Fair Grounds Preview | Six Stakes Scattered Across Gun Runner Stakes Day Undercard

Six stakes featuring 64 entries are scattered across Saturday’s undercard for the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds.

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Lovely Princess Holds a Class Edge on Blushing K. D. Rivals

Although she has yet to win a stake, the Gentry Farms homebred Lovely Princess has placed in four added-money events, and it’s that class edge that makes her the one to beat in Saturday’s $100,000 Blushing K. D. Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The Blushing K. D. is for older fillies and mares and is scheduled to be contested over 1 1/16 miles on turf. 

The runner-up in three consecutive stakes earlier this year – the Keertana at Churchill Downs, the Indiana General Assembly Distaff at Horseshoe Indianapolis and the Ellis Park Turf – the 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy was most recently seen finishing a distant third following a less than ideal trip in the Cardinal (G3) at Churchill for trainer Ken McPeek. 

Installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite by Mike Diliberto, Lovely Princess will be guided by regular partner Brian Hernandez Jr. from post 3 on Saturday.

Of the seven fillies entered, four have early speed and produced big efforts on or near the lead. One of those will add blinkers, as trainer Brendan Walsh enters Shadwell’s homebred Tasweya, also in search of her first stakes victory.

“She did have (blinkers) on before I trained her,” Walsh said. “But she’s been working well with them and we’ll see if they make a difference.”

Sent chasing the longshot leader in her last start over Fair Grounds’ lawn, the Frosted filly had company close behind her, and though the race set up for closers, she hung on gamely for third. Tasweya is 6-0-1-3 since joining Walsh’s barn ahead of her 4-year-old campaign.

“This race has come up as one she could get a piece of,” Walsh said. “It’s all about getting the blacktype with those fillies. It looks a good spot for her, I think she can be competitive in there, and she’s doing well, too.”

Mitchell Murrill will be back in the irons to break the 5-1 third choice in the morning line from post 4. 

With a post time of 1 p.m. CT, the Blushing K. D. is scheduled as the 3^rd of 12 races on Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The program features eight stakes, including the Gun Runner and the Untapable, points races on the road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks. First post is noon CT.  

Here is the complete field for the Blushing K. D. from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): 1. Colors of the Wind (Rey Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun, 6-1); 2. Dana’s Beauty  (Jaime Torres, Joe Sharp, 10-1); 3. Lovely Princess (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ken McPeek, 8-5); 4. Tasweya (Mitchell Murrill, Brendan Walsh, 5-1); 5. Yankee Dollar (Jareth Loveberry, Marcus Vitali, 6-1); 6. Join the Dance (Joel Rosario, Dallas Stewart, 6-1); 7. Creative Cairo (Florent Geroux, Lindsay Shultz, 4-1). 

Royally Bred American Rascal Installed as 3rd Choice Behind Agoo & Legalize in Contentious Sugar Bowl

Off his recent runner-up performance in the Ed Brown at Churchill Downs, Graham Grace Stables’ Agoo has been tabbed as Mike Diliberto’s 7-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The Sugar Bowl is restricted to 2-year-olds and the distance is six furlongs on the main track. 

Second on debut at Churchill Downs before breaking his maiden at second asking at Keeneland, the Whit Beckman-trained Agoo earned some black type by finishing second behind the 12-1 longshot Just Steel in the Ed Brown. After breaking a step slow, he enjoyed a dreamy run from the pocket, raced on the wrong lead early in the stretch, and was outfinished late by the winner. The son of Munnings has raced a bit greenly in all three starts. His regular rider Declan Cannon is back aboard on Saturday and the team will leave from post 3. 

A troubled and unprofessional fifth behind Agoo when bet down to 2.38-1 favoritism against ten rivals on debut at Keeneland, Twin Brook Stables and Belladonna Racing’s Legalize would return five weeks later to wire 11 rivals as the 1.80-1 public choice at Churchill for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Installed as the 8-5 second choice in the morning line from post 4, Legalize will have the services of Brian Hernandez Jr. for the first time. 

Regally bred by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin out of the multiple grade/group one winning dam Lady Aurelia, the Stonestreet Stables homebred American Rascal has had an interesting four-race journey to begin his career. From a monster win at Keeneland on debut, to a Royal Ascot debacle to finishing sixth as the .51-1 favorite in a Churchill allowance to a recent stakes win at Zia Park, this Steve Asmussen-trainee is certainly a tough horse to read on Saturday, thus the 7-2 morning line. 

“He’s a very handy horse,” Asmussen said. “He breezed (at Fair Grounds) Monday morning.  At this stage he’s a sprinter, he does have room to develop, he’s got a beautiful stride on him, an efficient stride, but he needs some more stature on him before I would consider going further.”

Joel Rosario, who has ridden the colt in all but one start, will be back astride and the team will break from post 6. 

With a post time of 1:30 p.m. CT, the Sugar Bowl is scheduled as the 4^th of 12 races on Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The program features eight stakes, including the Gun Runner and the Untapable, points races on the road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks. First post is noon CT.  

Here is the complete field for the Sugar Bowl from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): 1. Triple Trea (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 10-1); 2. Malibu Rain  (Jose Riquelme, Keith Desormeaux, 20-1); 3. Agoo (Declan Cannon, Whit Beckman, 7-5); 4. Legalize (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux, 8-5); 5. The Donegal Clan (Rey Gutierrez, Dane Noel, 15-1); 6. American Rascal (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 7-2). 

Professional Beyond Her Experience, Halina’s Forte the One to Beat in Letellier Memorial 

Rigney Racing’s Halina’s Forte, a dominant winner at first asking in advance of a runner-up performance in the Fern Creek at Churchill Downs, has been installed as Mike Diliberto’s 2-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The six furlong sprint is restricted to 2-year-old fillies. 

Pressured every step of the way in her career debut on November 5, the Phil Bauer trainee shook off the pace pressers, responded when asked, was shown the whip late and won going away by 4 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs. Stepping up in class three weeks later to contest the Fern Creek at the same venue, the daughter of Mitole proved her versatility. Sitting in fifth of 11 early on while covered up at the rail, she split horses cleanly off the far turn and led deep into the stretch, only to be caught late by the much more seasoned odds-on favorite Youalmosthadme. 

“Her two races says it all for her,” Bauer said. “She’s a very nice filly. She ran a big race last time, probably too good to lose, but Brad (Cox)’s filly is really nice, so there’s no shame in defeat there.”

Regular rider Martin Garcia will be back aboard on Saturday and the duo will break from post 3. 

“Originally we had talked about at giving her space in between races,” Bauer said. “But when you look forward there’s not a whole lot for sprinters next year, so we felt like with what she was showing us post-race that she is the kind of horse that doesn’t necessarily need more time. But I think in this spot with cutting back a half furlong, she’ll be really tough. If she runs her first two back, she’ll be right there, and I don’t see why she wouldn’t.”

With a post time of 3 p.m. CT, the Letellier Memorial. is scheduled as the 7^th of 12 races on Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The program features eight stakes, including the Gun Runner and the Untapable, points races on the road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks. First post is noon CT.  

Here is the complete field for the Letellier Memorial from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): 1. Mixer (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano, 8-1); 2. Kant Resist It  (Alex Birzer, Jon Arnett, 8-1); 3. Halina’s Forte (Martin Garcia, Phil Bauer, 2-1); 4. Bedowntofoolaround (Mitchell Murrill, Yovani Munoz, 30-1); 5. Twirl Around (Edgar Morales, Greg Foley, 4-1); 6. Brunch Punch (James Graham, Brad Cox, 9-2); 7. Deboisblanc (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 3-1); 8. Leslie’s Loot (Jaime Torres, James Chapman, 15-1). 

Millionaire 3-Year-Old Private Creed Tabbed as Lukewarm Favorite Versus Elders in Contentious Richard R. Scherer Memorial

With three stakes wins, including the Franklin Simpson (G2) at Kentucky Downs, and over $1.3 million in earnings on his resume, Mike McCarthy’s sophomore turf sprint sensation Private Creed has been installed as the lukewarm 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Richard R. Scherer Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The 5 ½ furlong turf sprint is for older horses. 

Eleven of Private Creed’s 12 career starts have come on turf for trainer Steve Asmussen, with a failed experiment in last season’s Risen Star (G2) the lone exception. One of only two 3-year-olds in the field and asked to face elders for the first time, the son of Jimmy Creed enters Saturday’s assignment on a two-race win streak, following up his Franklin Simpson win with a November 9 allowance score at Churchill Downs. 

“He’s a nice horse,” Asmussen said. “He clipped heels in the stake early in the spring at Churchill and missed a little time. Wow I love the horse he’s come back to.”

With a post time of 3:30 p.m. CT, the Richard R. Scherer Memorial is scheduled as the 8^th of 12 races on Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The program features eight stakes, including the Gun Runner and the Untapable, points races on the road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks. First post is noon CT.  

Here is the complete field for the Richard R. Scherer Memorial from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): 1. Kavod (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 10-1); 2. Swift as I Am  (Jareth Loveberry, Tanner Tracy, 30-1); 3. Bodenheimer (Brian Hernandez Jr., Valorie Lund, 12-1); 4. Just Might (Jaime Torres, Michelle Lovell, 8-1); 5. Went West (David Lopez, Louis Roussel III, 12-1); 6. Private Creed (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 3-1); 7. Bushido (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Rey Hernandez, 15-1); 8. Minnesota Ready (Ben Curtis, Neil Pessin, 8-1); 9. Sosua Summer (James Graham, Bill Mott, 9-2); 10. Evan Sing (Corey Lanerie, Al Stall Jr., 9-2); 11. High Limit Room (Rey Gutierrez, Jose Camejo, 8-1). 

Grade 1 Winner Two Emmys Must Overcome Layoff, Outside Post to Take Down Buddy Diliberto Memorial

The winner of the 2023 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) and the 2022 Muniz Memorial (G2), Two Emmys has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. His presence did not scare many away, as twelve rivals enter to take their shot at the grade one winner making his first start in ten months. The 1 1/16 miles turf route is for older horses. 

Last March, Wolfe Racing and Hugh Robertson’s Two Emmys was minutes away from defending his Muniz title when track veternarians ordered him to be a late scratch.

“All he did there was step on something on the track that day,” Robertson said. “He didn’t go into the race sore and he came back to the barn sound. I talked to the outrider and she said he was jogging good, stepped on something and he started limping.” 

Drawing near the far outside in post 12, regular rider James Graham will get back aboard the 7-year-old who has five published local workouts–including three going 5/8ths and a sharp half-mile in 48 and 2 on Dec. 19.

“I sent him to Hot Springs to eat some grass because there’s no grass in Chicago that time of year,” Robertson said. “So he ate grass, trained for my son and trained sound. Took him to Hawthorne, worked him half, he worked good, vet said ‘yeah he worked good, pulled up good,’ but he was on the HISA list (after being scratched) and so they went back to check him in 20 minutes. Tied up. So I said to hell with this, and turned him out. Frank Kirby’s farm.”

Two Emmys’ bad luck was Rising Empire’s big chance. Making his first stakes appearance in the 2023 Muniz, Russell Welch and Ran Leonard’s 5-year-old horse was able to assume Two Emmys’ likely spot as the commanding speed. After leading throughout, the Brendan Walsh trainee was nailed at the wire by Spooky Channel to finish second. Winless in his next three races, Rising Empire returned to Fair Grounds and on Nov. 30 beat a salty bunch which included “Buddy D” foe, Beatbox.

“He does love it (at Fair Grounds),” Walsh said. “He had a great winter last year and it seems like he has done really well since he has got down there this year, too. He ran a great race the last day and you would hope he’d improve for having the run, too. He’s done well since and he should be sitting on a good race again on Saturday.”

With a post time of 4:30 p.m. CT, the Buddy Diliberto Memorial is scheduled as the 10^th of 12 races on Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The program features eight stakes, including the Gun Runner and the Untapable, points races on the road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks. First post is noon CT.  

Here is the complete field for the Buddy Diliberto Memorial from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): 1. Sonny Smack (Deshawn Parker, Valorie Lund, 30-1); 2. Fair Dinkum  (Brian Hernandez Jr., Joe Sharp, 12-1); 3. Duke of Carthania (Mitchell Murrill, Yovani Munoz, 30-1); 4. Johny’s Fireball (Rey Gutierrez, Norm Casse, 12-1); 5. Protonic Power (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Armando Hernandez, 15-1); 6. English Tavern (Jaime Torres, Michelle Lovell, 12-1); 7. Street Ready (Corey Lanerie, Mike Maker, 10-1); 8. Happy American (Edgar Morales, Neil Pessin, 15-1); 9. Rising Empire (Jareth Loveberry, Brendan Walsh, 6-1); 10. Beatbox (Joel Rosario, Cherie DeVaux, 6-1); 11. Harlan Estate (Declan Cannon, Whit Beckman, 6-1); 12. Two Emmys (James Graham, Hugh Robertson 3-1); 13. Law Professor (Florent Geroux, Rob Atras, 8-1).  

Top Paper Contenders Pioneer of Medina, Happy American All Hope to Rediscover Their Tenacity in Tenacious 

Winner of the 2023 Mineshaft (G3), Sumaya U S Stables’ Pioneer of Medina enters the $100,000 Tenacious as the 7-2 morning line favorite. The 1 1/16 miles dirt route is for older horses. 

Pioneer of Medina will be looking to rebound after his last-place finish in November at Churchill Downs, which was his first run for his new trainer, Brad Cox.

“I didn’t really expect him to be as close to the pace as he was last time,” Cox said. “Not that it was too much of a hot pace, but he is a true two-turn horse. He is a heavy horse and carries a lot of weight, so I’m hopeful that he just needed that last run. He had a really good work this past weekend; hopefully he can show the same form that he’s shown at Fair Grounds in the past.”

The 4-year-old drew post 7 and will be piloted by Florent Geroux.

Last year’s Tenacious winner, Lothenbach Stable’s Happy American, will be racing to reverse a string of seven defeats, all in graded stakes. Backing up the Tenacious score with a win in the Louisiana (G3), the Neil Pessin trained 5-year-old has just two published works coming into Saturday, after scratching from November’s Clark (G2).

“He got a little sick but he’s back to feeling good,” Pessin said. “He’ll do his thing, drop to the back and make one run. This race will move him up instead of putting another work in him.”

With a post time of 5 p.m. CT, the Tenacious is scheduled as the 11^th of 12 races on Saturday’s “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The program features eight stakes, including the Gun Runner and the Untapable, points races on the road to the Kentucky Derby 150 presented by Woodford Reserve and the Longines Kentucky Oaks. First post is noon CT.  

Here is the complete field for the Tenacious from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): 1. Dash Attack (David Cohen, Ken McPeek, 4-1); 2. Confidence Game (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 12-1); 3. Mbagnich (Chi) (Rey Gutierrez, Amador Sanchez, 12-1); 4. Stage Raider (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux, 5-1); 5. Happy American (Jareth Loveberry, Neil Pessin, 4-1); 6. Five Star General (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Grant Forster, 5-1); 7. Pioneer of Medina (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 7-2); 8. Brigadier General (Joel Rosario, Dallas Stewart, 6-1).