$200,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 4 on Saturday at the Fair Grounds

Six stakes races bolster a 12-race card on Saturday at the Fair Grounds in Louisiana. Outside the stakes, there are five maiden special weight races – three sprinting and two routes – and one allowance.

The Colonel Power Stakes goes as race 2. It’s a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint featuring popular #7 Hogy (5-2), a $1.3 million earner. He is one for two over the course, having won this race in 2017. Last March he was good enough to win a grade 3 at Gulfstream Park, but hasn’t been able to run better than third since then. That was last out at Sam Houston.

The Albert M. Stall Memorial is a 1 1/16 grass contest for fillies and mares. Argentina-shipper #2 Top Cats (8-1) makes her third United States start after running 21 races in her native land. Brad Cox will send out #8 Beau Recall (2-1), a stakes winner over this trip December 22. That was her first start outside of California in 18 months.

The $200,000 Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 4 starts in Race 9 with the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3). #5 Lone Sailor (7-2) was popular here last year when he was second by a neck in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He went on to win the Oklahoma Derby (G3) and run second in the Ohio Derby (G3). He was a better-than-looked sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) last out. #9 Flameaway (5-1) a grade 3 winner at the distance, could pose a threat for trainer Mark Casse. #13 Quip (6-1) makes his return to the races after not starting since May 19 in the Prekaness Stakes (G1).

The $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on the grass comes next as race 10. #9 Synchrony (3-1) won this race by two lengths last year; the horse that was third that day is #1 Tiz a Slam (8-1), since then a grade 2-winner at Woodbine. #10 Great Wide Open (9-2) was a stakes winner over this trip two starts back. In the local prep for this race, he finished third behind #6 First Premio (4-1) and #2 Sir Dudley Digges.

Race 11 is the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2), a Kentucky Oaks prep with points on the line. #9 Needs Supervision (5-1) is likely to be favored after the scratch of #10 Chasing Yesterday for Bob Baffert. Needs Supervision won the local prep for this, the Silverbulletday, and has won her last three starts over three different tracks while stretching out each time. #4 Positive Spirit (5-1) will also draw support after winning the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) by 10 ½ lengths on December 1. She has not run since.

The day concludes with the Kentucky Derby prep, the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). The race drew a full field of 14 with one also eligible, #15 Gun It, who should get in with the scratch of #13 Kingly. #14 War of Will (5-2) won the local prep, the grade 3 LeComte, in impressive fashion. Behind him came #6 Hog Creek Hustle (8-1) and #7 Manny Wah (12-1). #8 Owendale (6-1), #12 Frolic More (10-1), and #15 Gun It (10-1) all exit the same non-winners of one other than; the winner earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.