Louisiana Downs: Firststatedeposit imposing

Firststatedeposit looks like an imposing favorite Friday in the featured ninth race at Louisiana Downs. In his last start, he was second to Gold Storm, and since that July 9 race, Gold Storm has gone on to win the Straus Memorial at Retama and the Arlington BC Sprint.

Firststatedeposit will have an easier task Friday than he did last time, when he was favored over Gold Storm in a money allowance. This time he moves into an allowance that carries an optional claiming price of $30,000.

Firststatedeposit was seeking his fourth straight win before running into Gold Storm. Since then, he shows a nice series of works for his first start back from the two-month layoff for Kagele Brothers Inc. and trainer Cole Norman. He will be ridden by Guy Smith.

* Nominations for the Quarter Horse match race, featuring Pat Day at Sam Houston Race Park on Sept. 10, were to close Wednesday. The 400-yard race is restricted to the offspring of Runaway Winner and Streakin LaJolla. The winner earns $10,000.

Day is riding in the race as part of his national tour for the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America. His opponent will be Danny Lavergne, the leading Quarter Horse jockey at Sam Houston.