Fair Grounds Stakes Preview: Nelson J. Menard, Allen “Black Cat” LaCombe

By Ryan Martin —-

TRIPLE CHELSEA HEADS A DOZEN IN NELSON J. MENARD MEMORIAL OVERNIGHT STAKES; COMPETETIVE BUNCH OF 3-YEAR-OLDS FACE OFF IN ALLEN “BLACK CAT” MEMORIAL OVERNIGHT STAKES

NEW ORLEANS (March 7, 2018) – Brad Grady’s Triple Chelsea will be in search of her second stakes triumph over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course during the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ Winter Meet when she faces a field of twelve in the $50,000 Nelson J. Menard Memorial Overnight Stakes on Saturday, Mar. 10.

Slated as the 3-1 morning line favorite by Fair Grounds clocker and odds maker Mike Diliberto, the 5-year-old daughter of Hat Trick (Jpn.) has competed in a trio of events over the local turf course for trainer Joe Sharp. On Dec. 2, she was third beaten 4¼ lengths behind two-time stakes winner Chanteline in the Richie Scherer Memorial Stakes, which was run in two divisions. Next out, she took the Pan Zareta Stakes in Jan. 5 over ten other fillies and mares, including Rapid Rhythm who was handed her first loss over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course in said event. In her most recent start, she set a quick pace in the Feb. 13 Mardi Gras Stakes, but finished third behind two-time stakes winner Compelled and multiple graded stakes winner Finley’sluckycharm. In a racing a career that has seen a total of 18 starts, Triple Chelsea boasts a bankroll of $279,029. Adam Beschizza pilots Triple Chelsea and will break from post 11.

Stallion Heiress (post six, 9-2, Joe Bravo) will be making her first start since June 11 for trainer Mike Stidham. Owned by Stallionaire Enterprises LLC, he 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate kicked off her career with a trio of gate-to-wire victories over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course when guided by Mitchell Murrill. She won her career debut in a five-and-a-half furlong maiden special weight event by four lengths before successfully defeating winners in the Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial Overnight Stakes by 7¾ lengths over fellow Menard Memorial Stakes entrant Hotshot Anna (post two, 10-1, Marcelino Pedroza). Next out, she won the Allen LaCombe Stakes by 3 1.2 lengths. Stallion Heiress made her lone start in a graded stakes at Churchill Downs in the Gr. III Edgewood Stakes last May, but was a well-beaten tenth. Her last start was an 11th place finish in the Woodbine Oaks behind eventual Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena.

Another live candidate for the Nelson J. Menard Memorial is There’syourtrouble (post nine, 6-1, Shaun Bridgmohan). Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen trains the 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief who got her career started on dirt and broke her maiden on the main track third time out at Indiana Grand Race Course. She switched to the turf in her next two starts, both of which resulted in victories. She has not run since a three-quarter length win at Indiana Grand Race Course on Aug. 15.

Rounding out the field are Trappingsofsilver (post one, 30-1, Jack Gilligan), Ours To Run (post three, 10-1, Roberto Morales), Nineteenth Street (post four, 12-1, Gabriel Saez), Wealthy Shipman (post five, 12-1, Mitchell Murill), Burma Road (post seven, 8-1, Calvin Borel), Justa Lady (post eight, 8-1, Corey Lanerie), Miss Gossip (Ire.) (post nine, 6-1, James Graham), and Pleasant Tales (post 12, 12-1, Miguel Mena).

Two races, later a highly competitive field of 11 sophomore fillies will line up over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course for the Allen “Black Cat” LaCombe Memorial Overnight Stakes.

The lukewarm 4-1 morning line favorite for the event is Three Diamonds Farm’s Go Noni Go, who last out finished fifth in the Gr. III Sweetest Chant Stakes at Gulfstream Park behind Thewayiam (Fr.), who won last Saturday’s Gr. III Herecomesthebride Stakes over the South Florida oval. She broke her maiden in July of last year while under the care of prior conditioner Michael Sullivan over the Ellis Park turf course. Her next win came two starts ago when defeating winners over the Gulfstream Park lawn in December. Mike Maker trains the daughter of Get Stormy, who breaks from post ten under James Graham.

Breaking from the outside is improving filly Kabella, who faces stakes company for the first time in Saturday’s race. Owned by Robert and Lawanna Low, the daughter of Kitten’s Joy enters the Allen LaCombe Memorial with a pair of wins over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course. At fourth asking, she broke her maiden over the Fair Grounds lawn on Jan. 7 by a head in her first start for trainer Steve Margolis and then defeated winners on Feb. 1 by 1¼ lengths. Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard for both efforts and retains the mount for Saturday’s race.

Two fillies that Kabella defeated in her two starts at the Fair Grounds are coming back for another try. Breaking from the rail at odds of 5-1, Beyond Blame finished a head behind Kabella in her maiden win but came back on Feb. 10 to a nine length romp to break her maiden. The daughter of Blame is owned by Pop-A-Top LLC and trained by current leading trainer Brad Cox. She will be piloted by Joe Bravo. Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC’s Deadline (post eight, 8-1, Brian Hernandez, Jr.) was second to Kabella in her most recent allowance win as the lukewarm favorite. The daughter of Flat Out is trained by Kenny McPeek and broke her maiden over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course by 4 ¾ lengths, where she was guided by Hernandez.

Starving Artist (post two, 8-1, Adam Beschizza), Terra’s Angel (post three, 8-1, Sasha Risenhoover), Caroline The Great (post four, 15-1, Aubrie Green), Katie’s Reward (post five, 10-1, Colby Hernandez), Pretty Lady (post six, 8-1, Jose Valdivia, Jr.), Multiplayer (post seven, 8-1, Mitchell Murrill), and Roussalka (post nine, 15-1, Miguel Mena).

Regal Dame, Upset Brewing and Noblame are listed as also-eligible.

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, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 146th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 105th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 18, 2017 through March 31, 2018. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.