A Mo Reay Much the Best in Pago Hop and Britain’s Kitten Battles Late to Take the Woodchopper

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Calhoun and West barns continue their statebred
dominance, each taking a division of the Louisiana Futurities

Photo: Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Saturday, Dec 31, 2022) – Hunter Valley Farm’s A Mo Reay made her debut for Brad Cox’s barn a winning one, posting a three-length score in the $100,000 Pago Hop at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. After torrential rains on Friday, the Pago Hop was taken off the turf and run at 1 mile and 70 yards across the main track listed as good.

Now just seven wins away from 2,000 in his career, Florent Geroux rode A Mo Reay across the finish line to her first career stakes win in 1:42.97.

Elle of the Ball broke from the rail to lead the six 3-year-old fillies through early fractions of :23.54 and :46.99. Geroux settled A Mo Reay near the back and bided his time to make a move on Free Like a Girl, who took the lead through the second turn. Free Like a Girl ran hard to the wire but A Mo Reay proved too much and ran away in the final sixteenth. Trobairitz did her running late flying down the center of the track but Free Like a Girl hung on by a nose to take place honors over that foe.

“She had trained great in the mornings coming into this race,” Geroux said. “We were excited about seeing what she could do. She broke sharp and put me in a great spot. I was a little worried when Free Like a Girl got a little breather, but as soon as I pressed on the gas my filly responded.”

The victory was worth $60,000 and boosted the daughter of Uncle Mo’s earnings to $235,025. Previously trained by Todd Pletcher, A Mo Reay now sports a 3-1-3 record in 10 starts.

“We felt good either way, but I really wanted to try her on the dirt,” Cox said. “Her breezes were getting better and better each week. I don’t know what the plan with her is. I know this (stakes win) was a big update on her (breeding) page today. She’s a happy, sound filly. Maybe we can get a few more runs in her before breeding season.”

A Mo Reay was the 6-5 favorite and returned $4.40, $2.80 and $2.60.

Blissful finished fourth and was followed by Elle of the Ball and Dressed.

Britain’s Kitten Chops Down Sutherland Late

Bella Mia Stable’s Britain’s Kitten came with a late run and battled Sutherland through the final stages of the $100,000 Woodchopper before finally getting up late to win by a head. After torrential rains on Friday at Fair Grounds, the Woodchopper was taken off the turf and run at 1 mile and 70 yards across the main track listed as good.

Trained by Brian Williamson, Britain’s Kitten beat three 3-year-olds, running 1 mile 70 yards in 1:44.10 to collect his first career stakes win. Deshawn Parker held the victorious reins in the Woodchopper, as he did earlier in the card winning the Louisiana Futurity (Girls) aboard Norah G.

Longshot Life is a Banquet hustled to the lead to set the opening fraction in :24.14 and :47.80 but soon after was overtaken by Sutherland. Britain’s Kitten saved ground in third and tipped out to begin a run at Sutherland who came out to fight off the charge but could not deny the game effort of Britain’s Kitten. Life is a Banquet and Un Ojo finished well back.

“I just tried hard all the way down the lane hoping we could get there,” Parker said. “We battled all the way. I was proud of him. I hit him a couple times left handed and he moved on a little bit. He just kind of handled it home after that. Rey (jockey Gutierrez on 2nd place finisher Sutherland) and I said to each other right after the race ‘that was pretty tight.’ We really didn’t know who won.”

Britain’s Kitten is a son of Big Blue Kitten out of the English Channel mare Dram Girl and was bred in Kentucky by TCR Ranch. The even money favorite winner returned $4.00 and $2.10 (no show bets).

“He’s a little better on dirt and an off track, so I was kind of hoping this (washed off the turf) would happen,” Williamson admitted. “We were tracking the weather forecast and it came out in our favor. This horse is bred for turf and he’s run well on it, but you just never really know. His last couple numbers (speed figures) on the dirt were very good.”

Britain’s Kitten career earnings went up by $60,000 for a new total of $241,279 from a record of 3-4-3 in 13 starts.

Calhoun and West Barns Continue their Dominance each taking one of the Louisiana Futurities

Allied Racing’s homebred Jack Hammer pressed outside Z Resurrection and overcame a green stretch run to win the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity (boys) by 2 1/4 lengths. Beating a field of seven 2-year-olds, Jack Hammer notched win number 19 for trainer Brett Calhoun who has an impressive eight-win lead in the trainer standings after scoring earlier on the card with Kupuna.

Jack Hammer ran the six furlongs in 1:12.14 across a track listed as good. Rey Gutierrez piloted Jack Hammer, earning his 24th win on the meet and securing his place at the top the jockey standings.

The field broke cleanly and Jack Hammer emerged from the group, but his inside foe Z Resurrection hustled out to take the lead along the rail running the opening fractions in :22.16 and :46.37 as Jack Hammer settled to his immediate outside. With little change in position throughout the race, the two front runners remained engaged as Calicoco and King’s Lute dueled for third behind them. Jack Hammer wandered greenly but summoned a powerful kick to draw clear of Z Resurrection in the final sixteenth. King’s Lute kept the advantage over Calicoco to finish third in front of that foe.

“He’s a little better on dirt and an off track, so I was kind of hoping this (washed off the turf) would happen,” Williamson admitted. “We were tracking the weather forecast and it came out in our favor. This horse is bred for turf and he’s run well on it, but you just never really know. His last couple numbers (speed figures) on the dirt were very good.”

Jack Hammer is a son of Jimmy Creed out of the Flatter mare Lipstick Junky and was bred in Louisiana by owner Allied Racing. The two-time winner returned $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20 as the 3-5 favorite.

“They’ve got a great breeding program here in Louisiana,” Chester Thomas of Allied Racing said. “We’ve got Mr. Money standing down here at Clear Creek now. Bret (Calhoun) is off to an awfully good start at the meet. We’ve got a couple seconds that we are hopeful can turn to wins. Bret and Reylu (jockey) are on fire, we are just happy to be a part of it.”

Stiff Drink, Ranch Water, and Flash N Class completed the order of finish. Steauxlit was scratched.

Jack Hammer netted $60,000 and now boasts career earnings of $90,000 from a record of 2-2-0 in 2 starts.

“This is a nice horse,” Calhoun said. “We’ve liked him from very early on. He’s still very green and inexperienced, but we think he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Norah G comes through as overwhelming Futurity (girls) Favorite

Tom Galvin’s homebred Norah G proved too much for the field of seven lassies in the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity. A touch slow from the gates, the up-and-coming star from Patricia West’s barn asserted herself through the turn and pulled away, but then just held safe late to win by a diminishing 3/4 length over the rail rally of the longshot maiden Everlyn’s Angel.

“I thought her break from the gate was much improved for the first two tries, so we’re moving in the right direction,” West said. “We do hope to try her at two turns in the near future.”

The debut winner earned her second victory completing the 6 furlongs over a good track in 1:14.93. Deshawn Parker was up for the score, one of two stakes wins for Parker, who also won the Woodchopper aboard Britain’s Kitten.

Longshot New Destiny, who attracted the services of Florent Geroux, vied for the early lead to set the fractions of :22.55 and :47.40. Norah G settled second to last after the slow break and had to maneuver through the forward five runners to make a sweeping move that propelled her to the lead. Everlyn’s Angel kept things interesting late rallying up the rail to secure second over New Destiny.

“Getting away from the gate went a little better,” Parker said. “She broke a step slow but not as bad as she normally does, so she’s getting better. Every time she’s raced so far she’s put herself in tight spots so I wasn’t surprised when she took me through those runners.”

Norah G is a daughter of Fast Anna out of the Malibu Moon mare Mr. G’s Moonshine and was bred in Louisiana by owner Tom Galvin. The 1-5 favorite returned $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10.

Shes a Lucky Rebel, Hopeitsmyluckyday, Star moment and Paramour completed the order of finish.

Norah G netted $60,000 and now boasts career earnings of $110,000 from a record of 2-1-0 in 3 starts.

Racing at Fair Grounds resumes New Year’s Day at the regular first post of 1:15 p.m. CT. The first stakes action of 2023 will commence on Saturday, Jan 7 with the inaugural running of the $75,000 Gary P. Palmisano Memorial Stakes and the $75,000 Bob F. Wright Memorial Stakes, a pair Louisiana-bred sprints for 4-year-olds and up.

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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, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 151st Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 110th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from Nov 18, 2022 through March 26, 2023. More information is available online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.