Positive Side will take to the dirt
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Not one, not two, not three, but four allowance races dot the nine-race Fair Grounds card on Thursday, but Mother Nature seems bound to throw a monkey wrench into the works. There’s a 100-percent chance of rain Wednesday, with as much as two inches forecast for New Orleans, in which case you can forget about turf racing on Thursday.
Two of those four allowance races are carded for turf, including the highest-class fare of the day, race 6, a third-level turf-sprint allowance race also open to $62,500 claimers. And though the 5-2 morning-line favorite, Positive Side, has the look of a main-track scratch, trainer Grant Forster said the 7-year-old, who is set to make his first start since October, will run even if the race is moved to dirt.
“I’d prefer to run on grass, but he’s kind of an interesting American horse in that in three years for us he’s never had a race come off grass,” Forster said. “He’s always trained very well on the dirt, and we’re kind of planning to run either way Thursday.”
Race 4 is a second-level turf-route allowance for fillies and mares. If the race is rained off turf, Cinnamon Spice figures to be favored, but she beat a very soft group last time, and Cali Star could be better value.
The fourth allowance, race 5, is a Louisiana-bred affair. Class-rising Malachite is the selection.
KEY CONTENDERS – Race 6
Positive Side (Last 3 Beyers: 74-87-91)
He failed to win a race during 2014 but found a niche as a grass sprinter after racing in routes for most of his career. Finished second or third in four turf-sprint stakes, including the Colonel Power on the Fair Grounds grass course.
Has six published workouts for his comeback, and Forster expects a good effort his first start back. “He’s very ready. He’s a horse that’s always run well fresh for us in the past.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Positive Side. Trainer Grant Forster is 3-2-1-0 with a $8.46 ROI over the past five years switching to Lasix off. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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M Dication (Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-45)
He is a winner of two straight and is 9 for 19 lifetime, but does face better competition than he’s recently beaten, and could face compromising pace-pressure from fellow front-runner Officer Griffin.
El Seventyseven(Last 3 Beyers: 87-79-72)
Another 7-year-old layoff horse, he has worked even faster for his comeback than Positive Side, and will be a better price. Handles turf and dirt.
KEY CONTENDERS – Race 7
Vici (Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-61)
Getting first-time Lasix after finishing fourth of eight behind talented Hillbilly Royalty in an Oaklawn Park allowance race.
Trainer Al Stall says Vici is a large, robust horse. The more racing for him right now, the better, one assumes.
Defondo (Last 3 Beyers: 81-63-73)
Speed from the inside, he comes off a solid maiden sprint victory in his last start.
Has, at most, a miler’s pedigree, being by El Corredor and out of a Cure the Blues mare.