BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ellen Epstein’s homebred Nana’s Corn Muffin will try stakes company for the first time Friday at Evangeline Downs as the Florida-bred is set for the $60,000 Acadiana for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs.
Trained by Allen Landry, Nana’s Corn Muffin impressed in her career debut, a win by nearly five lengths against $32,000 maiden claiming fillies going six-and-a-half furlongs in the slop at Delta Downs in October. Three starts later, she won for the second time, defeating a non-winners of two allowance fillies by nearly three lengths at the same distance at Delta Downs on Dec. 29.
In one start since, she was fourth behind winner and Acadiana foe Six String in an upper-level allowance race for fillies and mares sprinting five furlongs on Feb. 17.
By Oscar Performance out of Nothing But Delta, by Will Take Charge, Nana’s Corn Muffin has won two of five career starts with one second while banking $52,160.
She is a graduate of the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales where she was consigned by Boutte Sales and purchased for $11,000 by Penn Oak Equus Inn.
Timothy Thortan will ride Nana’s Corn Muffin, who is 6-1 on the morning line and has post four in the field of seven.
City Ghost, a winner of three of four career races for trainer Henry B. Johnson, has been labeled the morning line favorite at 5-2.
The bay daughter of Shaman’s Ghost out of Zip Her Up, by City Zip exits a four-and-a-half length victory against Texas-bred fillies in a non-winners of three, $50,000 optional claiming going seven furlongs on March 3 at Sam Houston Race Park.
Owned by Russell Welch, City Ghost has won two straight after taking a five-furlong, non-winners of two allowance at Delta Downs on Nov. 3. Her only career loss came when fourth behind winner Brightwork in the $216,000 Debutante at Ellis Park in July.
City Ghost has post six and will be ridden by Angel Suarez.
Also entered to run in the Acadiana are Fibber with jockey Mitchell Murrill, Devon Magnon is named to ride Guitar Solo, Chris Rosier is named on Six String and Take Her Away will have Joe Stokes in the irons.
