A 3-year-old who looked very good winning his debut and an unraced 4-year-old whose connections think might be very good make Thursday’s card at Fair Grounds interesting for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Deep Manhattan, who debuted Nov. 28 and swooped to a five-length maiden turf route win that yielded an 84 Beyer Speed Figure, runs back in the featured eighth race, a first-level 3-year-old turf route allowance with a $100,000 claiming option. The race drew nine entrants for turf, including the capable DeVaux-trained States’ Rights.
Race 7 is a first-level dirt sprint allowance for older horses that will mark the debut of the DeVaux-trained Seaport Lane. Last week, DeVaux said a maiden race at Fair Grounds failed to attract sufficient entries to be carded and that logistical complications precluded shipping Seaport Lane for an Oaklawn maiden, leaving little choice but to start him against winners. The horse has breezed with verve, gets leading rider Jose Ortiz, and might even go off as the favorite.
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