Conquest Serenade talented but no shoo-in

Friday’s program (first post at 5 p.m. Central) is stronger than the typical Friday night card. The first two races are turf-sprint allowances, and the featured sixth, a second-level dirt-sprint allowance for females, marks the return of the promising Conquest Serenade.

Conquest Serenade, trained by Mark Casse for Stonestreet Stables, last raced June 4 at Penn National, where she clipped heels and fell in the Penn Oaks. That was Conquest Serenade’s first two-turn race and first turf race, and the filly had previously won consecutive dirt sprints in Kentucky. With Florent Geroux named to ride, Conquest Serenade figures to go to post a short-priced favorite while facing five foes.

But she does not have to win. The pace in the Friday feature could turn taxing, and a sharp Conquest Serenade could get swept up into it. The two beneficiaries of such a scenario would be Twirl Girl, who makes her first start since August but is qualified to win, and Gotit Todo, who rallied into a strong pace and won a first-level Fair Grounds dirt-sprint allowance race just two starts ago.