Pretty Suspect may find the front crowded

Pretty Suspect is the one to beat in Thursday’s featured third race at Louisiana Downs, but she might have to contend with more pace than she did earlier this month when she won an optional $17,500 claiming race for fillies and mares on turf. Pretty Suspect went wire to wire in that race, which was at the same level as Thursday’s race.

“I was hoping there wasn’t as much speed in the race, but we got a good post,” said Al Cates, who trains Pretty Suspect for Five Star Racing Stable.

Pretty Suspect will break from post 2 in the about 7 1/2-furlong feature. She will face six others, including Glamoride, who can take advantage if the pace is hot, and Eva La Rouge, who is making her first start since finishing fifth in the Red Camelia at Fair Grounds.

KEY CONTENDERS

Pretty Suspect (Last 3 Beyers: 80-74-60)

She owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure by virtue of her 1 3/4-length win at this level July 3. Pretty Suspect set a controlled pace in the one-mile turf race under Luis Batista, who has the mount again Thursday.

“We thought she was going to run good going into it, and she didn’t disappoint us,” Cates said. “She just looked so professional last time.”

Pretty Suspect could have company on the lead from Ringneckdove and Cap, both of whom are stretching out from sprint races, as well as front-runners Cherokee Salute and Eva La Rouge. Cates said there are no plans to experiment with Pretty Suspect.

“Her style is to go to the front,” he said. “She will rate, but she does better when she’s on the lead.”

Cates said Pretty Suspect has also proven to be at her best on turf.

“She seems like she’s a better horse on the grass,” Cates said. “She runs good on an off track, also. The more I get to know her, she definitely prefers grass.”

Glamoride (Last 3 Beyers: 72-74-75)

She has employed off-the-pace tactics with success this meet, winning a pair of optional-claiming allowances before finishing third last out to Pretty Suspect.

Eva La Rouge (Last 3 Beyers: 72-72-70)

The March 21 stakes she exits has become a key race, with winner Tensas Harbor coming back to take the $60,000 Matron at Evangeline Downs in her next start, and runner-up Heatseeker Sharon returning to capture an optional $15,000 claiming race, also at Evangeline.