New Orleans. LA (SportsNetwork.com) – Local stakes winner Gantry returned to
the winner’s circle Thursday by claiming a highly competitive allowance race
at Fair Grounds.
Just two weeks after failing to repeat in Fair Grounds’ Thanksgiving Handicap,
Gantry, ridden by Miguel Mena, finished first in a $40,000, 5 1/2-furlong turf
event versus other stakes-winning runners.
Trained by Ron Faucheux for Brittlyn Stable, Gantry was the 3-1 third pick in
the seven-horse field behind even-money favorite Unbridled’s Note and 2-1
second choice Sum of the Parts.
Gantry overcame a poor start to register a length victory over Unbridled’s
Note, the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up, with 52-1 longshot Solar
Charge getting third. Gantry and Solar Charge, leaving from the two outside
posts, bumped each other at the break.
Finishing fourth was Voodoo Storm followed by Win Lion Win, Sum of the Parts
and Rhetorical.
Gantry covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.53 on a firm turf course.
Thursday’s win was worth $24,000 and is the 11th career win from 27 starts for
the 7-year-old gelding. He has now banked $848,331 overall.
Gantry was unable to repeat in the track’s Thanksgiving Handicap on Nov. 27
when he finished fifth out of seven.
“He was really fresh last time and we probably didn’t train him hard enough
going into the race,” Faucheux explained. “I don’t think he was 100 percent
fit.”
Gantry’s last win came in the Colonel Power Stakes on March 15 over the same
course and distance as Thursday’s effort.
Gantry returned $8.20, $3.40 and $2.60. Unbridled’s Note paid $2.40 and $2.40,
and Solar Charge paid $5.20 to show.
