Stakes Spot Selections for Fair Grounds on Saturday, February 24

A pair of black-type events for Cajun-bred runners will highlight the 10-race card at Fair Grounds on Saturday. 

Race 8 – Lipstick Junky S. 

An octet of three-year-old fillies will jaunt one mile on the main surface in the initial stakes event of the afternoon. I have a pair of horses of interest in the affair, including #5 Clearly A Test (3-1) for conditioner Shane Wilson. The Clearly Now sophomore has been consistently good in four runs since joining this outfit, and the bay had a nice prep for this when a clear second in an allowance tilt most recently. She proved to be capable of handling the trip last time and figures to improve in her second route attempt to date. Jaime Torres will ride the stakes winner. 

#8 Tommie G (6-1) was an emphatic maiden winner in her first route try most recently and looks live in this spot from the outside post. The Patricia West pupil owns a pair of prior stakes placings going short, and I expect her to track the pace while always in range on Saturday. Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. will be in the stirrups. 

Race 10 – Star Guitar S. 

A talented field of 10 sophomore boys will run two turns in a well-matched finale. #1 Brittany’s Dream (6-1) looked good in graduating on the surface last time out in his first attempt beyond six panels, and the improving son of Always Dreaming seems well placed in this field. This Shane Wilson trainee is very capable of passing horses, but the bay colt also has tactical speed to secure a good position early on in the event, too. He is taking a major class hike in the contest, obviously, but I have confidence that the upset pick will be up to the task. Regular pilot Jose Guerrero will be in the silks once again and likely have this one saving ground from the second flight to the top of the lane. 

The speedy #3 Carpis (6-1) is another that I will dabble with as the one to catch for conditioner Sam David. The Star Guitar gelding has run well in each career try to date, and while he is a question mark on the stretch out, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the dark bay lead this field at every call beneath Erica Murray.