Playing the Bayou Bluegrass 5

An incredibly challenging sequence of five races to be held at Fair Grounds and Turfway Park will be offered on Saturday as the Bayou Bluegrass 5, which is based on a $1 minimum wager with a 15% takeout rate. 

• $1 Pick 5: 3,5,7,10 with 1,6,8,9 with 5 with 3 with 2,5,7,12 ($64)

Fair Grounds - Race 9 - New Orleans Classic (G2)

The $500,000 event at 1 1/8 miles attracted a strong field of 10. I’ll use fantastic Cajun-bred #3 Touchuponastar (3-1), streaking Mineshaft (G3) victor #5 Money Supply (9-2), Chilean Group 1 winner #7 Super Cornito (12-1), as well as the talented #10 Best Actor (7-2), who was last seen just missing in the Mineshaft for Brad Cox. 

Turfway Park - Race 11 - Bourbonette Oaks

Sophomore fillies will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta in a difficult assignment. I’ll spread a bit in the second leg while including Untapable S. heroine #1 Alpine Princess (2-1), Martha Washington S. queen #6 Band of Gold (5-1), the unbeaten #8 Pink Polkadots (6-1), as well as Christophe Clement’s #9 Youknownothing (12-1). 

Fair Grounds - Race 11 - Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) 

I liked Godolphin homebred #5 Tarifa (8-5) prior to her fine Rachel Alexandra S. (G2) score and will stick with her as my single in the talented field. The daughter of Bernardini was very professional last time out, and she gives me the impression of a push-button horse with a huge 2024 ahead of her. 

Turfway Park - Race 12 - Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)

It’s not the most confident single of my lifetime, but I will tab #3 Lucky Jeremy (8-1) as a wire-to-wire winner in the Derby points contest. The Bill Morey trainee has faced good fields in each of his four lifetime tries to date, and like many from this barn, I expect the son of Lookin at Lucky to relish the move to the synthetic. Strong local pilot Gerardo Corrales taking the reins adds to his appeal. 

Fair Grounds - Race 12 - Louisiana Derby (G2)

#5 Catching Freedom (4-1) is my top pick in the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying event. The Constitution colt could be rounding up to a lifetime best run on Saturday. And while I will bet the sophomore to win, I can’t single him in the closing leg. 

Lecomte S. (G3) victor #12 Track Phantom (3-1), potential pacesetter #2 Hall of Fame (8-1), and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) hero #7 Honor Marie (8-1), will make my ticket, too.