New Orleans Is Place to Be

There is no doubt the best race in the country today will be run at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Fourteen turfers are scheduled to participate in the $750,000 Explosive Bid Handicap at 11/8 miles and the Grade II will have a definite California feel.

Jockeys Victor Espinoza, Alex Solis, Corey Nakatani and David Flores have mounts in the Explosive Bid and are riding for locally based trainers.

Designed For Luck, who was third, beaten by a half-length, in the Kilroe Mile three weeks ago, will break from the rail under Espinoza for trainer Vladimir Cerin and owners David and Holly Wilson.

Beat Hollow, who toyed with only five foes in his U.S. debut for trainer Bobby Frankel, will again be ridden by Solis.

Sarafan, who was second at 15-1 in the Kilroe, will leave from post 11 under Nakatani for trainer Neil Drysdale, and Flores has the mount on Suances, an English-bred who won six of seven overseas and will be making his first start for trainer Darrell Vienna.

The 122-pound highweight in the Explosive Bid is Hap, a 6-year-old Theatrical horse who has won 10 of 17 for trainer Bill Mott.

He will be ridden by Pat Day because Jerry Bailey wasn’t able to make the proper connections to return from Dubai in time.

Completing the expected lineup are Northcote Road, who was second in the race last year; Fan Club’s Mister, Candid Glen, Even The Score, Mystery Giver, Pisces, North East Bound, Full Of Wonder and Chorwon.

Race of the day: Bella Bellucci, one of the top 2-year-old fillies in the country last year, will make her first start of 2002 in the $75,000 Santa Paula Stakes today at Santa Anita.

Who’s hot: The former owners of Quorum, including breeders Terry and Roxanna Amdur. They hit a home run on Friday when the 4-year-old General Meeting filly was claimed for $25,000 out of her debut race. Judging by the way she performed, Quorum can’t run much. She finished eighth of nine at 20-1, beaten nearly 18 lengths.

Who’s not: N.W. Jenkins. The trainer went zero for his first 41 at Golden Gate Fields.

Exotically speaking: An exacta box in the fifth using C Merrill Run, Shabab and Pirata De Baile.

Winners: Previous Day/Meet Total: 4/180. Money: Previous Day/Meet Total: $28.80/$1,068. Total money bet: $1,098.