FAIR GROUNDS: THURSDAY STAKES PREVIEWS

By Brian Nadeau —-

Swot Analysis Has a Read on Futurity Field

New Orleans (December 28, 2020) – A talented septet has assembled for the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity, though there’s little doubt as to the horse to beat in the 6-furlong state-bred dash for 2 year olds, as D.J. Stable LLC, Cash is King LLC, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Swot Analysis, off an overpowering 9 ¾-length local debut win, will be tough to deny if he can deliver an encore.

Swot Analysis (post 6 at 5-2 on Mike Diliberto’s morning line, with Declan Carroll to ride), a son of Anchor Down, didn’t fire when a distant sixth in an open-company MSW debut November 1 at Churchill Downs, as he tired badly after dueling for the lead early. Trainer Mark Casse regrouped and sent him to Fair Grounds where he met fellow state breds November 27, and the result was in stark contrast to the run in Louisville, as Swot Analysis pressed the pace from the outside, took charge off the far turn, and blew clear for a dominant win. Swot Analysis, purchased for $62,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company July Teo-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale 2020, clearly took to his new surroundings at Fair Ground, which was no surprise to Casse’s local assistant Dave Carroll.

“We were expecting him to win, to be honest, based on the tough maiden he came out of, though we weren’t expecting him to win like that,” Carroll said. “We got a race into him at Churchill and it was a tough race, but he was able to build off it.”

The Futurity is a definite step up in class, with a trio of impressive local winners, as well as a stakes-placed runner, so Carroll knows Swot Analysis will need to answer the bell one more time, regardless of how impressive he looked last time.

“We’re taking everything with a grain of salt, sometimes you draw off and win like that against Louisiana breds,” Carroll said. “It’s a good spot for him and we’re hoping he runs a big race.”

Trainer Ron Faucheux will saddle a pair of local debut winners, with Flurry Racing Stables LLC’s Guice (post 5 at 4-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.) the more highly regarded off a sharp 2-length MSW score December 12. The son of Half Ours went a long way in making back his $52,000 purchase price as a yearling when he pressed the pace in the mud and drew off late, and is perfectly drawn for his style. Picard Thoroughbreds Racing Stable LLC’s Perfect Perigee (post 2 at 6-1 with Florent Geroux) dueled and pulled clear in a December 11 $25,000 maiden-claimer and could be the controlling speed. The son of Court Vision takes a significant rise in class, though he figures to make the front after setting a :45 4/5 half-mile split last time.

Andrus J Pellerin’s Jimmy Two Times pressed the pace and drew off to an easy 4 ¼-length win here in a November 29 N2L allowance in the slop. The Half Ours gelding won on debut at Evangeline Downs in June for trainer Kith Bourgeois then was off-the-board to Chu Chu’s Legacy in a pair of state-bred stakes, but clearly rebounded in his local bow. Jimmy Two Times figures to be closest to Perfect Perigee early, though he’s a bit of a question mark on a fast main track.

Completing the Louisiana Futurity field from the rail out: Patrick Lee Racing LLC’s Adieu Le Chat (6-1 with Santo Sanjur), winless in four starts for trainer Tucker Alonzo; John F Earles’ Bunkie’s Song (post 3 at 15-1 with James Graham), no better than fifth in a trio of starts for trainer Allen Landry; and Horseplayers Racing Club LLC’s Creole Charlie (post 7 at 9-2 with Adam Beschizza), a distant third in both the Louisiana Cup Juvenile at Louisiana Downs in September and Jimmy Two Times’ allowance win for trainer Justin Jeansonne.

Big Time May be Ready for it After Lassie

Undefeated Filly Can Double Up Off Local Stakes Win

Ten state-bred 2-year-old fillies are scheduled to meet the starter in the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity, though if Valene Farms LLC’s Big Time has anything to do with it, the other nine will be running for second-money in the 6-furlong dash, as she looks for her second stakes win of the meet.

Big Time (post 6 at 5-2 on Mike Diliberto’s morning line with Brian Hernandez Jr. to ride) may have stunned bettors when she paid $79.60 on debut in an open MSW at Churchill Downs in June for trainer Dallas Stewart, but she was a much more known commodity when she met state breds in the December 12 Louisiana Lassie. The daughter of Astrology settled early over a muddy main track, snuck through up the inside off the far turn, then powered clear for an easy 3 ½-length win over seven rivals, a trio of which will try her against in the Futurity. Big Time led every step in her Churchill win but showed a newfound rating gear in the Lassie, which only adds to her appeal.

Allied Racing Stable LLC’s Winning Romance (post 2 at 3-1 with James Graham) looks the main danger off a gate-to-wire allowance win here November 27 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The First Samurai won on debut at Evangeline Downs in June then was left in the wake of state-bred star Mirabeau in her next two, though got untracked again in her local bow and could be the inside speed.

Spendthrift Farm LLC and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Rue Lala (post 5 at 6-1 with Adam Beschizza) was actually favored in the Lassie for trainer Steve Asmussen but drew the rail, struggled over the off going, and checked in a distant fourth. The daughter of Star Guitar aired on debut at Louisiana Downs in September then was a distant second to Mirabeau in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies there two weeks later, but could be a rebound candidate on a fast track, with a better post as well.

Horseplayers Racing Club LLC’s Halfglamorous (post 9 at 6-1 with Miguel Mena) was a good second on debut her in November and then built on that and wired locally December 13 for trainer Danny Pish. The daughter of Half Ours has shown speed in both starts and figures to be pressing from an advantageous outside attack post.

Completing the Louisiana Futurity field from the rail out: Brittlyn Stable Inc’s homebred Spirited Beauty (20-1 with Marcelino Pedroza), a distant seventh to Big Time in the Lassie for trainer Jose Camejo; Roger G Smith’s homebred Smittys Barracuda (post 3 at 6-1 with Florent Geroux), a distant second on debut here to dominant maiden winner Australasia November 26, and also cross-entered earlier on the card in and MSW Race 3 for trainer Ron Faucheux; Set-Hut LLC’s homebred Mrs. Judy (post 4 at 10-1 with Shaun Bridgmohan), well-beaten in eight in the Lassis for trainer Jeff Delhomme; Gulf Haven Farms’ homebred Inawic (post 7 at 15-1 with Mitchell Murrill), winless in five starts for trainer Ronnie Ward; Keith Bonura and Rodney Virgadamo’s Louleigh (post 8 at 10-1 with Miguel Mena), a distant third to Winning Romance for trainer Justin Jeansonne; and William and Carolyn Kline’s Amoreena Star (post 10 at 20-1 with Colby Hernandez), claimed for $12,500 by trainer Joe Duhon out of a local December 3 debut state-bred MCL win here.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, 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 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 149th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 108th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 26, 2020 through March 28, 2021. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.