Betting With, and Against, Smoken Wicked in the Champions Day Juvenile

A really good cast of seven Cajun-bred two-year-olds will vie in Saturday’s Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S. at Fair Grounds. The Grade-2 placed #6 Smoken Wicked (8-5) comes off a smashing allowance win at Churchill Downs most recently and is the deserving morning-line choice. Trained by Dallas Stewart, the son of Bobby’s Wicked One has run well while facing some fantastic youngsters this campaign, and his lone try in the state-bred ranks resulted in a daylight debut win at Evangeline Downs. Colby Hernandez will pilot the speedy chestnut. 

Smoken Wicked – With

$12 exacta 6 with 3 ($12)

$6 exacta 6 with 2,4 ($12)

$.50-cent superfecta 6 with 2,3,4 with 2,3,4 with ($12)

Smoken Wicked – Against

$3 exacta box 2,3,4 ($18)

$1 trifecta 2,3,4 with 2,3,4,6 with 2,3,4,6 ($18)

I really liked the effort from #3 Louisiana Jess (6-1) when third in the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial S. on the oval last time out and consider the son of Vekoma to be a major player at a good number. The colt chased a fast early pace and held well late to miss by a length, and a more sensible voyage could yield better results in this dash. Conditioned by Bret Calhoun, the bay will reunite with pilot Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

#4 Viola Magic (3-1) was runner-up in the Peluso at 7-10 odds in his second lifetime run for trainer Steve Asmussen. A fine debut winner at Keeneland on October 25, the $275,000 son of Volatile has a lot of room to improve and I expect him to do so on Saturday. The youngster has good early foot and I expect him to be just off of the contested early splits of the heat. Jose Ortiz retains the ride atop the gray colt. 

Peluso victor #2 Hay Jude (3-1) is 2-for-2 to commence his career for Tom Amoss and should receive another swift pace to rally into late once again. This Aurelius Maximus colt overcame some trouble most recently and he is a must use in the well-matched dash. Jareth Loveberry will take the reins and likely have the two-year-old reserved in the early going while saving ground to the top of the lane.