La. Downs next on Plaid's victory tour

Plaid has proven to be a horse who takes her track with her, having won races this year at Sunland Park, Churchill Downs, Horsemen's Park, and Evangeline Downs. Saturday, she will be an odds-on favorite to add Louisiana Downs to the list when she makes her first start at the track in the $50,000 Delicada at 1 1/16 miles.

Plaid will face seven other fillies and mares in the Delicada. Among those in the field are stakes winners Grand Facile, Raspberry Wine, and Baileys Affair.

Plaid defeated Baileys Affair at Evangeline on Sept. 2, when she won $75,000 Matron, her seventh win in her last 10 starts. Plaid rallied from off the pace for a neck win over Space Cruise in the Matron, and the 92 Beyer Speed Figure she earned is at least 12 points higher than the last-race number earned by each of her rivals in the Delicada.

Plaid is also appealing for her stalking style. She should get an honest pace to track behind the likes of I.B.'s Halo, Raspberry Wine, and possibly Grand Facile, who is making her first start since August. Scott Blasi trains Plaid for J. Kirk and Judy Robison and has given the mount to Donnie Meche.

* Louisiana Downs has amended plans for an all-turf card on closing day, Oct. 21. The track will instead card five races for turf, and the remainder will be run on dirt, said Mark Midland, vice president of racing operations at Louisiana Downs.