By Graham Ross
SUCCESSFUL MISSION WINS AT fAIR GROUNDS ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY
NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, February 07, 2010) – Live Oak Plantation’s Successful
Mission won Sunday’s $42,500 feature at Fair Grounds in what New Orleans native
hunch players hoped would be prescient of a victory by the New Orleans Saints
some hours later in Super Bowl XLIV.
After being allowed to settle early, Successful Mission responded outside the
leaders when set down for the drive and just got up by a nose in the last jump.
Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott and ridden by Pat Valenzuela,
Successful Mission paid $8.80, $4.60 and $3.80 toured the about five and a half
furlongs over a Stall-Wilson turf course rated “good” in 1:05.84 and increased
his career earnings to $106,834 with his third victory in nine lifetime starts.
Southern Region, always well placed, continued willingly late to gain the place,
paying $6.20 and $4.40 while finishing a half-length to the good of Battle At
Sea, who paid $4.40 in the show position after making the pace with early splits
of 22.71 and 47.08.
Racing resumes Monday at Fair Grounds with a 10-race program with a first post
of 1:10 p.m.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing
facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds
is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it
also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors
throughout southeast Louisiana. Fair Grounds’ 138th Thoroughbred season will run
through March 28, 2010, highlighted by the Grade II Louisiana Derby on March 27.
Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at
www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
.