Ruckus among those looking to rebound

BOSSIER CITY, La. - If you like playing horses for courses, Monday's turf feature at Louisiana Downs offers plenty of opportunities. No fewer than eight of the 10 veteran claimers have won over the local lawn and are hoping that a homecoming of sorts will reverse some marginal recent form.

Ruckus has perhaps the greatest affection for the grass course here, having won seven times over it. The C.J. Woodley charge defeated a group of $15,000 claimers at Sam Houston Park in mid-March but has seen his form tail off since. The 8-year-old gelding most recently finished a tiring sixth at Woodley's base of Evangeline Downs after some freshening and should move forward with a return to his favorite turf course on Monday. Larry Taylor will handle the riding chores.

Lear Song, a winner of three of his six starts over the turf here to go along with a pair of runner-up finishes, also is looking to turn things around. The Lear Fan gelding turned in a pair of uninspired efforts at Lone Star recently but not only is he returning to his preferred venue, he is also going to be reunited with jockey Don Simington. The two-time defending riding champ has accounted for all three of Lear Fan's local victories.

Quill Out won two of his three turf tries here a year ago and will be making his first start since a fifth-place performance at Fair Grounds early in the year. He hopes to regain the form that saw him quickly take care of his conditions for trainer Kenneth Decker in 2009. Iram Diego has the call.