No wins on the day, but some promising performances. One entry, as Hug It Out (Medaglia d'Oro) tries allowance company. Since this is the only entry on the day, I'll give it more attention than allowance races have been receiving of late.

All About It Brud

This one was all about What About It Brud. He broke well, went to the lead, and was soon clear of the field. Lord of Thunder made a little dent in the lead, but What About It Brud scampered away once again. However, it was even farther back to third-place Lucius Vorenus. Dreams d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) seemed to just get going as they passed the wire in this one. He had no speed early, and then passed a bunch late on the rail to take 4th. Hopefully, a mile and an eighth is in his future. Gifts for a King (Saarland) made a middle move, and then flattened out, finishing 7th.

Result: January 11, 2009
Fair Grounds Race 1
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Flatterwithglitter is One Con Lover

38-1 Flatterwithglitter went right to the lead, and stayed there. For Spacious Skies chased throughout, and had every chance to go by, but she had to settle for second. Con Lover (Congaree) was far back early, made a wide move on the turn, and got up to third.

Result: January 11, 2009
Turfway Park Race 6
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Laura's Got the Luck to Rule Schrader

Schrader Rules (Peace Rules) got off to a slow start, but soon got up to chase the pace set by Untuttable Charm, and Silver Lulu. On the turn, Schrader Rules hit the lead, but it was short-lived as favorite Laura's Luck was coming. She swept by and took the win by better than 4. Savannah Sings, who bumped with the eventual winner, took second. Schrader Rules ended up 5th. With a better start, she probably would have hit the board.

Result: January 11, 2009
Gulfstream Park Race 10
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Miss Carmelite is a Bear for Marie

Miss Carmelite came out of the gate running and soon held a 2 length advantage on the field. Miss Anomaly was chasing, but she tired, dashes hopes for a Miss exacta. I'm sure Charmer Ridge's connections breathed a sigh of relief (she was the filly who refused to break in her debut), as she broke fine, and then raced on the inside. She was moved to the outside for the stretch run and closed willingly, taking 2nd. Bear's Marie (Congaree) also closed late, but had too much ground to make up and had to settle for third.

Result: January 11, 2009
Fair Grounds Race 10
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Other Results for January 11

Promise Me Merlot (Peace Rules) pressed the early pace, and then weakened to 4th in his allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Allowance Try for Hug It Out

January 12, 2009
Fair Grounds Race 1
Allowance Optional Claiming
6 furlongs
3-year old fillies
Post Time: 1:30 PM ET HRTV

Hug It Out (Medaglia d'Oro - Dazzling Contrast by General Meeting), who has faced stakes company in her last two starts, will try an allowance/optional claiming race this time around. She is not in for a tag. Hug It Out, who broke her maiden in her debut on August 27 at Arlington Park, ran 4th in the Pontalba Stakes on November 22 at Fair Grounds, and 3rd in the Letellier Memorial Stakes at the same track on December 20. The latter was at this same distance of 6 furlongs. Since that race, she's had one work, going 4 furlongs in :48.40 on January 6 at Fair Grounds.

Linnea (Candy Ride (ARG) - Fort Lauderdale by Montbrook) finished 5th, behind Hug It Out, in the Letellier Memorial Stakes. In her only other start, she was victorious in a 5.5 furlong maiden race on the turf at Fair Grounds on December 4. She has also had one work since the Letellier. Coincidentally, I saw Candy Ride at the Hill n Dale stallion show this afternoon. He was looking very good. I was freezing.

Catarina Ranch (Dove Hunt - Free and Foolish by Fly So Free), who is the only filly in for the $50,000 tag, finished 3rd, in front of Hug It Out, in the Pontalba Stakes. Since then, she was victorious in a 6 furlong claiming race on New Year's Eve. Catarina Ranch is the only entrant with 2 wins (which is why she is in for a claiming tag. According to the conditions of the race, fillies who have won 2 races must run for a claiming price in this race.). Catarina Ranch took her maiden win by better than 9 lengths, going virtually gate-to-wire on August 9 at Louisiana Downs. In her 7 starts, she has never been worse than 3rd.

The other three fillies come into this one off of their maiden triumphs.

Just For Annika (Concerto - Point for Big Sexy by Horse Chestnut (SAF)) broke her maiden in her fourth start, on December 20 at Fair Grounds. In that one, she led practically the whole race to take the win by more than 4.

Auspicious (Indian Charlie - Hannah's Doll by Boston Harbor) was victorious in her first and only start, at Churchill Downs on November 1. She came from off-the-pace, to take that 6 furlong contest by 6 lengths. Auspicious is the morning-line favorite for this one. She has been working at Fair Grounds since early December.

Bombarda (Vicar - Waverly Bell by Idabel) was third in her debut on November 15 at Remington Park, and then was victorious 2nd time out at that track on December 13. She came from off'-the-pace to score in that 7 furlong contest. Bombarda has had a couple of works at Louisiana Downs since her triumph, including a bullet 5 furlong work on January 4.