Brereton Jones' homebred Believe You Can looks to parlay a 10 1/4-length tally in the Feb. 2 Tiffany Lass Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots into victory in the $150,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes March 9, and seems in sharp enough form to do it after turning in a bullet work March 4.
The 2012 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner, who took the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) last year en route to victory at Churchill Downs, went five furlongs in :59 2/5 in advance of her latest assignment for trainer Larry Jones. She will carry high weight of 123 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile New Orleans Ladies when breaking from the far outside in a field of six older fillies and mares. Approximate post time is 3:58 p.m. CST.
"She worked very well Monday," Jones remarked of the 4-year-old daughter of Proud Citizen. "She was really sharp. This is the race we have targeted all along for Believe You Can. As of right now, I've got Young and Lovely (second in her most recent start her Jan. 18) and Totally Tucker (first by 4 1/4 in her last Jan. 17) going in the race with her."
Up against the Jones trio are Imposing Grace, Myriad, and Premo's Star. Imposing Grace was second in the Tiffany Lass for trainer Wayne Catalano after beating Young and Lovely by three-quarters of a length Jan. 18 going a mile and 70 yards. Myriad was third in the Tiffany Lass and also entered the race off an allowance win going a mile and 70 yards, by a neck Jan. 5 for trainer Merrill Scherer. Premo's Star won an allowance event at the same distance Feb. 17 by 2 1/4 lengths when saddled by John Anthony Leblanc.
Also on the afternoon card, trainer Gennadi Dorochenko wheels 2012 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner Hero of Order back from a fourth-place finish in the Feb. 23 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) to the $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes. The six-furlong event marks a return to sprinting for the 4-year-old son of Sharp Humor, who ran in the 1 1/16-mile Mineshaft after finishing second in a Feb. 2 allowance optional claimer to Bind.
Highweight in the Duncan F. Kenner, which is scheduled as race 9 with an approximate post time of 4:57 p.m. CST, is Su Casa G Casa. The 5-year-old During gelding won the Louisiana Bred Premier Night Sprint Stakes Feb. 2 at Delta Downs off a victory in the Dec. 8 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes at Fair Grounds for trainer Bret Calhoun.
Second in the weights at 121 and streaking in with four straight victories under his girth is Delaunay, winner of the Jan. 26 F.W. Gaudin Memorial Stakes. The Tom Amoss trainee also took the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds Nov. 22, the Bet on Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Nov. 3, and the Sept. 8 Temperence Hill Stakes at Louisiana Downs as part of his winning quartet.
Completing the field are Gantry, second in the F.W. Gaudin by 4 1/4 lengths last time out; Ghost is Clear, winner of a Feb. 10 starter optional claimer sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs; and Amancer de Oro, third in the La. Bred Premier Night Sprint Stakes in his most recent start.
$150,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes (Race 7, approximate post 3:58 p.m. CST), Fillies & Mares 4YOs & Up, 1 1/16 miles (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Imposing Grace (KY), J. Graham, 119, W M Catalano
2. Myriad (KY), M. Mena, 117, M R Scherer
3. Young and Lovely (KY), C. McMahon, 117, J L Jones
4. Premo's Star (LA), J. Jacinto, 117, J A Leblanc
5. Totally Tucker (KY), P.A. Johnson, 117, J L Jones
6. Believe You Can (KY), R. Napravnik, 123, J L Jones
Equip. Change: 1, Imposing Grace, blinkers on
$150,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes (Race 9, approximate post 4:57 p.m. CST), 3YOS & Up, six furlongs (dirt)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Amancer de Oro (LA), J. Jacinto, 117, S Duke
2. Ghost Is Clear (KY), J. Graham, 117, M J Maker
3. Gantry (KY), R E Eramia, 117, R Faucheux
4. Hero of Order (KY), S. Bridgmohan, 117, G Dorochenko
5. Su Casa G Casa (LA), M. Mena, 123, W B Calhoun
6. Delaunay (MD), R. Napravnik, 121, T M Amoss