well and we think she has another move forward in her.”

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.

“That was a really weird weekend for us,” Stall recalled. “We had a few horses turning for home who looked like they were just galloping along and they kind of got run over. We were scratching our head thinking maybe it was just a lack of experience. I don't go that fast with my 2-year-olds, so this time of year we are playing a little bit of catch-up.”

Seventh and ninth sprinting at Saratoga then Keeneland in the first two starts of her career, Fannie and Freddie has really stepped forward since being stretched out.

“She's always been a nice-looking filly, but she's been a little tough in the mental department.” Stall admitted. “She gives me a little trouble saddling. We've been schooling her and she'll go to the paddock again this week. She always breezed like she's somebody, and it seems like the two turns may have been the trick for her.”

With Colby Hernandez back aboard, Fanny and Freddie will break from the rail as the 5-2 co-second choice.

“She'll just come out of there and play it off the break until the quarter-pole, see where she is at from there,” Stall said when asked about the preferred trip. “She can be a little nimble about things, but we really like the way she's doing. Colby (jockey Hernandez) doesn't say a whole lot, but the most positive comment he gave me the whole weekend was after her breeze.”

Nelson McMakin and Aaron Kennedy's Bernabreezy makes her stakes debut in career start number three off an eye-popping local maiden win over 1 1/16 miles for trainer Matt Shirer.

“She's doing awesome,” Shirer said. “There's not a whole lot of pace in that race, so she may have to be a little closer, but I don't want to take anything away from the way she finishes. That last race, she finished really well down the lane. That's kind of how she trains in the mornings. She picks out a target in front of her and goes out and catches those other horses. I think she'll run a big race for us.

In both of her career starts, the daughter of Bernardini has spotted the field lengths with poor breaks.

“We've done a little bit of work with her at the gate,” Shirer said. “She will go stand in there a couple days before the race. She's come out quick from there in the mornings before, it just seems like for some reason in her two races she hesitated a little bit. I'm not too worried about it.”

For the 36-year-old Shirer, the winner of 112 career races (22 percent), Bernabreezy represents an opportunity to compete on the big stage with a young, promising horse that he has developed.

“It's exciting but we've got a lot of races to go before she puts herself in that conversation,” Shirer said. “It's exciting to see what she's capable of. I'm pretty high on her, and I'm usually pretty realistic about the horses I have in the barn and what they are capable of and this filly is as good as I've ever had. Even thinking back to some of the fillies I've worked with as an assistant to (Ken) McPeek, I can't think of a whole lot of them that gallop out the way she does in her breezes. As the races get a little bit longer, she should continue to improve.”

The remainder of the field with post position, jockey/trainer and morning line odds is as follows: Built Wright Stables' Miss Chamita (post three, John McKee/Norm Cash, 15-1 ML), a $50,000 claim who has one win from nine career starts and Don't' Tell My Wife Stables and Keith Desormeaux's supplementary entry Candy Raid (post six, Jose Riquelme/Keith Desormeaux, 15-1 ML). — Kristufek

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