Monte Man must buck upset trend in Friday turf sprint

A rainy month of January could come to a fitting close Friday at Fair Grounds, where the local forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of showers.

Fair Grounds through Sunday has managed to run only 42 turf races this month from 164 total races after running 59 grass races from 176 total races during December. An even more noteworthy statistic: Those 42 January grass races have produced only five winning favorites, a chalk strike rate of 12 percent.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

If the featured eighth race Friday stays on grass, the trend of failing favorites could sweep Monte Man into its vortex. Monte Man is listed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in this 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint restricted to Louisiana-breds, governed by two allowance conditions, and open to $35,000 claimers. Monte Man eked out a dirt sprint win at this same class level on Jan. 11, and in his most recent turf start, over the Fair Grounds course in March, he ran a strong race to just miss in stakes competition. A return to grass Friday might rejuvenate him – or it might not.

On many cards this month the local turf has carried the right kind of front-runner, and perhaps it will do so again with Roger Brown. Roger Brown was scratched Sunday from a Sam Houston turf-sprint stakes race in favor of this softer spot and threatens to lead all the way from an inside draw. And if he’s not the favorite – all the better.