NEW ORLEANS - Jan. 2, 2012 – Ladies came first at Fair Grounds on New Year’s Eve – several hours before fireworks lit up the Crescent City skyline that silhouettes the picturesque backdrop of the nation’s third oldest Thoroughbred oval.

That’s because it was a pair of young equine females that were the most impressive among their respective peers Saturday, and since their careers are still in their fledgling stages, it is their promising futures that could attract Thoroughbred enthusiasts.

In Saturday’s first race, a middle distance two-other-than open event for juvenile fillies, it was Greenwood Lodge Farm’s Summer Applause, a daughter of 2002 Florida Derby and Blue Grass winner Harlan’s Holiday that drew off for a seven-length score.

Later in the afternoon, it was Oak Leaf’s Effie that caught the front-running favorite in the co-featured filly division of the six-furlong $100,390 Louisiana Futurity, and that daughter of 2005 Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument showed that she might continue to improve in accredited Louisiana-bred competition as the distances get longer.

SUMMER APPLAUSE SHOWS WINTER POSSIBILITIES AT FAIR GROUNDS – An inauspicious career debut at 5 1/2-furlongs by Greenwood Lodge Farm’s Summer Applause last October was followed by a 2 1/4-length tally at seven-eighths in early December, but Saturday’s seven-length score at a mile and 70 yards stamped this youngster as one to watch all winter long in New Orleans.

Fair Grounds’ sophomore filly series begins with the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day Jan. 21, continues with the Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Louisiana Derby Preview Day Feb. 25 and concludes with the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks on March 31, penultimate day of Fair Grounds’ 2011-2012 season.

"We were very happy with (Summer Applause’s) race yesterday," said the filly’s trainer Josie Carroll during training hours Sunday morning. "It was her first time going two turns and she did everything right. She could be any kind."

It should be noted that Carroll trained Donver Stable’s Inglorious to finish second in last year’s Rachel Alexandra and fourth in last year’s Fair Grounds Oaks, but later in the year that filly went on to win Canada’s $500,000 Woodbine Oaks and then defeat male rivals in the $1,000,000 Queen’s Plate north of the border.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots