Louisiana bred horses will be on display all of Saturday at the Fairgrounds as they celebrate Louisiana Champions Day with multiple stakes races at every imaginable level and distance. One of the bigger races is the Sprint Stakes which will be taking place at 5:31 p.m. (ET) and carded as Race 9. 14 horses (plus two also eligibles) will be running 6 furlongs for a $100,000 prize pool. All races today will be on the dirt course due to the issue they are having with the turf at the moment. This race is for three-year-olds and up and we’ve got quite the range of three to, yes, seven year olds running in this sprint. Let’s handicap some of the probable winners.
(7) Takes Two to Tango- 8/1 Morning Line Odds
Since stepping up to stakes competition, this horse has impressed with a win and two shows in their last three races. They are coming into this race with the best figure at this distance. They will be coming second off their latest layoff and are picking up a great up and coming rider Reylu Gutierrez who is winning at 24% when he ships into the Fairgrounds.
(11) Brian’s Iron Mike- 5/1 Morning Line Odds
They jumped off the screen to close and won a nice stakes at a similar level over this track here last out in November. The big question for this one is has this horse awoken, or was this a flash in the pan? Joe Stokes is riding well and winning at 15% on the year and is staying aboard for trainer Allen Landry who is winning at 25% when he ships in.
(12) Bertie’s Galaxy- 7/2 Morning Line Odds
You can completely throw this horse’s last race outing as they were bumped at the start and shuffled back hard. This horse likes to hang out near the front and they were very uninterested in the back of the field. Prior to that race, they won two of three stakes on the front end, and their best speed is better than most in this field. Jockey Jareth Loveberry is a midwest staple and is winning at 19% on the year. Trainer Ron Faucheux is winning at an even more impressive 23%.
(14) Touchuponastar- 5/1 Morning Line Odds
This one is entered in both the sprint and the classic stakes. I think they will be running in the Classic for the bigger purse. I also think the post position here will not work for them as they are a speedster and would probably like to start off closer to the rail and not in post 14. I think if they do run, they have a chance, but I think the race then sets up for a closer, because they’ll have to be flying to take the lead early. That is why I think the (15) gets in,
(15) Scarlettsblackjack (AE)- 6/1 Morning Line Odds
This horse has won 5 of 10 here, and is coming off of a very nice second place in a similar stakes at the Fairgrounds. Jose Rodriguez is winning at 27% on the year. Trainer Sarah Delany is winning at 22% this year.
Pick for the Race: (7) Takes Two to Tango
Reylu is a hot young jockey who wins at 24% when he ships in here. I think they stalk the early, hot pace and come running from the second flight. Don’t take speed here. Take the horses who can stalk and pounce.
