Louisiana Downs

REGATTA BAY tracked close up three-wide, ranged up to contest the lead near the quarter pole, then drew off in the final furlong under a brisk hand ride. A MILLION STARS tracked close up two-wide, was no match for the winner from the top of the stretch, but kept to task under heavy urging and was just up for second. SWIFT N TRAFFIC seized the early lead and slowed the pace for the first half-mile, held sway through the far turn, then could not go on with the eventual winner and was outfinished for second. Z'S GUITAR got caught four-wide into the first turn, raced in the three-path down the backstretch near the rear, made a mild middle move under a drive through the far turn, but could not sustain the bid in the late stages. FORT BONZ raced with the trio at the back, saved ground to no avail, and was never a threat. SAN JUAN HILL got shuffled back at the start, remained in a trailing position, and never offered a rally.

MISS LOUISE raced in the two-path near the back early on, made a nice mid-race move to be in range of SILENT STRIKE on the lead near the quarter pole, dueled, chased that rival through the stretch, was not making much headway, then closed the gap in the final yards and got a favorable bob at the wire. SILENT STRIKE was close to the pace but three-wide through the first turn, moved up to press the pace late on the backstretch run, took the lead near the quarter pole, then was challenged to the outside by MISS LOUISA, kept that rival at bay through most of the stretch run but lost the head bob at the wire. LINDA FAYE lacked any early speed and settled in at the back, started a sustained bid from the three-furlong pole, and finished with good late interest to gain third. MORALLY COMPLEX raced close up along the rail, did not respond when asked to kick on midway through the far turn, and evenly through the stretch and outfinished for a minor award. MOM'S HANDS showed good speed but raced in the four-path, had a narrow lead down the backstretch despite keeping to the wide path, lost some ground on the far turn while trying to bear out, then flattened out in the stretch. LITTLEBITOFAQUEEN tracked in mid-pack through the early stages, then was outkicked through the stretch.

OLE MISTER assumed command early, went ahead to a clear lead before the turn, widened to about four lengths through the turn, came into the stretch still traveling well, and maintained the clear margin to the wire under steady handling. NELLE TUE MANI got away well, ceded the lead on OLE MISTER while settling well off the pace two-deep, came under a stiff drive from the quarter pole, and responded with a mild rally, was never getting to the winner but moved up to take the second prize. CLEARLY COLOSSAL got shut off and took back after the start, rushed up under a ride to get back into the race, regained contact with the main pack before the turn, came out four-wide into the stretch, and stayed on enough to pick up the minor award. DIXIE STRONG ducked into the path of the outside rival, saved ground to the stretch, moved out to the two path, but went one-paced late and was unable to threaten. MIDNIGHT COAL lost the path after the start and had to steady, dropped far back initially, then chased the rest of the way with some mild improvement. TAUREAN got pinballed shortly after the break, tried to get back into the race but tired in the late stages and was never a factor. YAKETY YOCK was very briefly up on the pace to the inside, then suddenly dropped back through the field before going a quarter mile, and was distanced.