Youth may be served in Mr. Sulu Stakes

String King, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the $50,000 Mr. Sulu Stakes, is an 8-year-old. Benwill, the 7-2 second choice, is 7. Perhaps it’s time for a changing of the guard in the Louisiana-bred turf division Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Specialeyes, a 3-year-old Brittlyn Stable homebred trained by Eddie Johnston, looks the most interesting of the younger horses, at least for turf. Specialeyes is by Kitten’s Joy and out of the Danehill Dancer mare Good Mood, a graded-stakes winner on grass. Three of the four grass races in which Specialeyes has been entered were moved to dirt because of unsuitable course conditions, and Specialeyes raced close to the pace in those dirt routes. He finished well from off the lead winning his lone turf try, a maiden race last winter at Fair Grounds.

“He’s supposed to be better on the turf,” Johnston said. “We’re going to change his running technique, take him back, and cover him up.”

Hail to the Nile, Berniestrike, and Rock N Sake should supply a decent pace in the Mr. Sulu. The Fair Grounds course played fair last season.

Fort Pulaski, another 3-year-old, has reached a higher level on dirt this year than Specialeyes, but never has raced on turf and doesn’t have a grass-leaning pedigree.

Hail to the Nile is well drawn outside the other pace, and has won over the local course setting fair fractions. Benwill and Hot Zapper never have reached the heights of a horse such as String King, and neither appears in peak form.

String King has been the best Louisiana-bred grass horse for a half-decade, but cracks have shown in his foundation the second half of 2016. Still, breeder-owner-trainer Charlie Smith believes String King has a strong chance to win his third Mr. Sulu.

“He’s training well,” Smith said. “I think you’ll see a different horse Saturday.”

Heitai Stakes

Jockamo’s Song and Too Dim look like the principals in the first running of the $50,000 Heitai Stakes over six furlongs on dirt Saturday.

Jockamo’s Song won all four of his Fair Grounds starts last season, including the $100,000 Champions Day Sprint. Laid off from March to October, he had a turf-sprint comeback run last out at Keeneland meant to set him up for another productive winter in New Orleans.

“He trained well down here before, and he looks like a mirror image of last year,” trainer Mike Stidham said.

Jockamo’s Song will try to win his second straight Champions Day Sprint next month, but he’s a fresh horse, and Stidham said Saturday’s race isn’t merely a prep.

“He didn’t do a whole lot in his last race,” he said. “Hopefully he can show up both times.”

Jockamo’s Song has controllable early speed and will be on or near what projects to be a moderate pace.

Too Dim lost twice to Jockamo’s Song last winter, but delivered better performances in two other Fair Grounds races Jockamo’s Song didn’t contest. The 7-year-old Too Dim hasn’t started since July, but trainer Eddie Johnston excels with layoff runners.

“I think Dim is coming into this year even better than last year,” Johnston said.

Johnston expects Too Dim to stalk the pace, while his second runner, the capable Grande Basin, will come from farther behind.

“Maybe we’ll get a little speed duel and we can come catch them,” he said.

Happy Ticket Stakes

Smitty’s Cougar seems certain to go postward a lower price than her 7-2 morning line in the $50,000 Happy Ticket Stakes for Louisiana-bred female sprinters on Saturday. But her chances of delivering as a front-running favorite in the six-furlong Happy Ticket depend on how much pace pressure she’s forced to take.

Smitty’s Cougar probably is at her very best at slightly shorter distances, and if she falters late, a horse such as Persuade Me Lady will have a chance to get up at fair odds.