The big race on the betting board this Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Track is the $1 million Louisiana Derby. A field of 14 three-year old contenders will be gunning for a possible spot in this year's Kentucky Derby which has tentatively been rescheduled for Saturday. Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. The Louisiana Derby is a Grade 2 stakes race for three-year old thoroughbreds. It will be contested on the dirt track at Fair Grounds over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.
At the head of Saturday's field is trainer Mark Casse's Enforceable at 7/2 odds on the morning line. The sire of Tapit is coming off a second-place finish in one of two divisions the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15. This will be his third race at this track as a three-year old after winning the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes back in January.
Another strong contender in the field is trainer William Mott's Modernist at 6/1 morning line odds. This Kentucky-bred three-year old also has some solid experience running Saturday's dirt track after winning one of two Risen Star divisions. Joining him at those same 6/1 odds is Silver State. Trained by Steve Asmussen, this son of Hard Spun took third in the stronger Risen Star divisions after finishing second in the Lecomte.
A good way to bet this race is going chalk with the favorite while wheeling Enforceable with Modernist in the place position and Silver State as the probable show horse. You could also group the three together in a boxed trifecta with some serious home-track advantage adding value to the trio.
Another strong contender that could factor into the mix is Major Fed at 8/1 odds on the morning line. Trained by Greg Foley, this Kentucky-bred three-year old colt took second in the weaker division of the Risen Star won by Modernist. I do not have him graded as high as my other picks to finish in the money but the son of Ghostzapper is the type of horse that could still stick his nose into my trifecta play. This makes him a possible hedge bet for a Top 3 finish.
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