BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Halina’s Forte appears to be the one the beat in the $100,000 Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds Saturday as she takes on seven other 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs. Owned by Richard and Tammy Rigney’s Rigney Racing LLC of Louisville, Ky., Halina’s Forte is 2-1 on the morning line and is one of two Florida-breds entered along with Bedowntofoolaround, who is 30-1 in the program.
Halina’s Forte will be making her third career start Saturday, after finishing second in her last when three-quarters of a length shy of Youalmosthadme in the $215,000 Fern Creek going six-and-a-half furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.
The bay filly won her first race by four-and-a-half lengths against special weight maidens going five-and-a-half furlongs at Churchill on Nov. 5.
Trained by Philip Bauer, Halina’s Forte has earned $74,900 in her three races and will again have Martin Garcia aboard when she breaks from post three.
Halina’s Forte is out of Lunarlady, by Yes It’s True and was bred in Florida by Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt of Houston and Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck of Morriston, Fla.
Also coming into the Letellier off a second-place effort against stakes fillies is Deboisblanc for trainer Brad Cox and owners Kueber Racing LLC and Hoffman Family Racing LLC.
Deboisblanc finished a length-and-a-quarter behind Cap Classique as the favorite in the $100,000 Smart Halo at Laurel Park on Nov. 11 but had an excuse after stumbling at the start of the six furlong test.
A winner of two of five starts with a second and a third including August 13 ¼-length romp against allowance fillies at Horseshoe Indianapolis going six furlongs on Oct. 9, Deboisblanc’s only out of the money finish came when sixth going six furlongs in the $101,000 Prairie Meadows Debutante won by Kant Resist It, who she will again face Saturday.
Deboisblanc has earned $96,170 in her five races and will have the services of jockey Florent Geroux when she breaks from post six.
Deboisblanc is a graduate of the early training program of Jimbo and Torie Gladwell of Reddick, Fla., who sold her to Clay Scherer as agent for $290,000 from their Top Line Sales consignment this year at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale.
Since winning the Prairie Meadows Debutante, Kant Resist It was second to Tapit Jenalie over a sloppy seven furlongs in the $100,000 My Trusty Cat at Delta Downs on Nov. 10.
Trainer Jon Arnett has named Alex Birzer to ride Kant Resist It and they have post two.
By Kantharos out of Sounds Delicious, by Yes It’s True, Kant Resist It has two wins with one second in four starts with earnings of $99,355 for owner NBS Stable.
Bedowntofoolaround won her first career race against special weight maidens at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 14 before finishing fifth last out in a Delta Downs allowance race on Nov. 3.
She is trained by Yovani Munoz and owned by Efrain Hernandez for whom she has earned $16,080.
The daughter of Brooks ‘n Down out of Be Humble, by Awesome of Course was bred by Jacks or Better Farm Inc. and will be ridden from post four by Mitchell Murrill.
Also entered for the Letellier are Mixer with jockey Jarreth Loveberry, Twirl Around and rider Edgar Morales, Brunch Punch with James Graham named to ride and Leslie’s Loot will have Jaime Torres in the irons.
