Zayat Stables’ Prayer for Relief , 6 1/4-length winner of the Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last time out, looms a strong choice despite shouldering top impost of 123 pounds in the $100,000 Louisiana Handicap Jan. 18.
Rosie Napravnik has the mount on the Steve Asmussen trainee, a 6-year-old son of Jump Start who breaks from post 4 at 7-5 on the morning line.
Six are entered the Louisiana Handicap, the first of Fair Grounds’ three-race series for older horses on the main track. The series continues with the Feb. 22 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) and concludes March 29 with the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II).
Maggi Moss’ Grand Contender, trained by Tom Amoss and to be ridden by Miguel Mena, was second to Prayer for Relief in the Tenacious and gets in with 118 pounds. The 6-year-old Strong Contender gelding won the Nov. 23 Delta Mile Stakes at Delta Downs and is 3-1 on the morning line from the outside.
Agent Di Nozzo, a 5-year-old Ghostzapper gelding who races for Lawana and Robert Low and trainer Steve Margolis, was third in the Tenacious and second in the Delta Mile. He carries 117 pounds, including jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, from Post 2.
Owner Jim Tafel and trainer Greg Geier send out the duo of Fordubai and Street Spice. The latter, a 4-year-old Street Sense gelding, was third in the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) last time out Nov. 30 at Hawthorne Race Course. He breaks from the 3 hole and gets Kerwin Clark in the irons as part of a 116-pound assignment. Fordubai, a 4-year-old son of E Dubai, must rebound from a sixth in the Hawthorne Gold Cup and the same finish in the Indiana Derby (gr. II). He drew the rail and will have Robby Albarado in the irons under 114.
Voodoo Storm, a 6-year-old Storm Cat runner who races for Hoosier Daddy’s Stable and Tim Glyshaw, was fifth in the Tenacious and completes the field from post 5 carrying 116 including Richard Eramia.
$100,000 Louisiana Handicap (Race 5, approximate post 2:26 p.m. CDT), 4YOs & Up, 1 1/16 miles (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Fordubai (KY), R. Albarado, 114, G Geier, 10-1
2. Agent Di Nozzo (KY), S. Bridgmohan, 117, S Margolis, 7-2
3. Street Spice (KY), K.D. Clark, 116, G Geier, 6-1
4. Prayer for Relief (KY), R. Napravnik, 123, S M Asmussen, 7-5
5. Voodoo Storm (KY), R.E. Eramia, 116, T Glyshaw, 8-1
6. Grand Contender (KY), M. Mena, 118, T M Amoss, 3-1