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Speedy Elle Z Takes Off-The-Turf Edition Of Mardi Gras Stakes

There were no fans in the stands, the temperatures were frigid, and beads were scarce, but as always, the traditional Fat Tuesday card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots was highlighted by the 78th running of the Mardi Gras Stakes, and M Bar O's Elle Z turned it into a one-horse show.

With an abundance of rain in the days leading up and record-low temperatures on Tuesday, there was little doubt the Mardi Gras would be taken off the grass. Run over 5 ½ furlongs of fast track, only four of the 10 programmed runners stayed in, and the race was over almost as soon as it started.

With Mitchell Murrill aboard for trainer Chris Hartman, who was stranded in Hot Springs, Arkansas due to the wintery conditions there, the 4-year-old daughter of City Zip wasted no time going to the lead. She led while in the clear through fractions of 23.07 and 45.95 before stopping the timer in 1:03.81, winning by an increasing 4 lengths as the 2.30-1 second choice. Compromised slightly by an awkward start from the rail, .70-1 favorite Into Mystic rallied late for second over She's My Gem in third. Misty Day completed the order of finish.

“Yeah man, she's just one dimension,” Murrill said. “She goes out there and gives it 110% every time. Being a little match race as it was, I was a little iffy as to what (favored) Into Mystic was going to do. As it turned out, it worked in my favor getting out on the lead and stretching them out a little bit and she came through for us. Working her in the mornings you couldn't tell she was a turf horse at all. She definitely has a style that suits both surfaces.”

The 13-1 upset winner of the Pan Zareta while sprinting on turf earlier in the meet, Elle Z would return to finish second behind Into Mystic under similar circumstances in the Nelson J. Menard last time out. They've made up the exacta three times at the meet, with Elle Z now holding a 2-1 advantage over Into Mystic.

Elle Z broke her maiden at first asking in the slop at Will Rogers Downs in May, but she faded to fourth at Churchill in her only previous try on a fast track. With the win, Elle Z enhanced her career record to 9-5-1-0 with earnings of $195,524.

“Mardi Gras is a little different this year,” Murrill said. “Hopefully next year we can have all the people out here and celebrate the way you're supposed to.”

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Mardi Gras Stakes Highlights Fair Grounds’ Fat Tuesday Card

If trainer Chris Hartman had his way, the $75,000 Mardi Gras would be run over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course. But if you've been in New Orleans the past week, you know Mother Nature hasn't been too cooperative with afternoon plans at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Regardless, Hartman's Elle Z figures to be in front from the opening bell in the $75,000 Mardi Gras, which is scheduled for 5 ½ furlongs on the turf, and is once again the centerpiece on the Fat Tuesday nine-race card.

M Bar O's Elle Z (post 2 at 7-2 on Mike Diliberto's morning line with Mitchell Murrill) has been a blur early in a pair of turf stakes at the meet, wiring the Pan Zareta in December and leading early before finishing second to fellow rival Into Mystic in the January 9 Nelson J. Menard Memorial. The 4-year-old daughter of City Zip has run just twice on the main track, but one of those was a win in her debut in the slop at Will Rogers Downs in May of 2020. Elle Z is 4-for-8 lifetime and Hartman knows, whether it's turf or dirt, he won't have to look too hard to find Elle Z.

“She's going to be on the lead regardless,” Hartman said. “Either way (turf or dirt), unless something crazy happens, she's the fastest one in there. I'd prefer turf but it is what it is.”

George Chris Coleman and Brad King's Into Mystic (post 1 at 9-5 with Adam Beschizza) turned the tables on Elle Z in the Menard after running second to her in the Pan Zareta. The 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief has been one of the better filly and mare turf sprinters in the country over the past year for trainer Brandan Walsh, though she too has proven main track form. Into Mystic is 4-for-10 on the dirt, and would likely still be favored should she start if the Mardi Gras is moved off the turf.

Two Delta Downs invaders with proven main track stakes form could be potential upsetters, as Dale F. Taylor Racing's She's My Gem (post 7 at 15-1 with James Graham) won the Orleans January 5 for trainer Todd Fincher, while Misty Day (post 10 at 20-1 with Dean Saenz) was 3 lengths behind in second for trainer Victor Arceneaux. The former, a 5 -year-old daughter of Into Mischief who has never tried the turf, is 9-4-4-0 in her career, while the latter, a 4-year-old daughter of Race Day, is 4-for-8 and won an optional-claimer at Delta on the dirt two-back by 5 ¼ lengths.

Lothenbach Stables' Winning Envelope (post 5 at 10-1 with Marcelino Pedroza) was third in the Pan Zareta and fourth in the Menard for trainer Chris Block but the 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready is just 0-for-1 on the main track, while Change of Control (post 6 at 12-1 with Colby Hernandez) was third in the Menard for trainer Michelle Lovell but is just 1-for-8 on the main track.

With the Mardi Gras potentially coming off the turf, trainer Al Stall Jr. indicated Bal Mar Equine's In Good Spirits (post 9 at 8-1 with Miguel Mena) would scratch, while Dalika (Ger) (post 3 at 6-1 with Gerard Melancon) won Saturday's Albert M. Stall Memorial for the same connections. Lothenbach Stables' homebred Ready for Change (post 4 at 10-1 with Florent Geroux) is going to scratch to run in an optional-claimer here February 20 according to trainer Neil Pessin. CJ Thoroughbreds' stable manage C. J. Johnsen indicated that the Mark Casse-trained Jeanie B (GB) (post 8 at 8-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.) will also scratch if the race comes off the grass.

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Four Supplemental Entries Added To Fasig-Tipton November Sale

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged four new supplemental entries to its 2020 November Sale. These latest entries (cataloged as Hips 282-285) are all racing/broodmare prospects with current stakes form, offering exciting future racing opportunities for prospective buyers:

Rideforthecause (Hip 282): Four-year-old daughter of Candy Ride is in top current form. She captured the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 12, and then was a narrowly beaten fourth in the G1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on Oct. 18. She is a half-sister to Say the Word, recent winner of the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. Her third dam is multiple champion Dance Smartly, and her immediate family includes leading sire Smart Strike. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Sam-Son Farm.
Into Mystic (Hip 283): Daughter of Into Mischief has been on top of her game this year at four. She won the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint Stakes at Ellis Park on Aug. 2, followed by graded stakes placings in the G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint Stakes and the G3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes on Oct. 9. In that most recent start, she was beaten just a nose by multiple Grade 1 winner Got Stormy. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Four Stars Sales, agent.
Shippy (Hip 284): Three-year-old filly is a stakes winner this year, having captured the Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth by 4 1/2 lengths in July. Last year at two, she was a narrowly beaten third in the G3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga. Consigned as racing/broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Miss Nondescript (Hip 285): Two-year-old Maryland-bred filly is an undefeated stakes winner. She captured her career debut on Sept. 4, and then won the Maryland Million Lassie Stakes on Oct. 24. A granddaughter of War Front, she is from the immediate family of Royal Ascot group stakes winner Shang Shang Shang. Consigned as a racing/broodmare prospect by Stuart Morris, agent.

Fasig-Tipton will continue to accept approved November Sale supplemental entries through the Breeders' Cup.

The November Sale will be held on Sunday, Nov. 8, in Lexington, Ky. The sale will begin at 2 p.m.

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GSW Rideforthecause among Fasig-Tipton’s Latest November Supplements

Supplemental entries to the upcoming November Sale, billed as the “Night of the Stars,” continue to be added to the Fasig-Tipton catalogue. The latest supplements include four racing or broodmare prospects, highlighted by Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}) (hip 282), winner of the Sept. 18 GII Canadian S. A half-sister to 2020 GI Northern Dancer Turf S. star Say the Word (More Than Ready), her third dam is Canadian Horse of the Year and Broodmare of the Year Dance Smartly (Danzig). Rideforthecause will be consigned by Sam-Son Farm as part of their recently announced dispersal.

Four Stars Sales consigns Into Mystic (Into Mischief) (hip 283), victress of the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint S. Aug. 2, who has since placed in two graded events, including a nose defeat to MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) in the GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. Oct. 9. Taylor Made Sales consigns Shippy (Midshipman) (hip 284), runaway winner of this summer’s Blue Sparkler S. at Monmouth Park, who also had graded stakes form last year at two. And finally, Stuart Morris consigns 2-year-old Miss Nondescript (Mosler) (hip 285), who won the Oct. 24 Maryland Million Lassie S. to remain undefeated.

The November Sale is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. with supplemental entries accepted through the Breeders’ Cup.

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