A full field, deep with experience, will tackle the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap (G2) Saturday; including Florida-bred It’s a Bird, which will make his first start since his dominant win in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic in late January.
It’s a Bird will try to build on the victory, which he took by 5-1/4 lengths and while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 107. It was the highest speed figure of his career and only the second time he earned three digit figures.
Julien Leparoux will be aboard again to try for a repeat performance and put the 6-year-old son of Birdonthewire over the $1 million mark. He currently stands at career earnings of $817,885.
Bred in Florida by White Cross Farm, he is out of the Hooched mare Faithful City. Since moving to Wolfson’s barn in South Florida in August, It’s a Bird has won four of seven races including the Spend A Buck Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course in October. He has also earned the lion’s share of his bankroll in his time with Wolfson.
Another Florida-bred and runner-up to It’s a Bird in the Sunshine Millions Classic is Dry Martini. The 6-year-old gelded son of Slew Gin Fizz made a big run in that race, coming from 11th in the field of 12 to get up for second. He beat Delightful Kiss by a nose for second place.
His last win was in the Stuyvesant Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct in November where he won the mile and an eighth race by 3-1/4 lengths. He came from the back of the pack to rally for the victory. This will be his second start under new trainer Barclay Tagg and will again be in the hands of Edgar Prado, who piloted him in the Sunshine Millions Classic.
Bred locally by Carol and Mary Herse, Dry Martini is out of the Criminal Type mare, Jon’s Kimberly.
Fellow Florida-bred Good and Lucky enters Saturday’s race after a solid runner-up finish in the Mineshaft Handicap (G3) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 7. The 6-year-old gelded son of Wild Rush, Good and Lucky appears to like the Fair Grounds track, He has finished in the top two in three stakes races at the track. He won the Louisiana Handicap on Jan 10 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101. He will get the services of Patrick Valenzuela as his jockey. It will be the third time they’ve teamed up.
Good and Lucky was bred by Louie Rogers and is out of the Accused mare, Shannon’s Innocent.
“All I know is he loves that race track. He always runs well out there, it must be the Cajun cooking. I thing he’s gong to run well,” Rogers said.
Macho Again is yet another Florida-bred in the race and the 4-year-old Macho Uno colt seeks to regain some of the form which saw him win the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga in July and a second place finish in the Super Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs in September.
Bred by Milan Kasanovich, Macho Again is out of the Wild Again mare Go Donna Go.
The quartet of Florida-breds will have to get past other talented horses including Honest Man, who won the Mineshaft Handicap last month while scoring a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.
Other horses in the field of 14 are Golden Yank, Secret Getaway, Brothers Nicholas, Wishful Tomcat, El Caballo, Slew’s Tiznow, Richard’s Kid, Star Guitar and My Pal Charlie.
