Street Storm surges in Mardi Gras Stakes

By Graham Ross, Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS (Tuesday, March 08, 2011) – Right Time Racing’s Street Storm, placed just off the early pace by jockey Jesse Campbell, challenged for command when set down for the drive and out-footed Adele Dilschneider’s favored Aide to tally by a neck in Tuesday’s 67th running of the $60,000 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds.

“I’ve got to give the horse a lot of credit,” said Campbell shortly after the race that gave him the 61st stakes win of his career. “She really gave me her all from the quarter-pole to the wire. It was the first time I’d ridden this filly, but anytime you ride for Steve (Margolis, winning trainer) you get a lot of extra confidence.”

Street Storm toured the 7 1/2-furlong distance of the Mardi Gras – taken off the grass and run on the main track – in 1:43.77, increased her career earnings to $56,840 with her second win in seven career starts and returned mutuels of $19.80, $5.80 and $3.80.

“This filly ran third in the ($60,000) Letellier (Memorial) here Dec. 18,” said Margolis, “so we figured we’d take another shot on the dirt. She’s run well on Polytrack, grass and dirt.”

Aide, who pressed the pace throughout, could not stay with the winner late but gamely held the place, paying $3 and $2.40 while finishing a neck to the good of Estrorace and Rookie Thoroughbred Racing’s Cryptocandiac, who lacked the needed late response and returned $4 to show.

Arapaho Royal’s Royal Alluvial made the pace with splits of 23.63 and 47.30 before weakening late.

Racing resumes Friday at Fair Grounds with an 11-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.

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 .