Silver Dust Faces Deep Field in New Orleans Handicap

Silver Dust will carry highweight of 120 pounds while facing 10 foes in the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap (G2) for 4-year-olds and up going nine furlongs March 23 at Fair Grounds Race Course.  

Tom Durant's Silver Dust stalked and pounced to take the Mineshaft Handicap (G3) at Fair Grounds in mid-February at 1 1/16 miles. The 5-year-old Tapit  gelding has been first or second four times in five starts in New Orleans, although he has yet to win at this distance. He's been assigned 120 pounds for Saturday's test, where he's expected to spot the field anywhere from two to seven pounds.

Mr. Buff, a homebred for Chester and Mary Broman, steps up in class holding a four-race win streak, all coming at Aqueduct, including a daylight score in the Jazil Stakes last out. The New York-bred son of Friend or Foe likes to run on the front end and is also five-for-six at nine furlongs. Copper Bullet made a strong late bid in the Feb. 18 Razorback Handicap (G3), falling a neck short and settling for second. He scored easily in the 2017 Saratoga Special (G2) and made a winning return to the races in an allowance race in November at Churchill Downs. He should work out a stalking trip from post 10 here.

Lone Sailor tried the first two legs of the Triple Crown last year after finishing second in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He checked in fifth, beaten two lengths by Justify  in the Preakness (G1), and came back to win the Oklahoma Derby (G3) in late September. He likely needed the race when sixth in the Mineshaft in his first start of 2019.

Florida-bred Souper Tapit took the restricted Sunshine Millions Classic in January, then stumbled at the start of the Razorback, losing all chance but finishing sixth. He’s a versatile sort but must step up his game to graded company.

Bandua makes a turf-to-dirt move here coming off a good second at 35-1 in the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T) in which he grabbed the lead late only to be caught by Synchrony. This will be the son of The Factor 's initial voyage over dirt. Core Beliefs won the Ohio Derby (G3) last June but wasn’t able to make an impact in grade 1 company against the likes of Good Magic  and McKenzie in two tries since. He gets some class relief here.Noble Indy has not been able to get back on track since taking the Louisiana Derby last year. He was distanced in two classics and then again in the Dwyer (G3) last year, and ran poorly in his comeback race this season over the slop at Gulfstream Park in an allowance optional claiming affair.

Entries: New Orleans H. (G2)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, March 23, 2019, Race 10

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 3:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mo Dont No (OH)	Mitchell Murrill	114	Thomas M. Amoss	30/1
2	2Lone Sailor (KY)	James Graham	117	Thomas M. Amoss	9/2
3	3Souper Tapit (FL)	Tyler Gaffalione	116	Mark E. Casse	6/1
4	4Noble Indy (KY)	John R. Velazquez	115	Todd A. Pletcher	15/1
5	5Krewe Chief (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	115	Michael J. Maker	20/1
6	6Silver Dust (KY)	Jack Gilligan	120	W. Bret Calhoun	7/2
7	7Noble Commander (FL)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	113	Philip D'Amato	20/1
8	8Mr. Buff (NY)	Junior Alvarado	118	John C. Kimmel	6/1
9	9Bandua (KY)	Adam Beschizza	116	Jack Sisterson	12/1
10	10Copper Bullet (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	117	Steven M. Asmussen	4/1
11	11Core Beliefs (KY)	Florent Geroux	115	Peter Eurton	6/1