Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Wednesday, December 12

By Ryan Martin —-

Underpressure Targets Louisiana-Bred Premier Night at Delta Downs
Midnight Fantasy, Classy John Could Race Back in Louisiana Futurity on December 28
NHC Qualifying Handicapping Contest Set for December 22

12/8/2018. – Underpressure with Corey Lanerie aboard wins the 28th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

UNDERPRESSURE TARGETS LOUISIANA-BRED PREMIER NIGHT AT DELTA DOWNS

Following a 3½-length victory in Saturday’s Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes, trainer Chris Richard plans on pointing Underpressure to the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Stakes at Delta Downs on February 9, a race which he was second in this past season.

Guided to victory by jockey Corey Lanerie, the Mallory Greiner-owned son of Birdstone laid fourth behind a slow pace and took command of the race approaching the three-sixteenths pole. The Louisiana Champions Day Classic was a third stakes victory for Underpressure, who has triumphs in the Louisiana Premier Night Prince Stakes at Delta Downs and the Louisiana Legends Cheval Stakes at Evangeline Downs on his resume. He was third in last year’s Champions Day Classic behind local legend Mobile Bay.

“He’s just a model of consistency,” Richard said following Saturday’s race. “He gives you everything he’s got every single time. We ran against Mobile Bay a couple of times last year and came close to him. Obviously he’s probably one of the greatest Louisiana-breds ever, if not the greatest Louisiana-bred ever For him to break through in this race on Champions Day, I’m just ecstatic for him. I felt pretty good about it. I just drew a line through his last race (a sixth-place finish in the Delta Mile on November 17), a lot of things didn’t go his way last time. It’s just his ultra-consistency. He tries so hard and I felt really good that we had a really legit shot today to get it done.”

Underpressure was bred in Louisiana by James McIngvale and is out of the Charismatic broodmare Charming Colleen, who was Grade I placed in her racing career.

Louisiana Champions Day stakes winners Remember Daisy (Ladies) and Magic Vow (Turf) are also possible for Louisiana Premier Night at Delta Downs on February 9 according to their connections.

MIDNIGHT FANTASY, CLASSY JOHN COULD RACE BACK IN LOUISIANA FUTURITY ON DECEMBER 28

The first two Thoroughbred stakes races on Louisiana Champions Day were decisive victories from 2-year-olds Midnight Fantasy and Classy John, both of which will likely return to action in their respective divisions of the Louisiana Futurity on Sunday, December 30.

Owned by Carl R. Moore Management, Midnight Fantasy took the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes in runaway fashion by 3¼ lengths under a hand ride by jockey Adam Beschizza, her first start since an equally effortless career debut on Opening Day, November 15 which she won by 9¼ lengths.

“Physically and mentally, she was more prepared than she was first time out,” said trainer Joe Sharp. “Even (Saturday), down the lane when she went out the front she was pricking her ears waiting on what was next. Adam said that there was plenty left and that she was well within herself.”

Sharp indicated that her next start would be the fillies division of the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity.

Two races later Valene Farms’ Classy John waltzed home under Brian Hernandez, Jr. to win the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes.

Named in honor of owner Murray Valene’s late father, the Dallas Stewart trainee won his career debut at 12-1 odds against open company at Saratoga on August 25 and then finished second against winners over the Churchill Downs main track on November 10 behind Hog Creek Hustle.

“He relaxed really nice today and I like seeing that,” Stewart said. “He’s a nice horse; he’s competed at the top. He’s down here amongst his own family and he ran real well.”

Stewart later indicated that Classy John would target the colts and geldings division of the Louisiana Futurity.

Stewart later teamed up with owner Murray Valene once more to win the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint with Grade I-placed Givemeaminit.

NHC SUPER QUALIFIER SET FOR DECEMBER 22

On December 22, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will host a National Handicapping Championship Super Qualifier (details below). The live “Santa Super Saturday” program features six stakes races for contest players to potentially feast on.

When – Saturday, December 22, 2018
Where – Black Gold Room at Fair Grounds
What – NTRA / NHC Super Qualifier Handicapping Contest

• $1,500 entry fee which $1,000 of that money will be wagered during the contest
• Contestants must wager $50 Win and Place on 10 races 5 of which must be at Fair Grounds. The other optional track they may play is Gulfstream Park
• Contest Prize Money (Based on a minimum of 125 entries)
• First Place: Entry into the 2019 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $10,000 in Cash
• Second Place: Entry into the 2019 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $6,000 in Cash
• Third Place: Entry into the 2019 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $4,000 in Cash
• 4th – 8th Place: Entry into the 2019 NHC at Treasure Island Las Vegas (Includes hotel stay and $400 airfare reimbursement) plus $1,000 in Cash
• Ratio for NHC spots will be 1 in 15 entries
• Contest standings will be determined by wagering winnings from the wagers placed.
How – Register by contacting Emilee Margiotta at 504-948-1150 or mailto:emilee.margiotta@fgno.com
Contestants will also receive a complimentary buffet and BRIS Betting Guide and can bring 1 guest with them for the afternoon of racing.

About the NHC: The NHC is world’s richest and most prestigious handicapping tournament of the year for horseplayers and is the culmination of a year-long series of NTRA-sanctioned local tournaments conducted by racetracks, casino race books, off-track betting facilities, and horse racing and handicapping websites, each of which sends its top qualifiers to the national finals.

Each year, the NHC winner joins other human and equine champions as an honoree at the Eclipse Awards. The most recent NHC offered record prize money and awards totaling more than $2.9 million. #NHC19 will be held February 8-10, 2019, at Treasure Island Las Vegas.

For more information on the NHC visit https://www.ntra.com/nhc/

Photos Courtesy of Hodges Photography