Ba Dee Yah Grabs Third “Black Cat” for Amoss
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Kilroy
Media Relations
[email protected]
New Orleans, La (March 9, 2024) – Gold Standard Racing Stable’s Ba Dee Yah became the latest 3-year-old filly to walk over from trainer Tom Amoss’ barn and win the $100,000 Allen “Black Cat” LaCombe Memorial. Scoring in this event with Girl Named Charlie in 2023 and Kneesnhips in 2022, Amoss has now won the “Black Cat” three years in a row.
Originally scheduled for about one mile on turf, all races scheduled for the turf on the card were moved to the main track labeled “fast,” resulting in six scratches from the LaCombe, leaving a field of four fillies. The daughter of Uncle Mo was piloted by Edgar Morales and traveled the 1 mile 70 yards over the dirt in 1:42.79, beating out the odds-on favorite Pursuit of Liberty by 5 3/4 lengths.
“We’d have been happy either way (on turf or dirt),” Amoss said. “It was a small field and Mr. Stone (owner) and I talked a lot about strategy. These kinds of races when no one really shows they want the lead, it’s about strategy. Edgar executed a great strategy, stayed in perfect position and I think that made the difference. When I first came to the racetrack, I was 14 years-old, a freshman in high school. ‘Black Cat’ was the man. He was always kind to everyone, and he was kind to me.”
Ms Quality Control broke well from the rail to lead the three rivals through opening fractions of :23.84 and :47.78. Ba Dee Yah stalked to the forward filly’s outside comfortably, while Pursuit of Liberty hustled along the rail after an awkward start to track in third. Emily’s Bullet settled in the back where she remained throughout. Feeling Pursuit of Liberty’s bid to her outside in the far turn, Ba Dee Yah made her move to take the lead. With Pursuit of Liberty chasing, Ba Dee Yah kept her foe’s bid at bay and drew away down the stretch.
“First I want to say thank you to the owners and to Tom (Amoss) for the opportunity,” Morales said. “(Ba Dee Yah) broke great, traveled perfectly the entire way around. When I felt the competition coming on the outside, I asked her and she gave me all that she had. She fought for it.”
Pursuit of Liberty stayed on for second. Ms Quality Control held third.
“It was great to see what we planned be executed by Edgar in a flawless fashion,” owner Bill Stone said. “He got her out great, got on (the leader’s) hip, took off in the last turn and won going away, so that’s a lot of fun.”
With no show wagering, Ba Dee Yah’s backers were paid $5.80 and $3.00.
With a career record of 5-2-0-1, Ba Dee Yah has banked $102,338.
-30-
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 16 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 152nd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 111th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 17, 2023 through March 24, 2024. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
