NEWS
Friesan Fire third in return from layoff
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009 7:20 PM
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) favorite Friesan Fire, who has been sidelined since May with minor injuries to both front legs, finished third in a one-mile, 40-yard optional claiming race on Thursday at Fair Grounds.
The race was won by Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Good and Lucky, a six-year-old Wild Rush gelding trained by Josie Carroll who won for the third time from seven starts this season.
Friesan Fire, a bay A.P. Indy colt, won his first three starts of 2009, including the Louisiana Derby (G2), before finishing 18th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby on May 2. He finished tenth of 13 in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 16 for trainer Larry Jones before he was pulled from competition later in the month with a stress fracture in his left front leg and a secondary nondisplaced chip fracture in his right front fetlock that required surgery.
In Thursday’s race, Fancy Runner set the pace, taking the field through a half-mile in :48.21 and six furlongs in 1:13.56 while Good and Lucky and Friesan Fire, under Shaun Bridgmohan, rated in third and fourth, respectively.
Both made their bids in the turn as Good and Lucky powered through the stretch to a three-length victory over Glamour Guy, covering the distance in 1:40.28.
Friesan Fire, now trained by Steve Asmussen, rallied briefly on the outside at the top of the lane before leveling out and holding for third as the 2-to-5 favorite in the field of five.
Good and Lucky won for the tenth time from 28 career starts and boosted his earnings to $483,915. He is the only winner from four starters out of the stakes-winning Accused mare Shannon’s Innocent.
