Bourbon Cowboy might improve racing without blinkers

Racing in blinkers can narrow a horse’s focus, bring out whatever natural early speed he possesses, and get him into a race more quickly. Unfortunately, there was altogether too much of all of that going on when Bourbon Cowboy made his first start in more than five months Jan. 10.

A horse who seemed most naturally a stalk-and-pounce type throughout his career, Bourbon Cowboy slugged it out on the front end while racing on a quick pace and had nothing left for the final furlong. Trainer Richie Scherer is trying to do something about it in the featured sixth race Saturday at Fair Grounds. Bourbon Cowboy will race without the hood for the first time in eight starts, and a more relaxed trip plus improvement in his second race after the layoff could land Bourbon Cowboy in the winner’s circle.

Bourbon Cowboy is one of just six horses entered in a second-level optional $40,000 claimer to be contested at six furlongs on dirt.

The seventh race on the card is only a first-level allowance race, but it has a first-class field as far as bettors are concerned, with 12 entered for turf and three main-track-only entrants.

Bourbon Cowboy, a good 2-year-old two summers ago, raced for a $40,000 claiming tag at this level in his comeback run, and it seems like a positive sign that his connections start him under allowance conditions Saturday.

But Bourbon Cowboy still has questions to answer. He finished a fine second to the stakes-class Cinco Charlie in his first start last winter at Fair Grounds, the Sugar Bowl Stakes, and followed up with a turf-sprint win, but Bourbon Cowboy has since lost five in a row while failing to run back to his Sugar Bowl showing.

The good early pace he showed last time, while detrimental to his performance on the day, was good to see from a horse who looked either disinterested or compromised in his four starts before the layoff.

A more relaxed trip Saturday under Miguel Mena figures to place Bourbon Cowboy behind the pace of Vigorous Titan and Almost English, and if Bourbon Cowboy can summon a closing kick like he showed 14 months ago in the Sugar Bowl, he should run down the speed.

There are far more ways to go in race 7, the first-level turf-route allowance, but the pick here is Same As, a 5-year-old with a mere four career starts. Same As drew the rail, which means it will be nearly impossible for him to suffer half as much ground loss as he experienced in two competitive showings at this class level already at this meet. Holding form and saving ground could be a recipe for victory, provided Cisco Torres can find his way through this bulky field.