Broussard draws big, evenly matched field

There was only one Spanky Broussard, but there are 16 3-year-old fillies entered in the inaugural running of the $50,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Stakes on Friday at Fair Grounds.

Broussard died in 2015, and with him thousands of hardboiled horse stories stored in an encyclopedic memory. Quick-witted, Broussard pretended at a hard shell, but locked just inside was a decent, kind man, and Fair Grounds did well by not waiting long to name a race in his honor.

And that race, carded at about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, clearly has filled a niche, with 13 in the field’s main body and three also-eligibles. Wildly competitive, the race has a 4-1 morning-line favorite, while 12 of the 13 in the main body are priced at 15-1 or lower.

There was rain Tuesday night into Wednesday in New Orleans, but by race time, the local course – which played to closers when last used Sunday – ought to at least be designated “good.”

Spanky Broussard, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Lou, by Gio Ponti

Last 3 Beyers: 68-45-55

◗ She won both of her grass starts in fairly impressive fashion, rallying furiously to get up in an Indiana Grand turf sprint, her career debut last fall, and striding clear to a four-length victory in a first-level, two-turn allowance Dec. 6 at Fair Grounds.

◗ Hasn’t raced in two months, but that’s because trainer Mike Stidham decided to stay at Fair Grounds with the filly and await this race.

Tactical pace should land her and Florent Geroux a good trip not far from the front end.

Inconclusive, by Include

Last 3 Beyers: 73-62-65

◗ She ran well in both turf routes on her résumé and had little chance when sixth in a tough Keeneland stakes last fall, trying to close from 14th in the early going.

◗ She ran her last quarter-mile in less than 24 seconds in winning a first-level allowance last month at Fair Grounds, beating two fillies, Lope and Twirl Girl, who are back for the Broussard. She didn’t find her best stride until the final furlong of that one-mile race, and there’s some concern that a turnback to 7 1/2 furlongs might not suit her.

More Than Most, by Indygo Mountain

Last 3 Beyers: 47-69-70

◗ She flopped while making her 3-year-old debut in the Silverbulletday Stakes, but that race was on dirt, and this filly is much better on turf.

She did beat two next-out winners while scoring an easy victory in the $75,000 La Senorita Stakes on the Retama grass course, but one horse came back to win a Retama allowance race, the other a $30,000 conditioned claimer. She has questions of quality still to answer.

Smitty’s Cougar, by Half Ours

Last 3 Beyers: 69-58-65

◗ Cross-entered in a Delta stakes race on Saturday. She’s a fast stretch-out sprinter who will be on the lead if she goes in the Broussard. The distance is a question, but her sire, Half Ours, is getting offspring who relish turf, and the finish of this short route could come before the closers get to Smitty’s Cougar.