Photo: CDI
In the $350,000 Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap Battle of
Hastings got the favorite’s role with a win in Churchill’s Grade III River
City Handicap and a fourth-place finish in the Grade I Gulfstream
Park Turf Handicap at last asking Feb. 5. Robby Albarado will
make up most of the top weight of 121 pounds.
Brazilian-bred Moryba, winner of the Group I
Grande Premio Brasil last summer and his only start in this country this
winter at Gulfstream, has 119 pounds including Kent Dersormeaux and
Augustin Stable’s Smart Bid, second in the Gulfstream Park Turf
Handicap, gets in with 118 with Edgar Prado named.
Completing the Mervin Muniz field, including jockeys and
weights, is Stacey Moak’s Southern Anthem, James Graham (114);
George and Lori Hall’s Sleepless Knight, Joe Bravo (115); Millennium
Farms and Mike McCarty’s Expansion, Gerard Melancon (117); Estrorace’s Workin
for Hops, Rosie Napravnik (116); Sam-Son Farms’ Giant’s Tomb, Corey
Lanerie (114); and Henry Pabst’s Joinem, Shaun Bridgmohan (113).
DUNCAN
KENNER STAKES
The Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein-owned coupling of the
Steve Margolis-trained Cash Refund and Early Return heads
Saturday’s 60th anniversary running of the $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes
at six furlongs.
Cash Refund won last year’s Duncan F. Kenner here and the $75,000
Gaudin Memorial earlier last season, while Early Return captured this
year’s Gaudin Memorial on Jan. 22.
Brian Hernandez Jr. is slated for the saddle on Cash
Refund and Shaun Bridgmohan gets the riding assignment aboard Early
Return.
Completing Saturday’s Duncan F. Kenner field is
Starlight Partners’ Three Day Rush, Corey Lanerie; Agave Racing Stable’s
New Bay, Miguel Mena; Louie Roussel III’s Mambo Galliano, James
Graham; Zayat Stables’ Riley Tucker, Gerard Melancon; Gold Mark
Farm’s Backtalk, Rosie Napravnik and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wygod’s Snapshot,
Kent Desormeaux.
BAYOU HANDICAP
Oakcrest Farm et al.’s Upperline, heroine of this
winter’s $58,000 Allan Lacombe Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds and
last summer’s Grade III Arlington Oaks at Arlington Park has been
installed as the 9-5 morning line choice for Saturday’s 43rd running of the $100,000
Bayou Handicap for older fillies and mares at about 1 1/16-miles over Fair
Grounds Stall-Wilson turf course. Fair Grounds soon-to-be officially
crowned 2010-2011 jockey champion Rosie Napravnik rides.
Sam Son Farms’ Forest Uproar, third in the Lacombe
Memorial but winner of the $58,000 Marie Krantz Memorial earlier
this season, has been pegged as the 2-1 second choice with jockey James
Graham up.
Completing the Bayou Handicap field is Darrell and Lendy Brown’s
Valli With a Vow, Robby Albarado; Robert and Lawana Low’s Born Indy U
S A, Shaun Bridgmohan; and James Perron Racing Stable’s Category Seven,
Richard Eramia.