Last September, Chasing Liberty’s connections were the beneficiaries of an incredibly lucrative – and warranted – disqualification. Second across the wire in a $1 million race, Chasing Liberty was placed first when Under Who’s Radar was taken down. The winner’s share of the purse was roughly $600,000, about $400,000 more than a second-place finish would’ve netted.
More recently, Chasing Liberty has not required assistance from track stewards. In November, he won the $204,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Del Mar; on Jan. 25 he won the $100,000 Texas Turf Mile; and on Saturday at Fair Grounds, Chasing Liberty should be favored over Golden Afternoon in the $150,000 Black Gold Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds.
In the Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston, Chasing Liberty contested a slow pace and pulled away late to win by 2 3/4 lengths over the race’s second choice, Currahee, a 5-2 chance that day who returns for the Black Gold. Chasing Liberty went off at odds of 2-5.
“This isn’t the easiest race,” said Rob Atras, who trains Chasing Liberty for Twin Creeks Racing Stable. “Last time we had one to beat, and this time we have five or six like him to beat. I think we still need to keep moving forward.”
The Black Gold, which tops a card that includes four Louisiana-bred stakes, drew eight entrants but goes with no more than seven since Emergence didn’t ship from Florida.
Atras began running a small Fair Grounds string last season, and among his horses was a young turf horse by Constitution named Neat. Neat, now 4, runs Saturday in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, and he, like Chasing Liberty, won the Texas Turf Mile. While Neat went straight from that race to the Transylvania at Keeneland, Atras comes back quicker with Chasing Liberty, another son of Constitution.
“From Day 1 we knew he’d be decent, but he was just such a big heavy colt,” Atras said. “He had success sprinting, but we always thought this horse would be a miler. He’s pretty versatile. He can be on the lead or just off and packs a good punch late.”
Golden Afternoon also brings positional pace and a strong turf record. He won his debut at Kentucky Downs, finished second in the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland, won a Fair Grounds first-level turf allowance, and then got a look on dirt Jan. 18 in the Lecomte. That race was run over a sloppy, sealed, and laboring track: Golden Afternoon pressed the pace and finished a close fourth, a solid showing, but not a strong enough one to convince trainer Nicholas Vaccarezza to keep Golden Afternoon on dirt. Back to his more natural surface, Golden Afternoon could slip into a pocket trip breaking from the rail under Axel Concepcion.
Tom’s Magic ran into the meet’s most impressive 2- or 3-year-old turf winner, Deep Manhattan, when second in his debut, then scored a front-running maiden turf-route victory Dec. 22. He can improve, as can Without Caution, who races with Lasix and in blinkers for the first time while making his 3-year-old bow for leading Fair Grounds turf trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Louisiana-bred stakes
For a trainer with a stable of moderate size, Whit Beckman has loads of capable 3-year-old fillies. The list includes a leading Kentucky Oaks contender, Simply Joking; the stakes-winner Her Laugh; and Drexel Hill, a key contender Saturday in the Busher Invitational. Powdered Sugar does not quite pack the punch of those fillies, but she’s good enough to win the $100,000 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Flashy Prize.
This one-mile dirt contest is restricted to Louisiana-bred sophomore fillies and drew a field of seven, and while the morning line lists Powdered Sugar at 3-1, she’s third choice behind Blue Fire and Margie’s Intention and could offer a touch of value.
Beckman gave Powered Sugar a couple turf races at Horseshoe Indianapolis last fall before sending the filly to Louisiana for the heart of her campaign. Beaten a neck by Blue Fire in a fast race Nov. 22, Powdered Sugar came back with smooth wins in maiden and first-level allowance competition. Both victories came over six furlongs, and Powered Sugar, by Gift Box, can improve in this short route.
The Louisiana-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings in the $100,000 Louisiana Stallion of the Year Star Guitar, at one mile and 70 yards on dirt, aren’t much faster than the fillies, and while the fastest of them has been Dapper Moon, he’s a favorite worth opposing. Dapper Moon has raced steadily since July, and three previous tries around two turns strongly suggest this horse prefers shorter races. He might or might not get by on class Saturday.
Hay Jude has shown talent but might perform best as a one-run sprinter, leaving Cajun Mitole as the best-priced hope. He looks like a horse that should appreciate the long homestretch at Fair Grounds, as his last three starts have come at seven furlong going two turns at Delta Downs.
◗ Boomin’ Belle is a strong selection to land the $100,000 Red Camelia, a turf route for older fillies and mares, while Benoit, in his turf debut, can upset favorites Behemah Star and Woods and Water in the $100,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial.
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