Masquerade in turf allowance feature Thursday

Allow Masquerade an easy lead, and she’s not easy to run down on the Fair Grounds turf course. Hooked and cooked Jan. 17 in the Marie Krantz Memorial, Masquerade, dropped in for a $62,500 claiming price in a turf route that’s also open to third-level allowance runners, could shake loose and back up the pace under Florent Geroux in Thursday’s featured eighth race.

If not Masquerade on the lead, then her trainer, Mike Stidham, has an off-the-pace contender in Zubi Zubi Zu. Treaty Oak, another Krantz dropper, also is in with a chance.

◗ I’m A Chatterbox, an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, had her first timed workout of 2016 when she went three furlongs in 35.40 seconds on Monday.