There will be a sense of déjà vu for coach Michael Stidham as he runs Authority at the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) on March 26 at Fair Grounds & Slots.
At this time a year ago, Stidham sent back Godolphin’s half-breed son Tapit in the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), hoping to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Proxy was third choice 3-1 in the 170-point Derby prep, but for the first time in his career, he finished fourth, finishing fourth behind Hot Rod Charlie .
In a subsequent attempt, Stidham took ‘s son Consists of out of the graded winning horse Panty Raid returned to Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3), but another fourth place finish was opened. It also told Stidham that something was wrong with the graded 3-year-old.
Stidham said: “Proxy bruised some end of the cannon bone and that affected him a bit in the races where it looked like he was suspended and didn’t get the good record we needed. ‘ said Stidham. “He seems to be falling a bit behind in each of his races. We don’t see anything obvious from an acoustic standpoint but the performance level is falling and we feel something is amiss. So we sent him in for a bone check and he was glowing on all fours.”
Bruising injuries kept Proxy out for the rest of his 3-year campaign, and the time off worked wonders for the matter.
Active for the first time in more than 10 months, Proxy returned on February 25 with a sharp, 3/4 length win in a let-optional rights race at Fair Grounds that marked him as a Main contender for the 1 1/8-mile New Orleans Classic.
Stidham said: “We are very pleased with his first start in the allowance race. “We are very happy with the way he is back. He has grown mentally and physically for us as a 4-year-old. He has played a lot and is more focused. We couldn’t be happier with him.”
Proxy will face a tough test in a school of six schools that also include Olympiad , Coach Bill Mott’s Mineshaft Stakes (G3) and fourth place finisher in the Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets (G1). The Olympiad will be greatly supported.
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However, stiff competition is nothing new for Proxy, who in separate losing attempts last year finished ahead of the two. Mandaloun Official winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, and 1 Midnight Bourbon .
“Bill has a nice horse in the Olympiad and it will take a long time to beat him, but Proxy has proven up against some of the best horses in the country, like Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon. He was in right there with them and beat them both in different matches,” said Stidham, who will target $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 23 with Proxy if he hits New York expectations. Orléans Classic.
Olympiad, son of Sightstown owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods, secured his original stake win in Mineshaft while lifting his record to four wins in seven starts. Bred by Emory Hamilton and purchased by Solis/Litt for $700,000 from a Gainesway shipment at the 2019 Keeneland Sale in September, the 4-year-old started 2022 with a 7 1/4 score in the claim. compensation option allowance on January 15 at Gulfstream Park.
Winner of last year’s New Orleans Classic, James J. Coleman’s Mansion Chess will bid for an encore at tier 2 stake. A 6-year-old son of Into Mischief Coached by Dallas Stewart, Chess Chief won 5 out of 10 starts at the Fair Grounds.
This Virginia hybrid will place sixth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by 1/ST BET (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
Also in were the 2021 Arkansas Derby (G1) winners Erv Woosley and Keith Asmussen Super stocks the son of Dialed trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen; 3rd grade winner Promise Keeper (Organization ); and Happy Americans (Runhappy ), who is fifth in Mineshaft.
Item: New Orleans Classic S. (G2)
Fair Grounds & SlotsSaturday, March 26, 2022, Race No. 9
- Level II
- 1 1/8 minutes
- Dust
- 500,000 dollars
- 4 years or more
- 4:08pm (local)
