Populist Politics (left) with Richard Eramia up squeezes Rosie Napravnik aboard Man of Strife earning a disqualification in the 39th running of the Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Man of Strife was ruled the winner and Populist Politics was placed 3rd after Tonto Too ridden by Jamie Theriot. Photo by Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

Jr.Man Of Strife awarded 39th Crescent City Derby

Also:

· Star Guitar Dominates Costa Rising Stakes
· Hisse Blossoms Again in 2011 Red Camelia
· Kissimmee Kyle Best in the Bayou St. John Stakes
· Lovenotlost Captures Crescent City Oaks

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS - March 25, 2011 - Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence’s Populist Politics, cross-entered in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby but scratched out of that in favor of Friday’s 39th running of the $75,000 Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds, was first under the wire by a nose the easier assignment in the Derby restricted to accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds but was subsequently disqualified to third with Heartlines Horse Ranch’s Man of Strife being awarded the victory.

Man of Strife, always well placed by eventual winning rider Rosie Napravnik, was bumped by Populist Politics and also carried in by that rival late in the running.

The adjudged winner, trained by Brian House, returned mutuels of $6.40, $3.60 and $2.20 and increased his career earnings to $129,830 with his fourth win from six lifetime starts.

Stacey Moak’s Tonto Too, third under the wire while three-quarters of a length behind Man of Strife when forced to check behind Populist Politics, was moved up to the second position and paid $4.40 and $2.80.

Populist Politics, who crossed under the wire for the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.53, paid $2.40 to show when moved down to the third position following his disqualification.

STAR GUITAR DOMINATES COSTA RISING STAKES – Brittlyn Stable’s Star Guitar, who earlier this season became the first horse to win four Louisiana Champions Day stakes during the 20-year-history of Louisiana Champion Day at Fair Grounds, added to his laurels Friday with a facile score in the second running of the $75,000 Costa Rising Stakes as the initial event on the Battle on the Bayou program.

Star Guitar, trained by Al Stall Jr., was 1-20 in the wagering, pressed the pace under Corey Lanerie, took command in upper stretch and was 2 1/2-lengths in front at the wire. He returned a $2.10 straight price, increased his career earnings to $1,230,958 with his 17th win from 23 lifetime starts and accomplished the distance of 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.30.

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Heavenville, who set the early pace in 25.18 and 49.01, held down the second spot at the wire, finishing 3 3/4-lengths in front of entry mate Hallway.

HISSE BLOSSOMS ONCE AGAIN IN 2011 RED CAMELIA—Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Hisse, defending champion from last year’s $75,000 Red Camelia Stakes for older fillies and mares, took down winning honors once again in Friday’s 35th running.

The 6-year-old Buddha mare, trained by Steve Asmussen, was allowed to settle early by jockey Rosie Napravnik, gained the advantage at the sixteenth pole and drew off for a 2 3/4-length score. She toured the about 1 1/16-mile distance over the Stall-Wilson turf course rated firm in 1:44.84, increased her career earnings to $423,181 with her seventh win in 29 lifetime starts and returned mutuels of $4.40, $2.40 and $2.10.

Daniel Family Farms’ Skipping Town took command in the stretch, could not withstand the winner but was clearly second best, finishing three lengths to the good of TK Riley Farms’ Riley’s Monarch.

Skipping Town paid $2.60 and $2.40, while Riley’s Monarch returned $5.60 to show.

KISSIMMEE KYLE BEST IN THE BAYOU ST. JOHN STAKES—Red Oak Stable’s Kissimmee Kyle made the pace and continued willingly late in the inaugural edition of the $75,000 Bayou St. John Stakes for older horses at about 5 1/2-furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course and was best by a length and a quarter at the wire.

Ridden by Robby Albarado and trained by Al Stall Jr., Kissimmee Kyle set early fractions of 22.87 and 46.42 before touring the final distance in 1:04.04. He increased his career earnings to $237,505 with his fourth win in 16 lifetime starts and paid $6.20, $3 and $2.20.

Sam Citron’s Chief Jay got up for the place, paying $3.40 and $2.80 while finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Glen Warren’s Hud’s Rebel, who returned $2.20 to show.

LOVENOTLOST CAPTURES CRESCENT CITY OAKS—Tri-Star Racing’s Lovenotlost launched a determined late rally in Friday’s $75,000 Crescent City Oaks to best Maggi Moss’s Lawson’s Lady by 1 1/4-lengths in the fifth renewal of the race restricted to accredited Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Wes Hawley and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Lovenotlost paid $10.80, $4.80 and $3.20, accomplished the mile and 70-yard distance in 1:42.51 and increased her career earnings to $128,450 with her fourth win in nine lifetime starts.

Lawson’s Lady, who made the pace with early splits of 23.72 and 47.26 was clearly second best at the wire, paying $5 and $3 while a length to the good of Dan Lynch, Ken Sentel and Merrill Scherer’s Tensas Punch, who returned $2.80 to show.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 139th Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 27, 2011, highlighted by the 98th Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 26. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com .