“Bonus Coverage:” McLean’s Selections for All Stakes Races at the Fair Grounds — Including G2 Louisiana Derby — This Saturday

(Stats need to be updated)

Here’s our looks at the Stakes races at the Fair Grounds on this Saturday — full of Stakes events and jambalaya:

5th: 3-2-4/7/1//5…Crescent City Oaks…The first Stakes event of the day will be held at 1 mile & 70 yards over the main dirt track and will feature all Louisiana-bred 3YO fillies. I dive to the inside here and ante up with Secret Faith (3). This pretty gray has won two in a row and 7 out of 8 lifetime. Only loss was a runner-up to another horse in this field. But this one figures to be the speed and figures to gut it out at the end, as well, with regular rider Florent Geroux getting the reins back. Blue Fire (2) did upset our top pick three starts ago at Delta Downs. Won by a head that day. This one has all speed, too. It will be an interesting match-up. Margie’s Intention (4) will get the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr. here today. If riders do matter? Then this could mean the difference. Talented runner, too. I bet the 3-4 across the board and then box the 3-4-7 in the exactas. I will key the 3 over/under the 4-7-1 in two smaller units. Can’t make money pairing the top 2, IMO. 

6th: (16)-9-1/8/4/10-12/6-13/7-14-5…Costa Rising Stakes…This is a 5.5-furlong sprint over the sod for Louisiana-breds and I will go to the far, far, far outside and outside the starting gate, altogether, if Nine Part (16) can draw into this speciality event sprint. This one has a perfect 4-for-4 mark and the last 3 have been over this surface. Gets the meet’s top rider, too. But this one will need some real good luck before the race ever begins, just to get into the body of the field. Right now, this son of Leofric is on the AE List. If there is a scratch, then this one must negotiate an extremely wide trip next. Lots of favors to ask. Brian’s Iron Mike (9) has the talented to be dangerous here, too. Won at this distance last time out and over this same surface. Rider has gone 3-1-4 in the last 12 outings and the work on March 14 was solid. Threat. Monsieur Candy (1) has not been out since last June at Churchill Downs. But this 4YO has beaten open company at Keeneland before and rates a big shot here with a quick start. I bet the 16-1 across the board and then box the top 3 in the exactas. If the 16 does get in, I key the 16-1 over/under the 9-8-4-10-12 in two smaller units. If the 16 does not get in, I key the 9-1 over/under the 8-4-10-12 in the smaller offerings. 

7th: 4/9-11-13-8-5-10/14-7…Crescent City Derby…This is a 11/16-mile test for the Louisiana-bred 3YOs and I go with Sippin On Gin (4). And, I go strong. Shaken. And, stirred. Especially for a son of Mr. Money. This one has won two in a row, including a Stakes last time out. Likes to run from off the pace, and goes for a top trainer/owner duo. Jockey has gone 2-0-1 in the last 6 outings for this barn, as well. I’m in. All in. I bet the 4 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 4 over/under the 9-11-13-8-5-10 in the exactas. 

8th: 1/3-12-4-10//5-11…Tom Benson Memorial Stakes…I give a big “lean” to Fun With Flags (1) in this 11/16-mile trip over the grass oval. (BTW, thanks Sheldon for the name.) This 4YO filly by Zoffany looked like she was well on her way to stardom when she won her first 3 career starts in France and then was a game 2nd in a GR3 last April. But after making the trip here to run in the Belmont Oaks in July, she finished a very tired 9th and was put away for the year by trainer Chad Brown. Back now and training well for the return. She is 9-2 in the ML, but will likely close out much lower odds than that. I love this one. If she is the same old self? Look out. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I will key the 1 over/under the 3-12-4-10 in the exactas. 

9th: 1-7-10/2/6-4-8-9…G2 New Orleans Classic…This 11/8-mile tour of duty will be encountered over the main dirt track and I go with my “Long Shot Special of the Day.” I hook up with Kinetic (1). This 4YO son of Street Sense is trained by Brad Cox, who is winning with .32% of the 92 starters here this meet. Nice numbers. And, this one already has a win in ’25 with a Stakes victory over at Oaklawn Park. Has run here only one time before, when 2nd to Saudi Crown in the Tenacious Stakes here on Dec. 21. In 6 career starts, this one has 4 wins and that runner-up. Only miss came in the career debut. It will take some running here today to get the job done, but I like this one’s stalking style on this track. Sierra Leone (7) has not run since winning the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic last November at Del Mar. He will get Lasix for the first time here in this one for trainer Chad Brown. Has won over $6 million in the career, which would amount to about $1 million a start for our top pick. But? He may need the race, and he may need more ground than this distance. Deep closer has won here before and likes the track. But he is likely to be odds-on and will have a lot of ground to make up in the stretch. Bishops Bay (10) is the other horse in the field trained by Cox. Comes in off two wins in the last 3 outings. Has never faced the likes of these before, but was 2nd to Two Phils (remember him?) in the G3 Ohio Derby in 2023. Has talent and has speed. Those could be a dangerous combo here. I bet the 1-10 across the board and then box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. 

10th: 6-8/5-7/1/4-3…G2 Muniz Memorial Classic…This is a 11/8-mile affair over the sod and here’s hoping that sunny skies prevail. If so, this could be a real dandy. I give the edge to Spirit of St Louis (6), who is already well over $1.2 million in earnings for turf specialist / trainer Chad Brown. Not bad for a NY-bred, right? This one came running late to win the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational last time out at Gulfstream Park. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione travels in for the repeat ride. Should be coming late here, again. Brilliant Berti (8) has not run sine winning the G3 Bryan Station at KEE last October. But the trainer can get them ready off the bench and the work here on March 14 was spot on. The same rider who has booted this one home in each of the last two outings is back astride. Chance. If ready. I bet the 6 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the 6-8 in one set of exactas, and then key those two over/under the 5-7-1 in two smaller units. 

11th: 7/9-5-2/6/8-4-1…G2 Fair Grounds Oaks…The last Key Horse of the Day here at the Fair Grounds is the prohibitive and, sure to be, odds-on favorite Good Cheer (7). This 3YO daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is a perfect 5-for-5 for trainer Brad Cox, who began his solo training career by perfecting his craft with some of the best fillies in the land. This could be another to add her name to that list. Won the G2 Rachel Alexandra here by nearly 7 about a month also. Truly, has never been threatened at the wire yet. Can stalk. Can pound. Can run. Can win. I just can’t waste my time trying to beat her with an inferior horse. I bet the 7 to win/place. I key the 7 over the 9-5-2-6 in the exactas. I key the 7 under the “all button.”

12th: 1-6-10/3-5-9/7…G2 Louisiana Derby…Undoubtedly, one of the biggest and most important preps for the 151st Kentucky Derby will be held in this race today. I go to the rail and saddle up with the Morning Line, and, sure to be, Post Time favorite — John Hancock (1). This undefeated son of Constitution is coming off an impressive win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay on Feb. 8. Will have Flavien Prat back for this assignment, too. The most interesting thing about this race will be whether or not this boy continues to try to air them out on the front end, like he has done in the previous two — both at Tampa Bay. If he does, it will be a challenge. First of all is the distance of 13/16-miles today and the increase of weight assignment to a career-high 122, as well. Also, there is other speed in the race. It will require a herculean effort from this one. But he may be capable of doing just that. After all, the horse he nipped last time came right back to dominate the crowd in the Tampa Bay Derby last week. The third place horse in the Davis was Poster — who will be the favorite today in the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, too. Tough customers. But, at the very least, 3, and, maybe, 4 others in the field have speed to use and to burn, too. If the favorite can withstand the heat, the kitchen may be all his by the stretch. If not, I look for Built (6) to stay on for some of the purse here. Ran 3rd to Magnitude in the G2 Risen Star last time out. But this one beat that impressive winner just two races before in the Gun Runner here. Has stalking ability and if the speed backs up, he may have first jump. The horse to watch, though, IMO, is Hypnus (10). This 3YO son of the great Into Mischief had not shot in the G2 Rebel Stakes last time out when bottled up in all kinds of traffic issues at the 1/4-pole. Had to pump the breaks repeatedly for a furlong in the stretch and by the time that was done? It was over. Won the MSW over this track and has trained handsomely for this one. Don’t overlook here. I bet the 1 to win/place and the 10 across the board. I will box the top 3 in the exactas. I will also key the 10 over/under the “all button” in two smaller units. 

Good Luck & All the Best…Gene