Two Emmys, who won the final Grade 1 Arlington Million run at Arlington Park in 2021 when it was renamed the Mr. D. Stakes, led every step of the way under James Graham in Saturday's G3 Fair Grounds Stakes at Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans, La.
Trained by Hugh Robertson, who also owns the English Channel 7-year-old gelding in partnership with Wolfe Racing LLC, Two Emmys was 4 1/2 lengths in front and covered the about distance of 1 1/16 miles in 1:54.73. He paid $5.60 as the favorite in a field of seven. Gentle Soul, the early trailer, got up for second, with English Channel a neck back in third and Bay Street Money fourth.
“It didn't look like there was a whole lot of speed in here,” Robertson said. “They let him have it on his own today and he got to the outside fence, where it was good.”
Robertson was referring to the Fair Grounds turf course, which was in poor condition early in the meet when turf racing was cancelled. The inside portion of the course continues to have problems, and the temporary rail was stationed 34 feet out from the permanent rail, limiting fields to no more than eight runners. Earlier in the card, turf races were run with the horses on the lead racing close to the outside fence, where the footing appeared to be better.
Graham put Two Emmys on the lead right out of the gate and the veteran cruised through fractions of :24.04, :51.52 and 1:16.64 for the opening six furlongs. Graham angled Two Emmys to the outside fence turning into the stretch and they cruised to the wire after a one-mile fraction of 1:42.48.
When Two Emmys won the Mr. D. Stakes over 1 1/4 miles, he set similarly slow fractions en route to a 27-1 upset.
Two Emmys set the early pace under pressure in last year's Fair Grounds Stakes before tiring to be 10th. He came back to win the G2 Mervin Muniz Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion.
Two Emmys has now won seven of 24 starts, with nine seconds and one third. Bred in Kentucky by Tottenwood Thoroughbreds and produced by the Buddha mare, Miss Emmy, Two Emmys was a $4,500 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase from the consignment of Vinery Sales.
Robertson said this could be Two Emmys' best year. “The English Channels, at seven or eight, they get better,” he said.
The post Two Emmys Scores On Front End In Fair Grounds Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
