Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Thursday, March 22

By Ryan Martin —-

• Good Samaritan Returns To Action In Gr. II New Orleans Handicap
• Dark Templar Takes Big Jump For Gr. II Louisiana Derby
• Cox Sends Arklow, Mr. Misunderstood For Gr. II Muniz Memorial

GOOD SAMARITAN RETURNS TO ACTION IN GR. II NEW ORLEANS HANDICAP

Multiple graded stakes winner Good Samaritan is back in action and will make his 4-year-old debut in Saturday’s Grade II $400,000 New Orleans Handicap, which kicks off a $200,000 guaranteed all stakes Pick 4 as the eighth race on Saturday afternoon.

Owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing LLC and Head of Plains Partners, the son of Harlan’s Holiday has not run since a second-place finish behind Seeking The Soul in the Gr. I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November. In his ten race career, he has proven himself consistent and competitive on both dirt and turf. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott started Good Samaritan out on grass as a 2-year-old; where he won at first asking over at Saratoga and went on to win Woodbine’s Gr. II Summer Stakes in his following start. He then finished third in the Gr. I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf as the lukewarm favorite.

During his 3-year-old campaign, Good Samaritan raced on turf three times including two runner-up efforts in the Gr. II American Turf and Gr. III Pennine Ridge Stakes, before switching to the main track. In his first start on dirt, he won the Gr. II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga and is looking for his first triumph since that win.

He has been training at Payson Park Training Center, where Mott is based during the winter months. In his last work, he drilled a half-mile in 48.40 on March 19.

“He obviously had a little break after the Clark which he ran real well in,” Mott’s son and assistant Riley Mott said. “We got him down to Payson and he’s some strong works He looks good flesh wise and shipped great. We couldn’t be happier with him.”

According to Mott, the timing for the New Orleans Handicap lined up well with the way that Good Samaritan had been training.

“It was just a matter of the horse showing us he ready,” Mott said. “We were hoping to have him ready this time of year to have him in full swing for the second part of the year. This race is obviously a good spot to come back in and he’s doing great.”

Regular rider Joel Rosario will be aboard Good Samaritan who breaks from post five as the 8-5 morning line favorite.

DARK TEMPLAR TAKES BIG JUMP IN GR. II LOUISIANA DERBY

Newton Anner Stud’s Dark Templar has run against solid groups of horses in his past few starts, but will make his stakes debut in the Grade II $ 1 million Louisiana Derby Presented by TwinSpires.com on Saturday afternoon.

In his past three starts, the son of Tapit has faced the likes of Gr. III Lecomte second-place finisher Principe Guilherme as well as fellow Louisiana Derby entrants Retirement Fund and Lone Sailor, the latter of which he defeated in an allowance optional claiming event over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track on February 19.

“I think he’s ready for it,” Walsh said. “He’s a horse that we’ve had to develop through the winter and I think he’s improved as he’s run. You can see that through his numbers and it seems that he really likes it here. I think he’s a different horse than the one that we brought here in November and he’s doing great so we’ll see how he does on Saturday.”

Walsh elaborated on how Dark Templar has improved over the winter.

“He was a typical of a Tapit,” Walsh said. “He had to be brought along nice and steady and he’s come along the right way and he’s gradually gone the right way. I’m confident that he’ll run a big race, we’ll see if it’s good enough.”

While he has yet to earn any points on the Road To The Kentucky Derby, Dark Templar could secure himself a spot in the starting gate in the Gr. I $ 2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 5 with at least a second-place finish on Saturday, which would earn him 40 points. The race offers the Top 4 finishers points based off of a 100-40-20-10 point scale.

A $475,000 purchase from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2016, Dark Templar is a great-grandson of Champion Personal Ensign.

Florent Geroux will guide Dark Templar, who breaks from post ten at 12-1 odds.

COX SENDS OUT ARKLOW, MR. MISUNDERSTOOD FOR GR. II MUNIZ MEMORIAL

Leading trainer Brad Cox is represented by a solid pair of graded stakes winners for Saturday’s Gr. II $300,000 Muniz Memorial Stakes.

Coming fresh off an allowance win over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course last month, Donegal Racing’s Arklow breaks from post four under Javier Castellano who guided the son of Arch to victory in his maiden win over the Keeneland turf course last April. His last start was his first
since a seventh-place finish in Saratoga’s Gr. II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes on August 4. Arklow’s resume is highlighted by a victory in the Gr. II American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs last May.

“He’s had time to bounce back,” Cox said. “He’s doing well, he’s moving well; Javier rode him one time and really thought a lot of him. He’s back in the saddle so that’s always a positive. I think that with a good trip, he can be there.”

In his allowance victory over the local going last out, Arklow sat well off of a slow pace but still managed to make up enough ground to nose out stable mate Dot Matrix.

“He won’t be on the lead or anything but he can sit somewhat close,” Cox said. “He doesn’t get away from the gate real well, but hopefully Javier can get him in a good position.”

Meanwhile, Flurry Racing Stables LLC’s Mr. Misunderstood will be looking to turn the tables on Synchrony after finishing second behind the 7-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s race in the Gr. III Fair Grounds Handicap last out. Breaking from the eight hole at 5-1 odds, the son of Archarcharch also was handed his first loss on turf in that event. He went in a perfect 8-for-8 on grass having won over four different grass surfaces including a win in the Gr. III Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs, his only graded stakes win.

“He’s training well and he looks great,” Cox said. “He always carries really good flesh. A mile and an eighth is a little bit of a question mark, but we’ll see. Florent really likes him and thinks highly of him. With a good trip, he can be in the mix.”

Mr. Misunderstood was a 1000th career victory for regular rider Florent Geroux, who returns to the saddle for Saturday’s race.

Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography