Roadster Returns From Layoff in New Orleans Classic

Someone has to be on the lead in the early stages of the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2).

Settling on who will play the role of the speedster is the tricky part.

The past performances of the eight starters in the 1 1/8-mile March 20 stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots almost exclusively feature crooked numbers. From a combined 91 races for the field in their past performances, in the first three points of call for those races—a bundle of 273 calls—only twice has one of the starters been in front.

One was Owendale, who was a head in front after a half mile in the 2020 Pimlico Special (G3) but wound up second. So maybe jockey Florent Geroux will put him on the lead in Saturday's $400,000 race.

The other is Speedway Stable's Roadster.

The 5-year-old son of Quality Road  will be making his first start in a little more than a year, so he's surely fresh, which often brings out the speed in a horse. He's also been working fast for his first start for trainer Michael Stidham, putting in a trio of recent six-furlong breezes for Saturday's race, each of them in a snappy 1:12 and change.

He shows a first and a few seconds in the opening stages of some sprint races at 2 and 3, and, in what could ultimately be the main factor that propels him to the lead, he will break from the rail under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.

"It's definitely a pace-less race so it wouldn't surprise me if he's on the lead," Stidham said about a horse who led at the first call of the seven-furlong 2019 Damascus Stakes. "Being in the one hole, Johnny Velazquez is probably going to use him a little bit to get away from there and if he finds himself on the lead, I'm not going to complain. I think it will be a jockey's race and that's when you're glad to have a Hall of Famer on your horse."

Winner of the 2019 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 3, Roadster came to Stidham from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, where he won three of 11 starts with earnings of $852,700. Sidelined since second in the March 7, 2020 San Carlos Stakes (G2) by chronic quarter-crack issues, he was sent to Stidham to take advantage of opportunities away from California that better suit the gray horse.

"I trained for the owners before and got him a couple of months ago after Baffert had him in training and put a couple of works into him, so he came to me in good shape," Stidham said. "I put some solid works into him coming off the year layoff. He's a big, heavy horse, and I felt he needed a little extra in his works to get him ready for a grade 2 stakes at a mile-and-an-eighth."

Bred by Stone Farm out of the Silver Ghost mare Ghost Dancing, he was sold for $525,000 by his breeder at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He's the second grade 1 winner for his dam, whose most recent foal is a 2-year-old Candy Ride  filly, which makes him a full brother to Ascend, winner of the 2017 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1T). Stidham might target a turf stakes at some point.

"We're hoping to get another grade 1 win into him to make him a stallion," Stidham said.

Rupp Racing's Owendale, the lone millionaire in the field, is a multiple grade 3 winner who was third in the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) for trainer Brad Cox. He was third in his 2021 debut, 7 1/4 lengths behind Mystic Guide on a sloppy track in the Feb. 27 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

Winless in his last six starts, the son of Into Mischief  out of the Bernardini  mare Aspen Light has earned $1,408,435 with a record of 21-6-4-4.

"Looking back (at the Razorback), he didn't get the greatest trip behind a tough horse," Cox said. "He's won about half of his money at a mile-and-an-eighth, so we're hoping he can get things turned around here."

Three starters are exiting the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds: Sonneman (second), Chess Chief (third), and Enforceable (fifth).

Entries: New Orleans Classic S. (G2)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, March 20, 2021, Race 11

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:12 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Roadster (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Michael Stidham	3/1
2	2Owendale (KY)	Florent Geroux	118	Brad H. Cox	9/5
3	3Olliemyboy (ON)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Norm W. Casse	12/1
4	4Captivating Moon (KY)	Marcelino Pedroza	122	Chris M. Block	10/1
5	5Enforceable (KY)	Adam Beschizza	118	Mark E. Casse	8/1
6	6Chess Chief (VA)	Luis Saez	118	Dallas Stewart	6/1
7	7Mocito Rojo (KY)	James Graham	118	Shane Wilson	30/1
8	8Sonneman (KY)	Joseph Talamo	118	Steven M. Asmussen	9/2