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MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020
by: Valerie Mellema
As much of the country's racetracks have been shut down due to the coronavirus, Fair Grounds in New Orleans ran their last meet last weekend. Sam Houston canceled Saturday night due to lightning and then announced no more racing while Lone Star Park has stated they will delay opening until April 16th and won't allow horses access until April 3rd. On the world scale, the Dubai World Cup has also been canceled. Now a look at the weekend's Louisiana Derby card.
$100,000 Tom Benson Memorial Stakes
The 40-1 longshot, FULLNESS OF LIFE, went to the front and set opening fractions of :23.54, :48.44 and 1:12.24 on firm turf. As she began to waver in the stretch, SHE'SONTHEWARPATH, ALTEA and NOTAPRADAPRICE emerged in a five-wide battle in the final furlong. SHE'SONTHEWARPATH pulled ahead victorious by a nose over ALTEA and followed by NOTAPRADAPRICE in third.
$400,000 New Orleans Classic (G2)
SILVER DUST hopped to the front at the start, setting opening fractions of :25.43 and :50.09 to start. BY MY STANDARDS relaxed behind him in second. BY MY STANDARDS took over in the stretch and cruised to victory with a final time of 1:50.27. CAPTIVATING MOON finished second followed by TENFOLD. All four of BY MY STANDARDS wins have come at the Fair Grounds.
$300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic (G2)
FACTOR THIS rushed to the lead in the first turn and never looked back in a wire-to-wire victory. The colt went 11/8 mile on firm turf in 1:11.46. DONTBLAMEROCKET ran second with ROCKEMPEROR following in third.
$400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2)
The Fair Grounds Oaks was another upset with BONNY SOUTH going from last to first to take the win. The favorite, FINITE, chased the pace and ended up three wide coming off the turn and took the lead. Rather than pull ahead for the win, she tired, and BONNY SOUTH took over with TEMPERS RISING running second followed by ANTOINETTE in third. FINITE finished fourth. The Fair Grounds Oaks is a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks. BONNY SOUTH earned 100 points. FINITE came into the race with 70 points and picked up 10 more.
$1 Million Louisiana Derby (G2)
WELLS BAYOU was sent to the front and never tired in his wire to wire victory. Typically running off the pace, he went to the front and set opening fractions of :23.56 and 48 flat. NY TRAFFIC ran second followed by MODERNIST.
Stay healthy and have a good week!
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