FAIR GROUNDS: REMEMBER DAISY SCORES IN TOM BENSON MEMORIAL

By Ryan Martin —-

NEW ORLEANS (November 15, 2018) – Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Remember Daisy was a little uneasy throughout various stages of the Tom Benson Memorial Overnight Stakes, but nevertheless was able to pull off her first stakes victory on turf in the Opening Day feature at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which carries a $50,000 purse.

Trained by Gary Scherer and guided to victory by jockey Mitchell Murrill, the 3-year-old daughter of Misremembered sat fourth in the early stages of the one mile test over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course while Mi Copa Rebosa and Mr. Al’s Gal guided the field throughout the first three-quarters of the race and set fractions of 23.81, 48.17 and 1:13.38. Around the far turn, Remember Daisy was on a tight hold by Murrill but moved out into the three path and in the clear. Once asked by Murrill, she took command and held off a late challenge from Eskenformore who finished a neck behind in second. Remember Daisy stopped the clock in 1:37.68. The 2-1 post time favorite Bermuda Star took the show spot.

“In the first turn, she kind of did the same thing that she has always done,” Murrill said. “She broke away from the turn and got out with me. She came back to me around the backside and was able to resituate herself and cruise right along. Finally, we got along on the outside down the lane and she just did the rest.”

Remember Daisy contributed to an Opening Day hat trick pulled by Murrill, who took the season opener aboard longshot D’Tuff Cat Rey ($62.80) and the finale with Satellite ($6.40).

Scherer was pleased with his filly’s effort on Thursday evening, and noted that she appeared to be a bit easier to work with than she had been in races past.

“She looked more manageable,” Scherer said. “That other horse almost caught her, but she’s tough. I had her mother (Very Speightstown) and she was the same way. She would run on both surfaces. As long as she stays healthy she has an easy schedule.”

Scherer stated that Remember Daisy would target the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf Stakes on December 8 and would ship to Delta Downs for Louisiana-Bred Premier Night which will be held on February 9.

The Tom Benson Memorial was Remember Daisy’s first start on turf since finishing third in a first-level turf allowance event at Fair Grounds. She broke her maiden in her career debut over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course on December 26 of last year. In addition, the Tom Benson was also her first stakes win on grass. She had previously won the Louisiana-Bred Premier Night Starlet Stakes on February 10. Remember Daisy entered the Tom Benson off of a 10-length romp in a one mile allowance event at Delta Downs.

Remember Daisy collected $29,760 from her Tom Benson triumph which enhanced her career earnings up to $164,580 and now has a record of 7-4-0-2.

As the 4-1 third choice, Remember Daisy returned $1060, $5.20 and $3.20 while runner-up Eskenformore paid back $11.40 and $6.60. Third-place finisher Bermuda Star paid $2.80.

Rounding out the order of finish were Pacific Pink, Hyper Piper, Temple Shadow, Mr. Al’s Gal, Royal Alexandra, Mi Copa Rebosa, Safari Calamari and Ourgoldshalaylee.

Remember Daisy was bred in Louisiana by her owners and is out of the Speightstown broodmare Very Speightstown.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (“Fair Grounds”), 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: CHDN). Fair Grounds also operates 14 OTBs (12 with video poker facilities) throughout southeast Louisiana. Live racing at Fair Grounds returns in the fall with the 147th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 106th running of the Louisiana Derby in March of 2019. More information can be found online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.

Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography