I thought I would switch things up a bit here and head down to Louisiana Downs for today’s QPW. We will look at today’s fifth race at LaD, which is a claiming race going seven furlongs on the main track. Post time for this field of eight Louisiana-bred horses is for 6:45 pm Eastern time.
The 3 Flash Freddie (3/1 morning line) is favored in today’s race here at Louisiana Downs. He has not shown much in his last three races and looks to get back to run more competitively here. It appears that his best races have been closer to the pace. But was unable to do that when he last ran in the beginning of June.
The 1 Vero Campione (10/1 ML) is second race off the layoff and drops to today’s $5,000 claiming take today. He showed nothing on the turf last time out and should like sprinting on the dirt. He showed at the Fair Grounds that he can sprint there and could benefit from a shorter distance and surface change.
The 8 Clearly a Jet (6/1 ML) ran well at Fair Meadows in Tulsa last time out going a two-turn six-and-a-half-furlong race there where he did have to check in the final turn of the race. She should have a little more room to work with here at Louisiana Downs with the much wider turns than at Tulsa.
The 4 Zapaway (5/1) finished third in his first attempt against winners where he faced a runaway winner. He will stretch out from five and a half to seven furlongs here and should be near the pace here.
The 2 Classic Warrior (4/1 ML) will face winners for the first time after breaking his maiden at Louisiana Downs in May. A similar trip should get him back to the winner’s circle for the second straight race, where he was a few lengths off the pace and made on the turn and took over in the stretch.
This race is an interesting race because I do not know who is going to go for the lead here. This looks like a typical (near the) bottom claiming race. I would not be surprised if we see something unexpected here in this race.
I like the fact that Vero Campione has run well at the Fair Grounds sprinting like he will be today. Ignore that turf race, because he should like the conditions today. I’ll call this race 1-8-4-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 1. Good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- Trainer Ken McPeek announced Saturday that his three-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna will face the boys in the Travers on August 24 and will get a five pound weight allowance for the race. Seven fillies have won the Travers, the last being Lady Rotha all the way back in 1915.
- Johannes was never for from the lead in the Eddie Read Stakes taking over at the top of the stretch to win by daylight in the Grade 2 race at Del Mar on Sunday evening.
- Prairie Meadows in Iowa has a mandatory payout pick 5 this afternoon. Though I am not looking at those races today, there is a carryover of $125,255 going into the 9th race of their 13 race card. Post time for race 9 is for around 8:20 pm Eastern time.
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