FAIR GROUNDS: FARRELL AND UNTAPPED TOP GUNS IN SILVERBULLETDAY

By Michael Adolphson —-

NEW ORLEANS,La. Coffeepot Stables’ Farrell, who is near the top of many Grade I Kentucky Oaks lists on the strength of her six-length tour de force in the Grade II Golden Rod Stakes last out at Churchill Downs, kicks off her 3-year-old campaign in Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ Listed $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes over a mile and 70 yards. Drawing post three of seven under the only rider she has known in four tries, Channing Hill, the half-sister to Grade I winners J. B.’s Thunder and Carpe Diem enters off a steady local work pattern for three-time Breeders’ Cup-winning conditioner Wayne Catalano.

One whose pedigree also speaks volumes is likely second choice, Untapped, who enters for Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen. A full-sister to champion Untapable and half to Grade I-winning, Kentucky Derby-placed Paddy O’Prado, the daughter of Tapit was an authoritative victor over this course and distance on Dec. 23. Florent Geroux, aboard for all three of her starts, retains the mount from post five.

An intriguing entrant is John C. Oxley’s Summertime Sky, who impressed many with a local turf sprint maiden victory on New Year’s Eve and was equally as impressive working a pair of bullets over the local dirt leading up to that effort. Robby Albarado picks up the mount from post four.

The remainder of the Silverbulletday field is comprised of Wicked Lick (Brian Hernandez, Jr., rail), runner-up to Untapped last time, stakes-placed Gris Gris (James Graham, post two), maiden Harkness (Shaun Bridgmohan, post six) and recent local maiden claiming winner Seeking Bull (Gabriel Saez, post seven).

One race later, multiple Grade I winner and former Eclipse Award finalist I’m a Chatterbox makes her grass debut against a talented field full field in the $75,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial at a mile and a sixteenth on the Stall-Wilson turf course. Last seen finishing fifth in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Distaff in early November, the Fletcher and Carolyn Gray homebred daughter of Munnings breaks from post 10 of 12 under leading rider Florent Geroux for trainer Larry Jones.

Richard Klein and Bertram Klein’s Cash Control looms large from her seven-post for trainer Brad Cox. A winner last out in the $75,000 Blushing K. D. Stakes over this trip, she has been nothing short of reliable in a career that includes 10 victories and multiple graded stakes tallies from 20 lifetime starts. Shaun Bridgmohan retains the mount.

Brereton C. Jones’ Grade I winner Include Betty is one of two serious contenders for trainer Tom Proctor along with Winter Quarter Farm’s brilliant local allowance winner Cambodia. While the former was a 1-2 disappointment when a distant second in the local $50,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes on Dec. 26, the latter crushed her rivals in a second-level allowance on Dec. 1. James Graham rides Include Betty from post five, while Robby Albarado picks up the mount on Cambodia from the three-hole.

Graded stakes winner Prado’s Sweet Ride (Francisco Torres, rail), multiple stakes winner Steel Cut (Donnie Meche, post two), restricted stakes winner Freudie Anne (Gabriel Saez, post four), recently stakes-placed Whiskey Eyes (Marcelino Pedroza, post six), Blushing K. D. runner-up Kitten’s Roar (Miguel Mena, post eight), multiple restricted stakes winner Gianna’s Dream (C. J. McMahon, post nine) and allowance fillies Factory of Faith (Sophie Doyle, post 11) and Dynazar (Brian Hernandez, Jr., post 12) complete the field.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 145th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 104th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2016 through April 2017. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.