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Mandaloun Denies Midnight Bourbon In Louisiana Stakes

It was billed as a two-horse match race between millionaires Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon, and that's exactly what the Grade 3, $150,000 Louisiana Stakes became on Saturday at the Fair Grounds. Turning for home in their sixth meeting on the track, Mandaloun (4-5) and Midnight Bourbon (6-5) drew even near the center of the course and remained locked in battle until the sixteenth pole. Jockeys Florent Geroux and Joel Rosario each gave their mounts their all, but it was Mandaloun and Geroux who prevailed by three-quarters of a length at the wire.

The Juddmonte homebred by Into Mischief, trained by Brad Cox and racing off a seven-month layoff, covered 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track in 1:42.52. It was Geroux's fourth win on the card.

Each millionaire received Lasix for the first time in Saturday's contest, and trainer Steve Asmussen added blinkers to the equipment of Midnight Bourbon.

Midnight Bourbon broke in a bit at the start, bumping Mandaloun slightly, then went straight to the lead under Rosario. Midnight Bourbon had a one-length advantage over Sprawl entering the backstretch, setting fractions of 24.39 and 48.25 seconds, then pulling away to a two-length lead nearing the half-mile pole.

Geroux sent Mandaloun up the rail into second approaching the far turn, then angled to the outside of Midnight Bourbon to mount his stretch challenge. Midnight Bourbon went wide into the lane, pushing Mandaloun out to the center of the track, and the two were head-and-head for the next eighth of a mile.

Battling fiercely, the two millionaires dug in gamely down the stretch. Mandaloun got his head in front at the sixteenth pole, and continued to inch away toward the wire. At the finish, it was Mandaloun by three-quarters of a length over Midnight Bourbon, denying Rosario and Asmussen a fourth win on Saturday's card in New Orleans. It was several lengths back to Warrant in third, also trained by Cox, and Spa City checked in fourth over Sprawl.

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Mandaloun is out of the Group 2-winning Empire Maker mare Brooch. He impressed on debut at Keeneland in 2020, then won a first-level allowance before finishing third in the 2021 Lecomte (G3). Mandaloun returned to win the G2 Risen Star, but never showed up next out in the G2 Louisiana Derby. Still, he'd earned enough points to Run for the Roses, and Mandaloun ran a giant race to finish second behind Medina Spirit in the shadow of the Twin Spires.

Mandaloun won the listed Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth five weeks later, and was awarded the victory in the G1 Haskell when Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified in July. Unraced since that start on July 17, Mandaloun returned plenty fit to capture the Louisiana Stakes in what could be a prep for the world's richest horse race, the G1 Saudi Cup on Feb. 26. Overall, Mandaloun's record stands at six wins from nine starts for earnings of over $1.75 million.

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‘Another Super Breeze’ For Life Is Good Ahead Of Pegasus World Cup

WinStar Farm and CHC Inc's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Life Is Good put in his final work Saturday morning for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park.

Life Is Good, millionaire son of Into Mischief, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.90 over a fast main track at Palm Beach Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, ranking third of 15 horses.

It was the seventh work for Life Is Good since his front-running 5 ¾-length triumph in the Dirt Mile Nov. 6, the last six following his mid-December arrival in South Florida. The Pegasus will be his first race at 1 1/8 miles.

“It was another super breeze. He looked awesome, moving really well, in hand throughout,” Pletcher said. “It's kind of what we've been seeing every week. Just beautiful action, and does things effortlessly. We couldn't be more pleased with how he went.”

Life Is Good has never raced at Gulfstream with five wins from six career starts, his lone loss coming by a neck in the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens (G1) last August 28 in his first race since joining Pletcher. He also owns graded wins in the Sham (G3), San Felipe (G2) and Kelso (G2).

“We know he's super talented and he's training great,” Pletcher said. “We're excited about the race, we're excited about the way he's coming into it, and we're looking forward to it.”

Repole Stable's Fearless, also among the 17 Pegasus invitees, worked a half-mile Saturday in 48.80 seconds for Pletcher. Fearless exits a four-length triumph in Gulfstream's Dec. 18 Harlan's Holiday (G3), and the trainer said a decision is forthcoming on whether he will run in the Pegasus or $150,000 Charlatan presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G3), formerly the Fred Hooper, going one mile.

Also working for Pletcher Saturday was Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam, who went five furlongs in 1:01.34 as he prepares to defend his 2021 victory in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Colonel Liam went to win the Muniz Memorial (G2) and Turf Classic (G1) but has gone unraced since finishing off the board in the Manhattan (G1) last June.

Pletcher's other Pegasus Turf contender, Repole Stable's Never Surprised, worked a half-mile Saturday in 49.66 seconds. Never Surprised enters the race off back-to-back wins including the Dec. 27 Tropical Turf at Gulfstream, the same race Colonel Liam used as a springboard to his Pegasus win.

“Kind of different strategies with those two. Never Surprised, we're just trying to keep him happy. He's coming off some good races and he's kind of had a consistent schedule here recently, so we're just trying to keep him sharp,” Pletcher said.

“With Colonel Liam we wanted to do a little more,” he added. “He hasn't run in quite a while so we wanted to get another good work into him which we did, and it seems like he's fit and ready to go. We'll hope he can run as well as he did last year.”

The Pegasus World Cup program will feature seven graded-stakes worth $5.2 million in purses, including the inaugural $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G3) where Pletcher is planning to run the Lows' multiple graded-stakes winner Sweet Melania. Sweet Melania worked a half-mile in 48.98 seconds Saturday.

At Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Pedigree Partners' Grade 3 winner Shifty She breezed a half-mile in 49.50 seconds for Championship Meet-leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

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Sunday’s Racing Insights: Flashy Fillies Seek Diplomas at Oaklawn

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

6th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:51 p.m. ET
The first of two strong-looking groups of sophomore fillies line up here in Hot Springs. Brad Cox-trained second timer Firewolves (Practical Joke) gets the tepid morning-line nod coming off a runner-up outing over track and trip Dec. 3 that earned her a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. The $140,000 Keeneland September yearling is half to MGSP Tap for Luck (Tapit) and to the dam of GSW/GISP Jeltrin (Tapizar).

Peace Peddler (Gun Runner) set a solid pace in her unveiling Dec. 18 before finishing third behind a pair of pricey foes. A $200,000 KEESEP pick-up, she is out of Canadian champion older mare and MGSW Embur's Song (Unbrided's Song) from the family of Classic winner Exaggerator (Curlin).

Xtreme Gem (Tapit), a daughter of GISW juvenile Gomo (Uncle Mo), also makes her second start. The $475,000 FTFMAR RNA and $625,000 Fasig Midlantic seller (:10 1/5) was fourth after taking some money in an off-the-turfer at Keeneland in October (re-opposing Madelyn's Magic {Hard Spun} was second that day). She now gets the addition of Lasix and blinkers for the Mac Robertson barn.

Among the noteworthy newcomers signed on is Courtlandt Farm's $500,0000 FTKSEL purchase Campaigning (Nyquist). The Steve Asmussen pupil is half to GSP Aurelia Garland (Constitution) out of a daughter of 2002 GII Alcibiades S. winner Westerly Breeze (Gone West).

Alex Venneri homebred Decade of Dreams (American Pharoah) is half to versatile GISW and young sire Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile). Muse (Into Mischief) is out of a half-sister to last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Max Player (Honor Code). TJCIS PPs

9th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 5:13 p.m. ET
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's $475,000 KEESEP acquisition Hot and Sultry (Speightster) leads the split division of the aforementioned sixth race. The Steve Asmussen representative finished up well to be a strong second in the mud here Dec. 18. A half to SW and GSP turfer Tracksmith (Street Sense), her third dam is brilliantly fast GISW and champion Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat). Chesterette (Practical Joke), who cost $300,000 at OBS April off a :9 4/5 bullet, was fourth in that same race. The $165,000 KEESEP yearling's dam Jenny's So Great (Greatness) was a graded winner on the turf.

Charles Matses homebred Beguine (Gun Runner) was third first out against three-and-ups Jan. 7. Out of a stakes-winning juvenile, she's half to GSW/MGISP Favorable Outcome (Flatter), last year's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mouheeb (Flatter) and SW/MGSP Bellamentary (Bellamy Road).

Comedy Act (Practical Joke) was fourth behind the subsequent Gowell S. runner-up after setting solid splits at Churchill Nov. 28. She was a $77,000 September RNA and $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile (:10 1/5). Little Mombo (Into Mischief) was also fourth on debut after showing early zip–this one locally Dec. 3. Rigney Racing's $500,000 KEESEP buy is out of a stakes-placed turf router from the family of GSWs Nany's Sweep, Economic Model and Well Monied.

Bicameral (Constitution), bought for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase, cuts back after finishing far back on the stretch out Dec. 17. She was previously third in the GI Del Mar Debutante.

Joe Sharp-trained $200,000 FTKOCT buy Heartyconstitution (Constitution) is half to GSW sprinter Chateau (Flat Out). China Horse Club homebred Scripps (Curlin), bought back for $75,000 at September, is out of two-time Grade II winner Spelling Again (Curlin). TJCIS PPs

8th-SA, $69K, Alw/OC ($50K), 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 7:13 p.m. ET
Pegram, Watson and Weitman's late on the scene $385,000 Keeneland September purchase Distractedprincess (Distorted Humor) looks to go two-for-two here for Bob Baffert. The daughter of Brazilian Horse of the Year Celtic Princess (Brz) (Public Purse) crushed three foes by 13 lengths here going seven furlongs Dec. 31. She's just 1-5 on the morning line while spotting her competition significant experience. TJCIS PPs

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First Foal for HOTY Authentic

Spendthrift Farm's Authentic (Into Mischief-Flawless, by Mr. Greeley), winner of the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders' Cup Classic in 2020, was represented by his first reported foal at Taylor Made Farm Sunday. He is set to stand his second season at stud in 2022 for a fee of $70,000 S&N.

The colt is out of Streak of Luck, who was purchased for $620,000 at the Keeneland November sale last fall while carrying the colt. She was one of eight mares in foal to the 2020 Horse of the Year that sold for half a million dollars or more.

“This is a really nice foal out of a maiden mare. Correct, nice body, good angles, athletic looking and healthy. We are very happy,” said Taylor Made's Frank Taylor.

In 2021, he covered 229 mares from a first book that yielded a 3.06 Comparable Index.

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