Duke of Carthania key to Fair Grounds Pick 3 sequence

Three-year-olds will contest Saturday’s $60,000 Randy P. Romero S. at Fair Grounds, and plenty of speed is signed on for the one-mile turf affair.

#4 Hieronymus has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, after he posted a wire-to-wire upset over entry-level allowance foes Dec. 28. With #3 Jack the Umpire and #6 Richard Ronald entered, Hieronymus probably won’t be able to dictate terms up front, like he did last time.

#5 Duke of Carthania is my top choice. By successful first-year sire Constitution, the chestnut colt exits a maiden win over the course in his third start. I like the way Duke of Carthania has progressed for Mark Casse, and he has displayed a sharp finishing kick in both of his two-turn turf starts. He can be along in time with jockey Adam Beschizza.

Carded as Race 5, the Randy Romero has a scheduled post of 3:26 p.m. ET. I will single Duke of Carthania in the first leg of a Pick 3 sequence, and here are some thoughts on the other two races.

Race 6

Six older horses will square off at a mile and 70 yards, and #2 Dr. Hipp is a must-use option off a pair of wire-to-wire wins at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. I also respect the chances of #4 Tensas Talk, a hard-trying gelding who enters in top form, following a 5 1/2-length decision over Louisiana-bred foes locally.

Race 7

There is no standout in this 7 1/2-furlong turf event for Louisiana-bred fillies and mares. #2 Playin N Traffic and #4 Steal the Stars are a couple of lightly raced types with upside that I will include, and #9 Gifted Talent can’t be discounted. Gifted Talent will add blinkers after a pair of respectable third-place efforts, and trainer Jose Camejo has won seven of his last 25 starts (28%) with the equipment change.

$5 Pick 3: 5 with 2,4 with 2,4,9 ($30)