Return to turf could be just what Drewcitable needs

Drewcitable, a 6-year-old horse, spends the winters based with trainer Lonnie Briley at Delta Downs. Delta has no turf course, which is why Drewcitable is scheduled to ship across Louisiana to race Sunday at Fair Grounds.

He’s one of 10 entrants in one of the card’s two allowance races, this one a turf sprint restricted to Louisiana-breds. The race has two allowance conditions – nonwinners of four races or nonwinners of two races during the last six months – as well as a $35,000 claiming option. My Friend Flavin is entered to run only if the race is moved to dirt, which, looking at the weather forecast, seems unlikely. If My Friend Flavin does get to start, he’s a win contender.

As for Drewcitable, he’s 20-1 on the morning line, which makes some sense since he’s finished sixth or eighth in his last five starts, but all those races came on dirt, and Drewcitable, a son of one-time turf star Artie Schiller and a mare sired by Dove Hunt, another grass influence, seems better on grass. On turf, his record is 4-2-0-1 compared to a 13-1-4-1 in dirt races, and Drewcitable, racing at Evangeline Downs way back in 2018, won the only turf sprint of his career. He’ll need pace help up front to have much of a chance, but there appears to be plenty of speed entered in this 5 1/2-furlong dash.

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Among the pace players is Takes Two to Tango, whose superior Beyer Speed Figures and the presence of Florent Geroux in the saddle could make him the favorite. Takes Two to Tango, however, never has raced on turf and hasn’t started on any surface in nearly a year.

A quick pace also would help A Song for Arch, who twice has raced competitively this meet facing open first-level allowance foes in turf sprints.

The program’s other allowance race also is carded for turf, a first-level female-restricted allowance at about 1 1/16 miles, and this one is a brain-buster. It includes the second- and third-place finishers from Fair Grounds most recent race like this, but neither Fate Factor, who placed, nor More Good Times, who showed, merit much trust. The former has but one win from her 12 starts compared to five runner-up finishes, while the latter lacks any semblance of positional pace and has landed in a spot lacking speed. Bettors are advised to price shop and cast a wide net if playing this race, the eighth, in multi-race wagers.