Fair Grounds play of the day: Shaq Jack can lead them home

The Saturday opener at Fair Grounds (post time 1:30 p.m. ET) came up with a small field, but from a handicapping perspective, the race is surprisingly intriguing.

Seven horses are entered in the 1-mile test for $10,000 Louisiana-bred maiden claimers, and on paper, hitting the trifecta looks fairly straightforward. Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the field and see if we can come up with a winning ticket.

#1 Shaq Jack

The 6-5 morning-line favorite looks tough to beat. He’s already cracked the trifecta three times over this track and class level, including a second at this distance Feb. 7. The 66 Brisnet Speed rating Shaq Jack posted is slightly faster than the standard for this class level, and he’ll retain the services of jockey Colby Hernandez, who is vying for the lead in the Fair Grounds jockey standings.

#2 Nocomet

He failed to challenge in his first two starts sprinting, but ran evenly last time out and could potentially take a step forward stretching out in distance. The addition of blinkers should help sharpen Nocomet’s speed.

#3 Our Prince

He finished third over this distance, track, and class level Feb. 7 but finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Shaq Jack. That was Our Prince’s first start going a mile, and he vied for the lead through reasonable fractions but weakened down the lane. The distance is a question mark, but Our Prince has knocked heads with a lot of next-out winners in recent starts and might shake loose on an easy lead this time.

#4 Mythic’s Patriot

He fired off a couple decent efforts against $5,000 claiming company at Louisiana Downs over the summer. However, he never threatened in his return from a layoff in a $10,000 event Jan. 25 at Fair Grounds, where he faded to finish sixth by 22 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. Stretching out to a mile off that disappointing comeback run could be tough.

#5 Brokejaw

He failed to show much in his first two starts sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Delta Downs, where he posted Brisnet Speed ratings of 47 and 42. Hot trainer/jockey combo Joseph Foster and Mitchell Murrill warrant respect, but Brokejaw would need to take a big step forward to challenge.

#6 Fire Giant

He finished sixth, behind Shaq Jack and Our Prince, Feb. 7 and has been beaten by double-digit margins in his last six starts. He's in a bit deep.

#7 Man Alive

His best race came going a mile, when he finished fourth against $20,000/$15,000 claiming company, but that was over a sloppy track at Evangeline Downs. Man Alive has been beaten by double-digit margins in his remaining five starts, so hitting the bottom of the exotics might be the best this gelding can hope for.

The Ticket

Shaq Jack and Our Prince look like clear standouts, with Shaq Jack the more likely of the duo to emerge victorious. We’ll play them in the first two slots of a trifecta, and add Nocomet and Man Alive for third place

$15 trifecta: 1 with 3 with 2,7 ($30)

Good luck!