Fair Grounds Pick of the Week for February 9

Saturday's sixth race at Fair Grounds, a six-furlong maiden special weight for three-year-olds, could be the spot where #2 CHESS CHIEF (6-1) finally breaks through. After a solid debut fourth at Churchill Downs in September when he was beaten by one length, the son of Into Mischief caught off tracks in his next two starts. A retreating eighth in his second start at Churchill, he made his season debut at Fair Grounds on Jan. 19 in a race similar in conditions to Saturday's. Racing sans blinkers for the first time, Chess Chief was virtually eliminated at the start after being bumped from both sides and dropping back to 11th early. A slow pace was of no help, though the bay did manage to pass half the field to finish sixth. With a little more luck in running for trainer Dallas Stewart, Chess Chief can make amends under jockey Corey Lanerie.