Comebackers are top two choices in feature
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
A pair of 4-year-olds unraced since May are the morning-line favorites in Sunday’s featured fifth race at Fair Grounds, a first-level allowance carded at six furlongs on dirt.
Koolhaus, who hasn’t started since finishing seventh at this class level on May 29 at Churchill, is 2-1 on the Fair Grounds morning line, while Prime Factor, fifth May 1 in a Churchill allowance, is the 5-2 second choice.
There are only four others entered, including On Your Mark, who could post a minor upset.
Prime Factor was third in the Holy Bull and seventh in the Fountain of Youth after a blowout Gulfstream sprint win in his career debut. Despite that six-furlong success, Prime Factor might want more ground than he gets Sunday, trainer Cherie DeVaux posits.
“I think he’ll run well. A one-turn mile might be better for him,” she said.
Prime Factor, a Quality Road colt who fetched $900,000 at a yearling auction, was trained last year by Todd Pletcher and makes his first start Sunday for DeVaux.
A $600,000 sales purchase by Nyquist, Koolhaus might not be quick enough for a six-furlong sprint. He ran all right at the trip in the first two starts of his career, maiden races at Fair Grounds late last winter, but cleared the maiden ranks at a one-turn mile.
Trained by Brad Cox, Koolhaus was scratched from a two-turn mile on Jan. 8 at Oaklawn.