It is closing weekend at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, and there are many stakes on the card, including their biggest races of their meet. We will take a look at the New Orleans Classic (race 9), which is the return of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone to the races.
We will also look at the final races of the Louisiana road to the Kentucky Oaks and Derby. Fillies will head to the gate in race 11 in the Fair Grounds Oaks, followed by the Louisiana Derby, which closes a stakes packed card. We will look at those three races here today.
Fair Grounds Race 9 – New Orleans Classic (Grade 2)
Race 9 is the return of the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone in this mile and an eighth race on the main track. There are 10 horses entered for this race today, but there are a few horses here that will not run.
According to Marcus Hersh of the Daily Racing Form, the champion three-year-old has scared some entrants away. #1 Kinetic and #8 Tarantino will race in the Essex Stakes at Oaklawn today. The 6 Uno Mas Bourbon will not ship from Florida. Then the 5 Touchuponastar could run on the closing day card on Sunday in a state bred race. Brad Cox, trainer for Kinetic, said that Bishops Bay also may not run.
Sierra Leone (#7, 7/5 morning line) probably won’t be close to those odds with all the potential defections. I would think that if you are going to beat the Classic winner, it would be the first race after an almost five-month layoff.
The 2 Hall of Fame (4/1 ML) has the best chance to upset the favorite here today. He won the Mineshaft last month here to make it two wins in a row at the Fair Grounds and three in a row overall. With all the scratches that may occur, he might assume the lead here today.
The other horse that could go for the lead is the 9 Komorebino Omoide (8/1 ML). He staked and took over in the stretch but was caught by Hall of Fame last month. Could we see the same thing today?
Joe’s New Orleans Classic Pick
With the potential scratches, I only highlighted the top three horses for this race. If there is a chance that the favorite loses, it would be today in his first race back since the Breeders’ Cup. I’ll call this 2-7-9 with a $20 win bet on the 2 Hall of Fame.
Fair Grounds Race 11 – Fair Grounds Oaks (Grade 2)
The final leg of Louisiana’s Road to the Kentucky Oaks is today, and we have nine fillies looking for points in the Fair Grounds Oaks today. The 6 Bless the Broken (15/1 ML) will be scratched here as she will run in the Bourbonette at Turfway Park.
The 7 Good Cheer is the odds-on 4/5 favorite here today. She scared away some runners in the Rachel Alexandra last month here at the Fair Grounds. She will sit right behind the leaders and start to draw off turning for home.
The 8 Secret Faith (6/1 ML) is cross entered in the state bred Crescent City Oaks earlier in the card, but her connections said she will run here. She passed her two-turn test, albeit a bullring track like Delta Downs last time out. She won’t be far off the pace or she could actually be on the lead here today. But remember that the favorite will be lurking right behind her.
The 5 Her Laugh (12/1 ML) may have lost all chance last time out in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs. She may be worthy of another look as she threw her head at the start of the race, relegating her to the back of the field. She does have a two-turn win in the Untapable here back in December on the front end. Looks like she may go for the front, but she might have a better shot stalking like in her debut at Churchill Downs in November.
The 2 Gowells Delight (8/1 ML) scratched last week at Colonial Downs to race here today. She was on the lead when the favorite took over here in the Rachael Alexandra at the Fair Grounds last month.
Joe’s Fair Grounds Oaks Pick
This is all about Good Cheer who is five for five lifetime and hasn’t really been tested. I don’t think she will be tested here today either. I’m calling this race 7-5-8-2. For my wager, I’ll do a $1 superfecta key of the 7 Good Cheer over the 2 (Gowells Delight), 5 (Her Laugh) and the 8 Secret Faith. That ticket will cost $6 if you play it as I am.
Fair Grounds Race 12 – Louisiana Derby (Grade 2)
Time for the main event of the day. Ten horses will go the mile and three-sixteenths distance, the longest in the American Road to the Kentucky Derby. The winner will get 100 points, which will guarantee him a spot in the gate in six weeks.
The 1 John Hancock (7/2 ML) is favored in the Louisiana Derby, and makes his Fair Grounds debut today. He won by half length over Owen Almighty last time out at Tampa Bay Downs in a thrilling race in the Sam F. Davis. Keep in mind that Owen was very impressive in his win in the Tampa Bay Derby two weeks ago which could translate to today’s favorite winning here today. But he will have company here.
The 4 Yinzer (12/1 ML) appears to be the speed that will challenge the favorite today. He broke his maiden in his fourth try last month and gets a chance to make the Derby off of that performance. He takes a major step up in class here, but he was nominated for the Kentucky Derby, so the connections saw something from the beginning, right?
The 5 Caldera (5/1 ML) finished second to Getaway Car last month in the Sunland Park Derby last time out. Getaway Car faded last week at Colonial Downs in the Virginia Derby. Caldera has improved and will get to go another furlong today, He should be a few lengths being and look to close today.
The 6 Built (4/1 ML) finished third in the Risen Star, where Magnitude went gate to wire at huge odds last month. American Promise came back to win last week in the Virginia Derby, and Built could bounce back here. He did tire last time out, but no one was catching the winner last month at the Fair Grounds.
Joe’s Louisiana Derby Pick
I admit I do have concerns about John Hancock. Granted, being on the lead is the best way to keep yourself out of trouble, unless you go too fast. Will he go too fast today? Probably not, but he may be challenged early on today.
I am going to take a chance on Built here today. Not only did American Promise win that race at Colonial, Render Judgment finished second. He could also have a chance to show that Magnitude had before hitting the sidelines with an injury was a freaky performance. I’ll take Built here today.
I’m calling this race 6-5-1-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!