FAIR GROUNDS NOTES: ALBARADO JOINS ELITE RANKS WITH CAREER WIN 5,000

Brian W. Spencer
Michael Adolphson —-

Hodges Photography

NEW ORLEANS (January 22, 2017) – Jockey Robby Albarado joined an elite group on Sunday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots when earning his 5,000th career victory. The 43-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, native became only the 33rd rider to reach the milestone when guiding Oak Tree Stables’ Scott Gelner-trained Vivacious V. V. to victory in the day’s first race.

Albarado began riding professionally at age 16 in June of 1990 and has ridden the likes of top horses Not This Time, Captain Steve, Orientate, Court Vision, Stellar Jayne, Banshee Breeze and – of course – two Horses of the Year in Mineshaft and Curlin. He is also the seventh-leading active jockey in earnings, with his mounts earning in excess of $205 million. In that category, he is 13th all-time.

“It’s amazing. I feel like it’s a combination of owners and trainers, family and friends’ support to get to this point – I didn’t do it alone,” Albarado said. “It’s fitting to get it here where I started out. I won three races the whole winter my first meet here. I stuck it out and now I’m here on 5,000 wins. It’s pretty special to do it here at Fair Grounds.”

A father of four who is married to Paige Albarado of Fair Grounds Horsemen’s Relations, Albarado has won 201 graded stakes, including 35 Grade I events. His top victories have been the Grade I Preakness Stakes and Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Curlin in 2007, as well as the Group I Dubai World Cup aboard that that two-time Horse of the Year the following season. Additionally, Albarado has hit the board in the Grade I Kentucky Derby three times (2006, 2007 and 2013) and Grade I Belmont Stakes three times (2007, 2008 and 2014).

• Risen Star Likely for Lecomte Winner Guest Suite
• Farrell Exits Silverbulletday Well, on to Rachel Alexandra
• Gun Runner Tops Work Tab

RISEN STAR LIKELY FOR LECOMTE WINNER GUEST SUITE

William S. Farish and Lora Jean Kilroy’s Guest Suite came out of his victory in Saturday’s centerpiece, the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes, in top order, according to trainer Neil Howard.

“He looked good and cooled out well,” Howard said. “Everything looked good this morning. I would say we are most likely (running next in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 25). I spoke to Mr. Farish and if all goes okay, it seems like the obvious thing to do.

“I feel good about it,” Howard reflected on the high of winning a stakes with a newly turned 3-year-old. “Looking at the race again, I really like the way he did it. Lining up how he performed with where we thought he was at in his training was nice. It’s a lot to build on.”

FARRELL EXITS SILVERBULLETDAY WELL, ON TO RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Coffepot Stables’ homebred Farrell, who impressed onlookers with a smart victory in the Listed $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, has exited her effort well, according to trainer Wayne Catalano.

“She looked good this morning,” he said. “She ate up good and is happy. You look forward to days like yesterday. It was a nice family affair and the owners are great people to win the race for. We’ll likely go on to the Rachel Alexandra.”

The Grade II $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes will be contested in five weeks, on Feb. 25 at the same New Orleans oval.

Farrell’s victory was Catalano’s second $150,000 3-year-old stakes of the week, following a tour-de-force by promising colt Uncontested in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday. Both were ridden by son-in-law Channing Hill.

GUN RUNNER TOPS WORK TAB

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred star Gun Runner worked a half-mile on Sunday morning in 49.80 for trainer Steve Asmussen. The son of Candy Ride (ARG) has not started since wiring the Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.

Trainer Wes Hawley’s multiple stakes winner Steel Cut, who was scratched from Saturday’s $75,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial, worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.60 on Sunday morning.

B C. W. T. Ltd’s Society Beau continues to show promise for trainer Neil Howard. A late-closing sophomore who has held his own against top horses thus far in his short career, he has yet to make his sophomore bow. Last out, he was a good second to Shareholder Value in allowance company on Dec. 26. Prior to that effort, the bay son of Curlin faced the talented likes of Lookin At Lee, Not This Time and Just Move On.

Stakes winner Inconclusive worked a half-mile in 53 flat for trainer Richie Scherer. Fifth last out in the $75,000 Pago Hop Stakes, the Carolyn Friedberg and Jeff T. Larson-owned four-time winner and two-time stakes winner could turn up in allowance company next out.

Robert S. Evans’ Rapid Rhythm, a multiple stakes-winning turf sprinter, worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer Mike Stidham. A daughter of Successful Appeal, the 5-year-old mare won the $50,000 Battle of New Orleans Stakes on Dec. 3. Stidham also sent out Dare To Dream Stable’s multiple restricted stakes winner Jockamo’s Song to drill a half-mile in 48.80.