Dear Readers:
The Times wishes its readers a very happy and prosperous 2018! It’s also time for an update on the Fair Grounds Racing Club horses, who have both turned four years old as of January 1st.
Club filly Efforting, who spent the summer on the farm in Northern Louisiana, has raced twice since our last update. In her first return to the track since her five-month layoff, she finished second in a 6 furlong allowance race on December 8th at Fair Grounds, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Shamrock Star–you may recall that this Bret Calhoun-trained daughter of Star Guitar also beat Efforting in her second MSW race at Fair Grounds last March. Watch the replay here of Race 9 on 12/8/17.
Efforting ran again in another 6 furlong allowance race at Fair Grounds on a very cold (30 degrees + wind chill) New Year’s Day. Piloted by Brian Hernandez Jr. and racing as the 3/5 favorite, Efforting finished second, four lengths behind Larry Jones’ four-year-old Ours to Run. While in the paddock prior to the race, Ours to Run fiercely kicked the saddling stall, but unfortunately she didn’t “leave her race back in the paddock,” so to speak! Watch the reply here of Race 3 on 1/1/2018.
Spendthrift Farm owner B. Wayne Hughes, who so graciously gifted both horses to the club, plans to retire Efforting as a broodmare in March. We are hopeful she will still race at least once more at Fair Grounds so she can retire on a win!
Excitations Update: Instead of running in the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds, trainer Al Stall Jr., entered club colt Excitations on November 19, 2017, in a 6 1/2 furlong allowance race against older horses at Churchill Downs where he was training. Under regular jockey Miguel Mena, the colt finished second, beaten by 2 lengths by Western Elegance, a long shot 7-year-old gelding who paid $50.80 to win! Watch the replay here of Race 9 from 11/19/2017.
While we were anxious to hear about plans for where Excitations would run next, it was announced that B. Wayne Hughes decided to sell the colt to another partnership that will continue to race him under trainer Doug O’Neill. He is being pointed toward racing at Oaklawn Park this winter, and although Excitations is no longer owned by the club, we will continue to follow his career and hope to see more victories for our favorite colt!
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Editor, Antebellum Turf Times
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