Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Sunday March 11, 2018: Margolis Looks Ahead With Allen “Black Cat” LaCombe Winner Kabella

By Ryan Martin —-

* Monomoy Girl Tops Sunday Morning Work Tab
• Lanerie Gets Four-Day Suspension Starting Mar. 25
• $200,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 Set For Louisiana Derby Day

MARGOLIS LOOKS AHEAD WITH ALLEN “BLACK CAT” LACOMBE WINNER KABELLA

All was well with Kabella the morning after her victory in the Allen “Black Cat” Memorial Overnight Stakes according to trainer Steve Margolis who discussed options for the 3-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy’s next start.

While Margolis mentioned races like the Grade III $200,000 Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland on Apr. 8 and the Gr. III $200,000 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4, he will discuss such possibilities with owners Robert and Lawanna Low.

“She was walking around the shed row and she was happy with herself,” Margolis said. “We’ll have to talk with the owners. They have the Appalachian and they have the race at Churchill. We’ll see what they want to do and go from there.”

Speaking of which, owners Robert and Lawanna Low have enjoyed successful weekend with their horses. Hours before Kabella scored her first stakes victory in the Allen LaCombe, a promising 3-year-old of theirs named Ruler of the Nile broke its maiden by 7¼ lengths at Tampa Bay Downs. The son of Pioneer of the Nile was purchased for $1 million from last year’s OBS March Sale. Such success could carry on into this upcoming Saturday when the Lows will be represented by another nice-looking 3-year-old in Magnum Moon who is scheduled to race in the Gr. II $900,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

“He’s a great man,” Margolis said. “I’ve had horses with him for about eight years and he’s just a good person and great to deal with. It’s a pleasure to have horses with him.”

MONOMOY GIRL TOPS SUNDAY MORNING WORK TAB

Gr. II Rachel Alexandra Stakes winner Monomoy Girl headlined a loaded work tab for Sunday morning and went a half-mile in 48.60 for trainer Brad Cox, who is still pointing the 3-year-old daughter of Tapizar to the Gr. I $400,000 Ashland Stakes (100-40-20-10) at Keeneland on Apr. 7.

Other notable moves include Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Reride who went a half-mile in 51.80 for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who is pointing the son of Candy Ride (Arg.) to the $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-I) on Mar. 31. Gr. III Fair Grounds
Handicap winner Synchrony also went a half-mile and completed his work in a time of 48.40. Owned by Pin Oak Stables, the Mike Stidham trainee is training towards the Gr. II $300,000 Muniz Memorial Stakes on Mar. 24. Trainer William “Buff” Bradley sent out The Player for a five-furlong work which he completed in 1:02.40. Owned by the trainer in partnership with Carl Hurst, the 5-year-old son of Street Hero will go for his third graded stakes victory in the Gr. II $400,000 New Orleans Handicap on Mar. 24.

LANERIE GETS FOUR-DAY SUSPENSION STARTING MAR. 25

Jockey Corey Lanerie has been handed a four-day suspension by the Fair Grounds stewards following a ride aboard Silver Dust in Friday’s third race, who was disqualified from first to second for interference in the final sixteenth. He will begin serving days on Sunday, Mar. 25 until Closing Day of the meet on Saturday, Mar. 31. Through Saturday afternoon, Lanerie is tied with Adam Beschizza for third in the jockey standings with 49 victories.

$200,000 GUARANTEED ALL STAKES PICK FOUR SET FOR LOUISIANA DERBY DAY

Three Pick Fours are slated for the wagering menu Fair Grounds’ Louisiana Derby Day card on Saturday, Mar. 24, including a $200,000 guaranteed all-stakes Pick 4. The first post is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. central time for an action-packed card which includes:

• Gr. II $ 1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (100-40-20-10) for 3-year-olds going a mile-and-an-eighth on the main track
• Gr. II $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (100-40-20-10) for 3-year-old fillies going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track
• Gr. II $400,000 New Orleans Handicap for 4-year-olds an upward going a mile-and-an-eighth on the main track
• Gr. II $300,000 Muniz Memorial Handicap for 4-year-olds and upwards going a-mile-and-an-eighth on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course
• $50,000 New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes for fillies and mares four years old and upward going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course
• $60,000 Costa Rising Stakes for Louisiana-breds at least four years old going five-and-a-half furlongs on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course
• $75,000 Crescent City Derby for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track
• $75,000 Crescent City Oaks for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies going a mile-and-70-yards on the main track