Top Louisiana-breds square off in optional-claiming feature

Many of the best older-male Louisiana-breds in training are entered in the featured eighth race Friday at Fair Grounds.

The Friday feature is carded at one mile on turf, is restricted to Louisiana-breds, and has multiple allowance conditions along with a $35,000 claiming option.

The New Orleans forecast calls for a decent chance of rain, and this race could wind up on dirt.

Topping the entrants if the race remains on turf is Ninety One Assault, who used a strong late burst to win the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf by one length. The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers from that race – Remembermis, Budro Talking, and In the Navy – also are among the entrants.

Shang has no grass experience but emerged as a leading Louisiana-bred 3-year-old during the first half of 2019, winning the Crescent City Derby on the Louisiana Derby undercard last March by nearly nine lengths. Shang hasn’t started since he crossed the finish third (before being promoted via disqualification to second) in the Iowa Derby last July.

Underpressure won the Champions Day Classic in 2018 and finished third in the 2019 renewal when forced to close into a slow pace.

Trevilion, the 2019 Classic runner-up, was entered for the main track only in the Friday feature.