Stephen Peterson’s Validfromthegitgo,
who finished third in his last start in Fair Grounds’ $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Dec. 10, has been installed as a tepid 5-2 morning line choice in Friday’s $40,000
South Mississippi Owners and Breeders
Stakes at the Crescent City oval.
The
six-furlong dash, restricted to 3-year-olds which comply with the
bylaws of the South Mississippi Owners and Breeders Association, is
observing
its 16th renewal this season as part of Fair Grounds’ stakes schedule
and has attracted a field of 10, with seven wagering interests due to
three couplings.
In
the Champions Day Juvenile, Validfromthegitgo was beaten 2 1/2-lengths
for the win but was compromised when shuffled back shortly after the
half-mile pole. Before that, the Sam Breaux
trainee was third in the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes at Delta
Downs Nov. 19 but raced four-wide throughout. Seven-time Fair Grounds
jockey champion
Robby Albarado gets the riding assignment in Friday’s sprint.
Capable of providing strong competition for Validfromthegitgo is Pop-A-Top’s
Raiseanothergator, who
scored a 1 1/4-length win in his last start Dec. 8 here by making the
pace throughout in $20,000 claiming company. Conditioned by nine-time
Fair Grounds trainer champion
Tom Amoss, Raiseanothergator is pegged at 3-1 in the early line will be ridden once again by jockey
James Graham, aboard for that last local score.
Coupled in the wagering and the third choice at 4-1 is the Bill Hudson-owned colt
Hudson’s Creed, as well as the filly
La Belle Cat, second and third, respectively, in their most recent starts.
Shane Sellers has been named on the colt, while
Kerwin Clark is listed astride the filly, both trained by
Eric Heitzmann.
Completing the field is the William Reed-owned entry of
Surley and Bonita Saleeta; the William Gilmore-owned duo of
Porto Pottea and Doc Storm Cat; Jerry Haggart’s
Sweet Harmony and Divine Equine’s
Big Chief Duke.