Fair Grounds Pick of the Week for January 12

The form of #6 LOUNGE ACT (6-1) has blown hot and cold through her brief five-start career, but there some things to like about her when she returns from an extended layoff Saturday in Race 7 at Fair Grounds, an about 1 1/16-mile turf allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares. It's been nine months since Lounge Act was last seen on the track, setting the pace and folding in the Appalachian (G3) at Keeneland behind generational leader Rushing Fall. It was an aggressive spotting by trainer Brad Cox, but perhaps a signal of the esteem to which she is held despite the fact she was a 45-1 outsider in the race. She entered that race off a wire-to-wire, first-level allowance score over this course and distance last February, which itself came after an eight-month absence. Though that race was restricted to then three-year-olds, it's encouraging for Saturday's race that she's capable of firing off a lengthy layoff. Known mostly for racing on the lead, Lounge Act could show more relaxed tactics here as she sheds blinkers for the first time in her career. Also, her worktab has been encouraging, including a best-of-115 half-mile last month. Joe Bravo picks up the mount. Generally speaking, the opposition in this second-level allowance consists of fillies and mares that are generally exposed. Lounge Act remains with upside and is deserving of serious attention.