Superior Storm Shows Her Stuff
Top Louisiana bred Superior Storm gave everybody something to talk about the morning after beating 2008 champion filly Proud Spell. Smiles could be seen, congratulations heard, and high-fives were exchanged through the Rick Jackson (pictured) barn this morning during training.
Superior Storm, often seen running first or second in the Louisiana bred stakes program, took her second stab running at Oaklawn in open company. The four-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic dictated the pace and was able to set her fractions in the mile and one-sixteenth event. When Proud Spell was asked for run at the quarter poll, she made a mild move, but was unable to make up any ground on Superior Storm who rolled to a two and half length score.
“Her best races are when she gets her own pace. I think she has it in her to relax off the leader as well. She proved yesterday that she was a little better than everybody thought (against open company),” mentioned Jackson. “You have to give credit to the other horses. We are tickled to death with how she won, and how big she ran.”
“She is one of the best horses to be around. She loves attention and especially loves her peppermints,” Jackson smiled. “She is the kind of horse that can run on all kinds of tracks and takes part of the track with her when she runs. The sloppy track was a minor concern, but that turned out to be no problem for her. Being that she is by Stormy Atlantic we may in the future try her on the turf.”
As for her owners Jac Mac Stables, LLC, Jackson says they understand they have a nice filly. “The owners are thrilled with how she ran yesterday. I appreciate having them and giving me a shot to train a filly like this. I consider myself very privileged. We were happy to win a race at Oaklawn with her as well. She has been training beautifully here, and to win a race here with her was great.”
Jackson says Superior Storm will be nominated to both the $500,000 Apple Blossom on April 4th and the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes on April 8th. “It takes her a couple of weeks to bounce back from a race; she gives her very best when she runs. We want her at 100 percent when she runs, so we will consider our options with her.”
Trainer Larry Jones says Proud Spell came out of her 2009 debut in good shape, “She just had too much to chase after turning from home, the Apple Blossom is still our main target,” said Jones this morning.
Honeybee Has Quality Field
The boys will take to the track on Saturday in the Rebel Stakes, and on the following day the girls will take their turn in the $100,000 Honeybee Stakes, which will be the stepping stone to the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn on Sunday, April 5th.
A field of seven will test their talents in the mile and one-sixteenth race, and see if they have what it takes to try their chances at their shot for the Kentucky Oaks. Rachel Alexandra will test the waters down at Fair Grounds on Saturday in the Fair Grounds Oaks, and there are plenty of fillies looking to step up their game in the Honeybee.
The likely favorite will be Just Jenda for trainer Larry Jones (pictured). The daughter of Menifee will enter the Honeybee off a third place finish in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. Just Jenda will be making her second start at the mile and one-sixteenth distance, and will get the riding services of Gabriel Saez, who broke Just Jenda’s maiden at Philadelphia Park.
“Just Jenda is a very easy filly to handle, she is an easy horse to train, and just a delight to be around,” said Jones by phone. “I don’t think she will have any issues with the distance. I bought two horses for my wife, this being one of them. We are pleased with how well she has turned out.”
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will send out current barn star Be Fair for her first stakes start in Sunday’s feature. The filly has made two starts and has scored two wins. By Exchange Rate, Be Fair has posted back to back bullet five-eighths workouts since her last race. Jockey Terry Thompson will be behind the reins on Be Fair, who will break from the rail.
Peach Brew enters the Honeybee Stakes off a third place finish in the Martha Washington Stakes on February 15th. The Donnie K. Von Hemel trainee will be making her second race off of a freshening. Jockey Quincy Hamilton will be aboard Peach Brew once again. “She is a filly with a lot of heart. She runs hard every time. It’s a tough race, but nothing in life is easy,” smiled Hamilton. “I’m excited about this race, and can’t wait to see what happens.”
The complete field with trainer and jockey: Afleet Deceit, Terry Gestes, Chris Emigh; Hightap, Steve Asmussen, Shaun Bridgmohan; My Spanx, Allen Milligan, Martin Escobar; Bon Jovi Girl, Tim Ritchey, Jose Caraballo.
Post time for the Sunday feature will be 5:11 p.m. CDT and will go off as the ninth race on the ten race card.
A Little Bit More
Flat Out (pictured), who overcame a slow break in the Southwest to finish third, was noticeably absent from the contenders in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday. Trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey said his top charge missed some training time due to a bruised foot, but will still be pointed to the Arkansas Derby. “We haven’t decided yet if we are going to train up to the race, or if we will look for some kind of prep race before the Arkansas Derby,” mentioned Dickey between races on Friday. “We will see how he trains and take things from there.”
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