Fair Grounds: Exotics plays for the Tenacious Stakes

A well-matched field of 10 will go 1 1/16 miles on the Fair Grounds main surface in Sunday’s $100,000 Tenacious S. The race features numerous legitimate contenders in one of the more appealing wagering races on the huge December 26 card.

Tenacious S. exotics plays

• $4 exacta 3, 9 with 3, 5, 9, 10 ($24)
• 50-cent trifecta 3, 9 with 3, 5, 9, 10 with all ($24)
• 20-cent superfecta 3, 9 with 3, 5, 9, 10 with 3, 5, 9, 10 with all ($16.80)

Tenacious Stakes Race Analysis

I will key a pair of horses in wagers, led by #9 Happy American (10-1). Trained by Neil Pessin, the son of Runhappy took a while to get his career moving in the right direction but has never been better in advance of Sunday. The Kentucky-bred three-year-old possesses a potent late kick that has carried him to a pair of impressive allowance tallies in succession as of late.

Happy American showed steady progression on the surface when wintering here last campaign, and I expect the bay to make one run in the stretch to be a major presence late at a big number. James Graham will pilot my leading value contender.

#3 Trident Hit (6-1) is another player that could be a key piece for the gimmicks for Ron Moquett. The four-year-old colt didn’t fire his best shot at Remington Park when burning a lot of money last time out, but he figures to take a big step forward in his second appearance at Fair Grounds. The bay has been in fine form in 2021, and a top-three result seems likely for him with David Cabrera in the controls. I expect the bay to be stalking the pace while saving ground from midpack early on.

Multiple Grade 3 victor #5 Shared Sense (5-2) ran into the mighty Knicks Go when third in the Lukas Classic S. (G3) in his latest endeavor, and the Brad Cox trainee makes a lot of sense in a more reasonable spot on this occasion. The four-year-old Godolphin homebred is versatile and will be difficult to keep out of the top three with something close to his best.

#10 Chess Chief (10-1) bagged the New Orleans Classic (G2) on the surface in March, and while his form has been spotty since, I must include the Dallas Stewart pupil in the gimmicks at a price. Reylu Gutierrez will guide the late runner.