Aunt Nellie may get good setup in Friday feature

The nine-race Friday card at Fair Grounds lacks quality, and the highest-class fare on the program is race 7, a second-level dirt-sprint allowance restricted to Louisiana-bred fillies and mares and also open to $20,000 claimers.

The race drew just seven entrants but is playable if Fairwell Tax Break is bet down as low as her 9-5 morning-line odds. Fairwell Tax Break turned in a huge performance two races ago but bounced badly in her most recent start and is a front-runner who could lock horns early with Active Runner. The pick to take advantage of a favorable setup is Aunt Nellie, who is poised for a peak performance four races into her form cycle. Sammies Touch also will have a strong chance to outrun her odds.

◗ There is no racing Sunday at Fair Grounds, which canceled an originally scheduled card due to an expected lack of interest because of the Super Bowl.