WinStar stallion Pure Prize registered a stakes winner for the second time in as many days on Saturday when Pure Tactics’ powerful stretch drive carried the 4-year-old colt to a new track record in the $50,000 Barksdale S. at Louisiana Downs.
Along with Scarlet Mist’s stakes victory on Friday, Pure Prize now has 12 stakes winners this year, including the two-time Argentine Grade 1 winner Candy Marie.
Pure Tactics, owned and trained by Morris Nicks, was mid-pack in the Barksdale’s field of 12 until late on the final turn, when Jamie Theriot cut the bay colt loose, coming four wide in the stretch and rolling home impressively. The final time for the mile on the turf was a course record 1:34.14.
Always turning in a good effort, Pure Tactics is 5-1-1 in nine career outings. The $30,000 payday upped his lifetime mark to $131,463. He was also runner-up in the $75,000 Black Gold S. last year at the Fair Grounds.
