Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Thursday, January 12

By Michael Adolphson —-

• Midway Gold Impresses Jones in Debut Win
• Farrell Possible, Untapped Probable for Silverbulletday; Valadorna to Wait for Rachel Alexandra
• Running Mate and I’m a Chatterbox Work in Company
• Work Tab

MIDWAY GOLD IMPRESSES JONES IN DEBUT WIN

Brereton C. Jones’ homebred first-time starter Midway Gold impressed on Sunday when the son of Haynesfield won on debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Finishing up the six-furlong event in 1:10.85 over a course that was playing quickly, the bay colt overcame his outside 11-post and some traffic in mid-stretch to post a workmanlike, professional victory under Florent Geroux at odds of 9-5.

“We’ve always liked him and he actually had never shown that kind of heart in the mornings, but he definitely did when it mattered in the race,” Jones said. “He had shown us talent in the morning and we liked what we saw, but we definitely liked him a lot more after the race.

“I actually trained his dam’s half-brother named Oconee Gold that I had at the same time as Friesan Fire,” Jones continued. “He was by Friends Lake and had a lot of talent. I thought he might have been just as good as Friesan Fire, but he got hurt, unfortunately.”

Jones confirmed that Midway Gold, a grandson of Grade III winner and Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks runner-up Gold N Delicious, will now aim for longer races, with an eye on a two-turn allowance in early February.

FARRELL POSSIBLE, UNTAPPED PROBABLE FOR SILVERBULLETDAY; VALADORNA TO WAIT FOR RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Coffeepot Stables’ star sophomore filly Farrell continues to work well for three-time Breeders’ Cup-winning conditioner Wayne Catalano and is considered possible for next Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Originally not slated to make her debut until the Grade II $200,000 Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 25, the daughter of Malibu Moon has not missed a beat since her six-length victory in the Grade II $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26, logging four works.

Working in the first set at just before 6:00 a.m. on Monday, the dark bay filly drilled a half-mile in 49.40. Said move followed a smart work at the same distance on Dec. 28 in 48.80 (fifth-best of 35).

Currently expected to be a small field, the Silverbulletday will likely include another high-profile filly in Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Untapped, a full-sister to champion Untapable who won in local allowance company over the Silverbulletday’s mile and 70-yard trip for trainer Steve Asmussen. Also a half-sister to Grade I-winning, Kentucky Derby-placed Paddy O’Prado, she worked well on Tuesday morning. The chestnut daughter of Tapit negotiated five panels in 1:01.80 and remains on target for her stakes debut.

Arguably the highest-rated sophomore filly on the grounds, Stonestreet Stables’ Valadorna is more likely to wait for the Rachel Alexandra, according to trainer Mark Casse on Thursday morning. The daughter of Curlin, a valiant second in the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in early November, has a pair of impressive breezes since a brief freshening and is expected to work on Friday morning just after the first the break at approximately 7:30 a.m.

The Silverbulletday draws on Friday, eight days out from the race. The first of three major Kentucky Oaks preps is part of a six-stakes Road to the Derby Kickoff Day presented by Hotel Monteleone on Jan. 21.

RUNNING MATE AND I’M A CHATTERBOX WORK IN COMPANY

The current prince of the Larry Jones stable worked with its queen on Tuesday morning. Bret Jones of Airdrie Farm’s homebred Running Mate joined forces with Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s multiple Grade I winner I’m a Chatterbox and the pair worked a co-bullet of 59.40. While Jones’ work rider Heladio Moreno was on Running Mate, regular jockey Florent Geroux was aboard I’m a Chatterbox.

“They worked and finished together,” Jones said. “That was exactly what I wanted.”

Running Mate, an impressive allowance-winning 3-year-old son of Creative Cause, is gearing up for a run in next Saturday’s Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes, while I’m a Chatterbox is still hopeful to clear quarantine in time for the Grade III $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park a week later.

WORK TAB

Darrell and Sadie Brommer’s Grade III winner Prado’s Sweet Ride worked a half-mile in 49.20 for trainer Richie Scherer. Such was her second move since finishing a solid third in the $75,000 Blushing K. D. Stakes on Dec. 17. She is considered probable for the $75,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial over the same grassy 1 1/16-miles trip on Jan. 21.

Eagle fired off a warning shot that he might be coming into his 5-year-old season better than ever with a half-mile move in 48.40 for trainer Neil Howard. Bred and owned by William S. Farish, the multiple stakes winner has hit the board in 13 of 16 starts and earned $601,006. His likely aim is the Grade III $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap on Feb. 25.

William Stiritz’s Hogy worked a smart half-mile in 48.80 for trainer Scott Becker. The son of Offlee Wild just turned eight and ended his 7-year-old season with a third-place finish in the $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes after a belated rally. Overall, the nearly black sprinter has an impressive record of 39-15-9-5.

Gainesway Stable’s romping $50,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes winner Danzatrice returned to the tab for the first time since taking said mile and 70-yard event by 7¼ lengths, working five furlongs in an easy 1:03.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The multiple stakes-winning daughter of Dunkirk earned a 109 Equibase Speed Figure last out, 11 points higher than any previous career effort.