Two fillies back in better spot

Clouds in the Sky and Runaway From Itall, a pair of 3-year-old fillies who were impressive maiden winners last winter at Fair Grounds, will both make meaningful moves for the featured ninth race at Louisiana Downs on Friday.

The two will start as top contenders in a $16,000 optional claimer at about a mile on turf. The race is for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana. For Clouds in the Sky, it is a return to the statebred ranks after she was unplaced in two turf allowances at Keeneland in April. The races came prior to the meet opening at Louisiana Downs.

"I think she'll fare better in there with the Louisiana-breds," said Sam David, who trains Clouds in the Sky for LDL and Associates.

The last time Clouds in the Sky ran against statebreds she was second in the $60,000 Sarah Lane's Oates at about a mile on turf at Fair Grounds on March 1. Before that, she was a 10-length maiden winner in a turf route Feb. 8.

"She had a big meet at the Fair Grounds, ran two or three good races for us down there," said David. "The owners didn't want to stop on her when she was running good. I couldn't argue the point. It was decided to take her up to Keeneland and try her. She didn't run bad."

Patrick Valenzuela has the mount.

Runaway From Itall gets the chance to return to turf after running fifth in the $75,000 Crescent City Oaks on the main track at Fair Grounds in her last start, March 22.

"I think she runs better on the turf than the dirt, and her mother was a better grass horse," said Sam Breaux, who trains Runaway From Itall.

Runaway From Itall is out of Hope List, a stakes winner of 20 races and $601,475 who registered 14 of her wins on the grass. The last time Runaway From Itall ran on turf she was third in the Sarah Lane's Oates. She also won her maiden on turf, over Clouds in the Sky in January. She will be ridden by Diego Saenz.