Photo: CDI
Adele Dilschneider’s Aide, a disappointing fifth in
Fair Grounds’ $60,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 22 as the first leg of the
New Orleans oval’s three-race series that concludes with the Grade II Fair
Grounds Oaks March 26, finds an easier spot when she faces seven rivals in Tuesday’s
67th running of the $60,000 Mardi Gras Stakes, now restricted to
3-year-old fillies and run at about 7 1/2-furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf
course.
The Mardi Gras Stakes serves as the showcase event for the
only Tuesday racing program of the 2010-2011 Fair Grounds season, with first
post time slated for 12:40 p.m.
In the Silverbulletday, Aide was sent to the post as the
strong second choice in the wagering but raced wide most of the way and never
seriously threatened. Before that, however, Aide had finished fourth in
Churchill’s Grade II Golden Rod Stakes last Nov. 27 behind the victorious Kathmanblu,
owned by Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables, who has since captured
Fair Grounds Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes Feb. 19.
Aide, who will be running on grass for the first time in
her career and is trained by Al Stall Jr., has been installed as the 5-2
choice in the Mardi Gras morning line and gets the riding services of Fair
Grounds defending jockey champion Shaun Bridgmohan.
Capable of providing strong competition for Aide is
Estrorace and Rookie Thoroughbred Racing Stable’s Cryptocandiac, a
daughter of Candy Ride out of a Citidancer mare who broke her maiden with a 1
3/4-length tally over the Stall-Wilson turf course here on Dec. 2. Trained by Mike
Stidham, Cryptocandiac has been pegged as the 4-1 second choice in the
Mardi Gras morning line and will have Fair Grounds’ current leading rider Rosie
Napravnik in the stirrups.
Completing the Mardi Gras lineup is Right Time Racing’s Street
Storm, Jesse Campbell; Mark Stanley’s My Phi Temper, Corey Lanerie; Mt.
Brilliant Stable’s Hey Carmen, James Graham; Arapaho Royal’s Royal
Alluvial, Jamie Theriot; Carl Moore Management’s Rock Hard Sue,
Miguel Mena; and Stone Farm’s Ambient, Brian Hernandez Jr.