Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Thursday March 8, 2018

By Ryan Martin —-

Triple Chelsea Out For Redemption In Nelson J. Menard Memorial
• Terra’s Angel Returns to The Fair Grounds For Allen LaCombe Memorial
• Murphy Will Point Great Wide Open To Arlington’s Grade III Hanshin Stakes
• Sister Kan Could See Stakes Action Next Out

1/6/2018. – Brad Grady’s Triple Chelsea with Adam Beschizza aboard captures the 53rd running of the Pan Zareta Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

TRIPLE CHELSEA OUT FOR REDEMPTION IN NELSON J. MENARD MEMORIAL

Brad Grady’s Triple Chelsea inherited the lead last time out in the Feb. 13 Mardi Gras Stakes where she eventually finished third, but according to trainer Joe Sharp one can expect her to sit just off the pace when she runs in this Saturday’s $50,000 Nelson J. Menard Memorial Overnight Stakes.

“She drew well being on the outside and it looks like there is some speed to the inside of us,” Sharp said. “Last time she kind of ended up on the lead by default and it probably wasn’t to her favor. She kind of gets to waiting on horses sometimes, so hopefully there’s a little bit of a pace scenario this time.

“She wasn’t (supposed to get the lead) but no one else wanted it so it just fell in her lap,” Sharp added. “She ended up doing it easy enough, but when she gets out there her ears go up and she gets to waiting on horses. She’s definitely better when she has a target.”

At the beginning of the year, the 5-year-old daughter of Hat Trick (Jpn.) won the Pan Zareta over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course on Jan. 5. Her other stakes victory took place at Tampa Bay Downs in December 2016 in the Lightning City Stakes when under the care of prior conditioner Tony Granitz.

She will be ridden by Adam Beschizza and breaks from the 11 hole at 3-1 morning line odds.

TERRA’S ANGEL RETURNS TO THE FAIR GROUNDS FOR ALLEN LA COMBE MEMORIAL

Texas-based conditioner Terry Eoff sent Terra’s Angel to the Fair Grounds for a shot at the Silverbulletday Stakes in January last time out, where she was a well-beaten sixth behind Stronger Than Ever. On Saturday, the 3-year-old daughter of Drosselmeyer will return to the New Orleans oval but this time will run on grass in the Allen “Black Cat” LaCombe Memorial Stakes.

Terra’s Angel won both of her career starts on turf, which took place in the Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 4 and the La Senorita Stakes at Retama Park on Oct. 14.

“Obviously that race is pretty tough there are some nice ones in here also,” said Eoff, who owns the horse in partnership with Johnnie Evans. “Coming back on the grass she’ll be more competitive. She’s had two starts on turf and two stakes wins on turf. She’s training well right now, she’s over at Sam Houston so we’ve looked for the first stakes race on turf and try her out. I believe she’ll be fine. I think she’ll bounce back real well.”

Sasha Risenhoover will ship from Texas to ride Terra’s Angel, who breaks from post three at 8-1 morning line odds.

MURPHY WILL POINT GREAT WIDE OPEN TO ARLINGTON’S HANSHIN STAKES

The Gr. III Hanshin Stakes will more than likely be the next spot for Sunday afternoon allowance winner Great Wide Open (Ire.) according to trainer Conor Muprhy.

“It’s a one-turn mile on the Polytrack and he was actually rated higher on the Polytrack on Ireland than on the turf,” Murphy said.

The 6-year-old son of Starspangledbanner (Aus.) defeated a strong bunch in Sunday’s feature race including stakes winners Applicator, High Noon Rider, Galton and One Mean Man, as well as improving Awesome Saturday.

“He’s tough and we were very pleased with his comeback run going five-and-a-half, which is too short for him,” Murphy said. “We took a shot at the Fair Grounds Handicap and it didn’t work out, but he came out of the race well. After the first half I was thinking, ‘We need to go back springing,’ because he was running away with (jockey) James (Graham), but one thing about the horse is that he is very tough. He loves a fight.”

SISTER KAN COULD SEE STAKES ACTION NEXT OUT

Following an impressive victory by the improving 4-year-old filly Sister Kan, trainer Bernie Flint discussed the possibility of racing her against stakes company next time out.

The Florida-bred daughter of Kantharos has now won three straight races, all allowance optional claiming events. While she crossed the finish line first in all six of her previous starts, she was disqualified from first to third four starts back at Ellis Park.

“She’s been through the claiming wars and I had to take a chip out of a knee so it’s just one of those things,” Flint said. “If a stake comes up where she can perform well, I’ll put her in but we got to make some money with her.”

Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography