Derby, Oaks Hopefuls Prevalent on Weekend Work Tab at Fair Grounds –

By Joe Kristufek —-

Derby, Oaks Hopefuls Prevalent on Weekend Work Tab at Fair Grounds

New Orleans, La (March 5, 2023) – It’s roughly two months until the Run for the Roses, and the current top 20 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard features eight horses who have run at Fair Grounds this meet. Brad Cox has won all three Louisiana Derby preps with different horses, taking the Gun Runner with Jace’s Road, the Lecomte (G3) with Instant Coffee and the Risen Star (G2) with Angel of Empire. That trio, and several other top 3-year-olds, graced the Fair Grounds work tab this weekend.

Saturday, March 4

Horse (state) Sex Trainer Work Last Race

Angel of Empire (PA) C Brad Cox 4F in 48.60 B Won Risen Star (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Bishops Bay (KY) C Brad Cox F in 49.00 B Won maiden sp wt debut at FG on 2-18-23

Cagliostro (FL) C Cherie DeVaux 4F in 48.40 B 2nd in first-level allowance on 2-18-23

Chop Chop (KY) F Brad Cox 4F in 49.00 B 5th in Rachel Alexandra (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Denington (KY) C Ken McPeek 4F 48.40 B Won first-level allowance on 2-18

Gulfport (KY) C Steve Asmussen 4F 51.60 B 3rd in Champagne (G1) at Sar on 10-1-22

Pretty Mischievous (KY) F Brendan Walsh 4F 49.20 B Won Rachel Alexandra (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Single Ruler (KY) C Keith Desormeaux 4F in 48.40 B 5th in Risen Star (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Sun Thunder (KY) C Ken McPeek F in 48.40 B 2nd in Risen Star (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Tapit Shoes (KY) C Brad Cox 4F in 48.60 B 3rd in first-level allowance on 2-18

Tapit’s Conquest (KY) C Brad Cox 4F in 49.00 B 4th in Risen Star (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Victory Formation (KY) C Brad Cox 4F in 48.00 B 9th in Risen Star (G2) at FG on 2-18-23

Hit Show (KY) C Brad Cox 5F in 1:01.60 B Won Withers (G3) at Aqu on 2-11-23

Instant Coffee (KY) C Brad Cox 5F in 1:01.60 B Won Lecomte (G3) at FG on 1-21-23

The Alys Look (KY) F Brad Cox 5F in 1:00.20 B Won Silverbulletday at FG on 1-21-23

In the movie “Hustle” the character Bo Cruz is a street basketball player from Spain. Scouted by Stanley Sugarman, played by Adam Sandler, Cruz takes plenty of lumps before eventually making it to the NBA. Now the 3-year-old colt with the same name is following his own rags to riches script.

“Bo Cruz is a great fictional character who represents the plight of what we do,” said owner Bruno De Julio, a horse racing lifer who makes his living as a private clocker and bloodstock agent. “We are always looking for talent, and you never really know where you’re going to find it. With limited resources, you have to be creative. Bo Cruz got pushed around and knocked down but he overcame it. If you believe in the talent and harness it, you can make it.”

A good second sprinting despite a troubled trip in his career debut on February 2, the son of Creative Cause stretched out to 1 mile & 70 yards on March 4 at Fair Grounds. Leaving from the rail, he wasted no time grabbing command into the first turn. He held the lead throughout for trainer Al Stall, Jr. and jockey Jose Riquelme, winning by a widening 12 ¼ lengths under a hand ride while stopping the timer in 1:42 1/5 over a fast track.

“He trains and acts like a good horse but I was blow away with what he did and the way he did it,” De Julio said about the effort. “He motored away on his own and Jose (jockey Riquelme) never asked him.”

Purchased for just $45,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2021, Bo Cruz is the sixth foal to race out of the versatile Ghostzapper mare Quick Breeze, who won 2 of 9 starts and had a promising career cut short. She is the daughter of the multiple graded stakes router Quick Temper, who earned over $259,000, and is the mother of millionaire Preakness (G1) winner Cloud Computing, who now stands at stud.

“Rudy Delguidice and I buy a lot of horses together,” De Julio said. “We loved this horse. He had great confirmation. We went above budget and after we bought him I’ll always remember Rudy saying ‘he looks like Ghostzapper’.”

The following summer, Deguidice, a former jockey and longtime breeder and pinhooker, was involved in a serious spill at Classic Mile, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

“Bo was the last horse Rudy breezed before his accident,” De Julio said. “This horse’s success will aid in all of his expenses. Owning Bo with Rudy makes it even that much more special for me.”

Bo Cruz received a 91 Bris speed figure for his Saturday win, which included an impressive 95 late pace rating. It’s no surprise that offers for the colt are coming in.

“Right now it’s business as usual,” De Julio said. “Al (trainer Stall) has talked about the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland and a two-turn allowance race on Kentucky Derby Day.”

Tails and Tidbits

· Trainer Justin Jeansonne has won with 5 of his last 11 starters, and he’s 11 for 31 (35.5%) since Jan. 6. With six winners from eight starters this meet, Jeansonne’s owners Rodney Virgadamo and Keith Bonura have a hot streak of their own. Dating back to last summer at Louisiana Downs, they’ve now won with eight of their last 12 runners, with the four horses that lost all finishing second.

· In their first season at Fair Grounds, L and G Racing (trainer Cesar Govea) leads all Fair Grounds owners with 15 wins. Godolphin has 12, followed by Lothenbach Stables (10), Wayne T. Davis (9) and Mansfield Racing (8).

· Speaking of Mansfield Racing, they are 8 for 11 at the meet, but with Bret Calhoun at the helm, they’ve won five in a row and with seven of their last eight.

· Seven horses have won three races at the meet, with Surveillance, Oeuvre and Free Drop Maddy all taking down a trio of stakes.

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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.