J.D.'s Bayou Blue looks best despite rise

When trainer Troy Young is asked to recount the best horses he ever has trained, B.J.'s Delta Pro is always one of the first names he mentions. She won 7 of the first 8 races of her career by a combined 35 lengths and earned $249,387 in all.

B.J.'s Delta Pro, who won five stakes races, went on to become a broodmare, and Young now trains her best offspring, the gelding J.D.'s Bayou Blue.

J.D.'s Bayou Blue has won 2 stakes in his last 3 starts, and despite moving into open company on Saturday, he is the one to beat in the $50,000 Alliance at Louisiana Downs.

The six-furlong race is for 3-year-olds drew a field of seven, and among J.D.'s Blue Bayou's rivals are Logan's Draw, Stormy But Crafty, and Favorite Minit.

, who races for Valene Farms, won the $50,000 Arcadia for Louisiana-breds in his last start June 5, when he closed from midpack for a three-quarter-length win, running the six furlongs in 1:10.

His other stakes win came in April, when he defeated open company by 7 1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Inaugural Handicap at Evangeline Downs on April 7. That race was also was run at six furlongs, and J.D.'s Blue Bayou rallied to complete the distance in 1:10.20.

Carl Woodley was aboard for both of the stakes wins, and he has the mount again on Saturday. Woodley's presence on J.D.'s Blue Bayou is interesting because he also rode B.J.'s Delta Pro in 6 of her first 7 wins.

J.D.'s Blue Bayou has worked consecutive bullets for the Alliance, and while he has won wire to wire before, he can stalk or close, and should get a nice pace set up from post No. 5.

can challenge for the lead from his rail post, while Mr. Barracuda and Stormy But Crafty - who was third against older horses in the $50,000 Kings Court two starts ago - both have speed and also break inside of J.D.'s Blue Bayou.

is another quick colt, having wired an entry-level allowance field at Lone Star Park in April, covering six furlongs in 1:09.40. But in his last couple of races Logan's Draw has made his bid from off the pace, and last out was third in the $100,000 Alysheba, a six-furlong race that went in a blazing 1:08.40.

Guy Smith rides Logan's Draw Saturday for trainer