Enterprising Digs in to Win Muniz
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Enterprising holds off Kasaqui to take the Muniz Memorial Handicap
Maxis Stable's Enterprising once again found himself in the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots winner's circle with a determined win April 1 in the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T).
The tight neck victory followed a three-quarter-length win in the Feb. 25 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T), which was his first start at the New Orleans racetrack for trainer Mike Maker.
In the Muniz Saturday, an inside move by jockey Tyler Gaffalione gave the 5-year-old Elusive Quality gelding just enough to edge closing favorite Kasaqui, who nosed out Fair Grounds Handicap runner-up Oscar Nominated for second.
The eventual winner raced in sixth and then seventh early, as 87-1 longshot Sky Flight set fractions of :23.77, :48.27, and 1:11.90 through six furlongs. At the top of the stretch, the pacesetter clearly had enough and the closers were making their bids. Kasaqui, 10th early on, made a five-wide move in the stretch, but could not get past the Enterprising, who finished off the about 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.41.
The Muniz was Enterprising's third graded win—his first was the 2014 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) at Del Mar—and extended an impressive streak since she joined Maker's barn. In eight straight starts since moving to Maker—including six stakes—Enterprising has finished third or better. He also won the Millions Turf Preview Stakes Nov. 12 at Gulfstream Park West, which was the last time Gaffalione rode him.
The gelding now has nine wins from 29 starts, with earnings of $774,040.