Wicked Lick figures to improve in allowance

Wicked Lick returns to the site of her career peak when she starts in the featured seventh race Thursday at Fair Grounds.

The 3-year-old filly capped a good run through the 2016 -17 Fair Grounds season with a second-place finish to Farrell in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. It was a fine performance, but Wicked Lick has yet to run back to it, and she comes into Thursday’s feature still eligible to this first-level allowance race.

Wicked Lick, who has the rail and jockey Corey Lanerie, faces just five foes in a mile and 70-yard dirt race also open to $17,500 claimers. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Wicked Lick should improve considerably on a poor last start over Kentucky Downs’s undulating Euro-style grass course, but she has lost three times trying to clear this condition and faces a couple of worthy rivals.

Gracer should be forwardly placed from the start and might not have been at her best finishing third last out over a sloppy track at Keeneland. She has upside for trainer Mike Stidham, as does Economies of Scale for trainer Al Stall. Economies of Scale cleared the maiden ranks Nov. 1 at Churchill with an 11-length blowout, but beat only four opponents at a 1 1/8-mile distance she clearly handles. She turns back in distance and faces stronger competition, which is fine, but Economies of Scale could be bet to favoritism.