Fair Grounds: 2022 Champions Day Spot Plays

A total of eight black-type races will be contested on a huge day of racing for the Cajuns at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Louisiana Champions Day features many of the top locally-bred runners on an excellent card, and I have a few horses of interest that are worth playing in my opinion.

Race 3 – Juvenile S.

Seven juveniles will vie in the six-furlong dash. I successfully tabbed #6 Not On Herb (7-2) last time out when he was a smart stakes winner over a sloppy, sealed surface, and I will come right back with the talented son of First Samurai to move his mark to 3-for-3 following the tilt. The Ron Faucheux pupil doesn’t need the lead in order to win, and I expect the $27,000 spring purchase to sit a perfect trip just off of a contested early pace on this occasion.

Race 4 – Lassie S.

An octet of two-year-old fillies will go postward in the six-furlong heat. #3 Louisiana Liberty (8-1) will need a big step forward to upset this field, but I do expect her to run big from off the pace at a price, nonetheless. Trained by Steve Flint, the recent maiden heroine will make one run from well back early on to spike the vertical exotics with Mitchell Murrill picking up the mount.

Race 7 – Ladies Distaff S.

The 1 1/16-mile affair for fillies and mares attracted a nice field of eight in what looks to be an attractive betting event. #4 Cheapskate Diva (6-1) was headstrong in her latest venture when giving way in the stretch in the Big World S., but I expect the daughter of Animal Kingdom to show vast improvement on Saturday. The Joseph Felks pupil will go to the front early on and pose a danger in the lane with James Graham inheriting the ride.

Race 9 – Sprint S.

An overflow field of 16 has been entered for the finale. #6 Win Ya Win (10-1) comes in fresh off the bench for conditioner Jose Camejo and rates as a live longshot to close out the card. The Star Guitar five-year-old has won or placed in 10 of his local 11 tries to date, and he has run well off of morning drills in the past, too. Adam Beschizza will be in the silks atop the dangerous bay.