CHOCOLATE RIDE, CASH CONTROL LEAD SANTA STAKES SQUAD FOR COX

By Michael Adolphson —-

Fair Grounds Barn Notes

Wentworth Brochu’s local favorite Chocolate Ride, a victor in all three graded turf stakes for older horses at the Fair Grounds over the course of the last two seasons, put in his final work before his 2016-17 debut at the New Orleans oval when working five panels in 1:02.60 for trainer Brad Cox. The son of Candy Ride has been gearing up for the meet since an extended break following a ninth-place finish in the Grade I $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day, May 7.

According to assistant trainer Ricky Giannini, the 6-year-old gelding is one of six horses the powerful barn will be pointing toward Santa Super Saturday, Dec. 17, a day that features six stakes races. According to Giannini, the high-percentage (27% thus far in 2016) stable is pointing two horses each to the day’s turf events: the $75,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles, its sister race, the $75,000 Blushing K. D. Stakes, and the $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes, a 5½-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and upward.

Joining Chocolate Ride in the Buddy Diliberto will likely be Western Reserve, who was recently purchased at Keeneland’s November Sale by Marc Detampel for $87,000. Previously trained by Bill Mott for breeder Juddmonte Farms, the stakes-placed allowance winner worked a sharp half-mile in 48.80 on Saturday morning.

One of the leading earners in the barn in 2016, Richard and Bertram Klein’s Cash Control will head the barn’s hopes in the Blushing K. D. in what may be one of the four-time stakes-winner’s final starts before retirement. A winner of nine of 19, she may be joined by another Keeneland November purchase, Selenite. Purchased for $60,000 by Miller Racing, the graded stakes-placed daughter of Cosmonaut was previously in the care of David Donk.

Cox will tough to top in the Bonapaw if he starts both Sheikh Abdullah Almaddah’s Green Mask and Rupp Racing Wentworth Brochu’s Almasty. The former exits a nice effort against much tougher when fifth in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, while the latter was fifth last out in the Grade III Woodford Stakes on Oct. 8 behind 2015 Turf Sprint victor Mongolian Saturday.

WORK TAB

Talented Louisiana-bred sprinter and multiple stakes winner Jockamo’s Song worked a half-mile in an easy 51 flat for trainer Mike Stidham and owner Dare To Dream Stable.

Doug Wall’s 12-time winner and multiple stakes winner Ibaka worked a half-mile in 50.40 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The Oklahoma-bred has won seven stakes, including last year’s Buddy Diliberto Memorial.

Stakes-placed Nisharora (IRE) worked five furlong sin 1:02.80 for trainer Tom Morley and owner Valor Ladies.

Joel Politi’s swift stakes winner Lewys Vaporizer worked a nice half-mile in 49.20 for trainer Tom Amoss. The eight-time winner from 17 starts was claimed at Keeneland two back for $50,000.