Heavy favorite Placid Star kept her perfect record intact, streaking home to win the $100,000 Sarah Lane's Oates Handicap for 3-year-old Louisiana-bred fillies in impressive fashion Saturday at Fair Grounds.Placid Star, sent off at 13-10, is now 5-for-5 since debuting at Fair Grounds in December. The streak includes stakes victories in the Louisiana Premier Starlet at Delta Downs and the Battler Star Handicap at Fair Grounds in her previous two starts.Ridden by Gerard Melancon, Placid Star broke from the rail and saved ground as Dear Alicia, with Katlin's Rocket pressing hard in second, took the field down the backstretch through a half-mile in 47 4/5.At the top of the stretch, Placid Star put in her rally as she circled the field, picking off challengers with a bold five-wide bid. She overtook Young Emotions in mid-stretch and went on to a two-length victory. The final time for about one mile over the Stall-Wilson turf course was 1:38.The winner paid $4.60, $3 and $2.40. Young Emotions ($3.60, $2.80) finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Merry Mary ($5.20) in a field of 13.Placid Star improved her earnings to $207,000 for trainer Sam David Jr., who owns the filly in partnership with James McCurry.In an allowance/optional-claiming event run prior to the Sarah Lane's Oates, My Lord shattered a course record for about 5 1/2-furlongs on the Stall-Wilson turf course in a stealth 1:02.90. The previous record was set by Cat Singer when he went 1:03.26. Three course records at distances on the Stall-Wilson turf course have fallen this month.
(Chart, Equibase)
