The 153rd racing season at Fair Grounds Race Course kicks off on Friday with a playable card headlined by a pair of Louisiana-bred stakes events. The 76-day meet runs until March 23rd and will once again host some key prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are a few horses I like on the opening day slate.
Race 6:
This open company MSW event at 5.5-furlongs over the sod appears wide-open. First-time starters for powerhouse barns are listed as the morning line favorites, but I am concerned they are using this turf sprint to propel them to bigger and better things. On the other hand, #8 Otter Creek appears ready to fire a big shot on Opening Day for trainer Brett Brinkman. Brinkman is a
strong 12 for 54 with 2YO first-time starters over the last five years for a positive ROI of $2.67 and this one is out of a Bernardini mare that has produced three foals thus far to make the races. Two of them ran solid seconds to kick off their career. Hopefully, this one gets out of the gate well under jockey C.J. McMahon and does one better.
Play: #8 Otter Creek (12-1 ML)
Race 7: Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial
The pace should be fast and contentious in this 6-furlong affair over the main track for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares. This bodes well for #2 Manama Gold. The Star Guitar filly kicked off her racing career over in Dubai rattling off three dominant wins before shipping to the States and racing for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher in a trio of opening company stakes events for 3YOs. Last out, she did not run well by any means in the Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs, but also got off to a slow start and was caught extremely wide throughout. Now, she moves into the Cherie DeVaux barn and gets some massive class relief. Add to that, DeVaux’s recent 26%-win rate with horses making their first start for the barn and you have a filly that should be very tough to deny.
Play: #2 Manama Gold (5-2 ML)
Race 8:
This first-level allowance over the lawn should also see an honest pace given the presence of #1 Mi Solution, #5 Sovereigns Joy, and #12 Boltage. #4 Tough Little Nut is the one on paper that it sets up for best, but I am going to a big swing with #2 Carthage Cajun instead. The son of Constitution did not run well last year over this course in three starts, but they were the first three races of his career and two of them were sprints. He certainly has not been keeping as good of company as some of his rivals, but has really shown the ability to finish against lesser this summer. Carthage Cajun draws favorably to the inside for a barn that got off to a red-hot start last year and cruised to the trainer’s title. Hopefully, this one comes with a strong late run under jockey Julio Ramirez Jr.
Play: #2 Carthage Cajun (20-1 ML)
Good luck on Opening Day and throughout the winter and spring in NOLA!
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