Big potential in 3yo maiden race at Fair Grounds

A solid and potentially very good group of three-year-olds will go six panels on the Fair Grounds main surface in Race 7 Thursday. Six of the seven runners are unraced and I can make a case for the majority of the cast in a six-furlong test that has both short and long-term appeal.

#1 JUST OLD SCHOOL will break from a tricky rail post but should be live for Larry Jones, who has a pair in this field. Gelded son of 12% debut sire Old Fashioned looks to have missed one work in preparation but goes for a fine first-out conditioner. In addition, the four-year-old chestnut is a half-brother to Jenda's Agenda, who has never been headed from a trio of lifetime runs to date including a stakes win most recently at Laurel and posted a stylish debut win at Fair Grounds last year.

#3 VALIANTLY, also from the Jones barn, has a longer string of morning drills compared to his stable companion and gets a long look in his unveiling. Son of solid young sire Orb might be better suited to the green going forward, but we never sleep on this barn that is so good first out. $150,000 juvenile purchase gets Joe Bravo.

#4 PERFECT SEEKER might need one or two to be at his best for Dallas Stewart, though the son of Perfect Soul can't be ignored. Charles Fipke homebred is from a fine family and his full-brother, Seeking the Soul, was last seen taking the Clark H. (G1) and prepares for a start in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream on Saturday. This one shows steady works and could be any kind.

#5 TELEKINESIS looks to be training as well as any in this field and brought a whopping $470,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale as a weanling. Stonestreet Stables color bearer runs for Mark Casse and wouldn't surprise me with a top performance in his first afternoon event. Ghostzapper colt gets Florent Geroux in the stirrups.

#7 CARLSBAD gets a cool draw outside in this sprint for Steve Asmussen and could be live. Son of Distorted Humor has trained steadily on this main oval since late November and looks set for a good run first out. Chestnut is out of a half-sister to champion and five-time Grade 1 queen Possibly Perfect and is bred to run early. Shaun Bridgmohan has the assignment.

The winner of this race could have a very bright future and I would take note of those running in the lane, as well.