Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Farrell Throws Down the Gauntlet

By Michael Adolphson —-

• Girvin Breezes with Cool Arrow
• Resiliency May Resurface to Louisiana Derby
• Workers of Note

FARRELL THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET

Coffeepot Stables’ Farrell was extremely impressive in her last serious work for the Grade II $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks, drilling a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 flat, moving methodically throughout at her high cruising rate. The move was the best of 54 for the Wayne Catalano trainee and was faster than such talented horses as Cash Control, Girvin, Cool Arrow, Daria’s Angel, Honorable Duty, Redesdale, Pumpkin Rumble, Valadorna and Zipessa — all of whom are either being pointed to graded stakes company or are already graded winners.

“Everything went beautifully,” Catalano said. “The track was a little busy when she got out there, so she got a little worked up, but ultimately she worked really good. We wanted a harder, longer work than last week. A medium work. She’ll likely do an easy half next week. She’s fit and ready to go and we are just maintaining.”

GIRVIN BREEZES WITH COOL ARROW

Brad Grady’s Girvin continues to train well for the Grade II $1,000,000 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby on Apr. 1, working the morning of Saturday Mar. 18 in company with fellow Grady-owned and Joe Sharp-trained stakes-winning sophomore Cool Arrow. The pair went five furlongs in 1:01 flat. Sharp was aboard Cool Arrow, while Rosie Napravnik was aboard Girvin. The pair went their first half in 24.60, three furlongs in 36.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20 while remaining even. Girvin, who is a more mellow work horse, seemed to maintain himself, while Cool Arrow — typically the better work horse in the mornings — was slightly more enthusiastic.
“He went great,” Sharp said. “I was on Cool Arrow again and Rosie was on Girvin and it was even better than we expected. Unlike when they’ve worked together before, we had Girvin on the outside this time. At one point, Rosie queezed on him and he quickly opened up a little on Cool Arrow. He galloped out great, too.”
Girvin burst onto the local scene with a swift six-furlong maiden victory in mid-December over highly regarded Al Stall, Jr.-trained Excitations. When moved to Evangeline training center for a more quiet space, he fell victim to the quarantine restrictions and was unable to run in the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 21. Such may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the son of Tale of Ekati then had the perfect prep when running a bang-up second over a surface he did not love in the grassy $50,000 Keith Gee Memorial on Feb. 4.

Wheeled back by design on three weeks’ rest, he spoke to the prowess of his young and talented conditioner when winning the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes with a powerful move from the three-furlong-pole to the wire under Brian Hernandez, Jr.

A half-brother to talented graded stakes winner Cocked and Loaded, Girvin will have one more maintenance breeze next week before the colt’s final hopeful Kentucky Derby prep.

RESILIENCY MAY RESURFACE IN LOUISIANA DERBY

According to the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots racing office, impressive allowance winner Resiliency is considered probable for the Grade II $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby. Owned by Jeff Drown, Niall Brennan, et al., the son of Malibu Moon has kept some top company in his short four-race career and exits a top effort against solid competition on Mar. 5.

In said allowance event, the dark bay colt lost ground with a wide rally and still ran down a stubborn Stand and Cheer, while easily defeating heavily favored Excitations. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Resiliency broke his maiden on debut on Nov. 6 and was wheeled back 20 days later to finish off the board against future graded stakes winner and fellow Louisiana Derby probable Guest Suite. Two months later, the Kentucky-bred was an elevated third behind subsequent stakes winner It’s Your Nickel. Taken down from the win that day was another expected Louisiana Derby runner in Senior Investment.

In one of the more swift mile and 70 yard events of the meet Resiliency returned to the winner’s circle last out under Florent Geroux, earning a 101 Equibase Speed Figure when crossing the line in 1:42.70. Geroux will likely ride stablemate Local Hero in the $1,000,000 meet centerpiece.

WORKERS OF NOTE

Kitten’s Roar 4f 49.8
Mo Tom 4f 48.2
Wicked Lick 4f 50.6
Yockey’s Warrior 4f 50.2
Green Mask 4f 48.2
Oscar Nominated 4f 49.6
Cash Control 5f 01:01.6
Cool Arrow 5f 1:01
Farrell 5f 1:00 Bullet of 54
Girvin 5f 1:01
Honorable Duty 5f 1:01
Redesdale 5f 01:00.6
Valadorna 5f 01:02.2
Zipessa 5f 1:02

Cover Photo: Farrell; Hodges Photography; Amanda Hodges Weir