RACE 5: The scratch of heavy favorite Day by Day obviously completely changes the complexion of this sprint from every possible aspect. SUZIE'SSTEPPINOUT and CAUGHT UP IN YOU are clearly the main beneficiaries, as they become the favorites now, but it's still a murky race from the perspective of pace, as RUSSIAN ROULETTE and SWEET DADDIO are now the primary speeds, and SWEETLY MAID has some early zip. I'll use them all in some capacity with a push on the two likely favorites, who enjoy a Beyer edge.

When you’re the only game in town it helps to have some quality data and BreezeFigs keeps providing it. Our Pix last week were split—one was scratched and the other, Happy Road, showed strong closing momentum to complete the trifecta at Golden Gate—tab her back at a mile. During the week seven BreezeFigs maidens won at: Aqueduct (BreezeFigs exacta), Fair Grounds (two), Laurel (BreezeFigs exacta), Sam Houston (two) and Tampa Bay.

Fair Grounds | Race 12 | Post Time 4:49 p.m. (CT) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

12:45 TAM 1st LADY BREANNA (#5, 6-5) has a fairly big edge in figures and also figures to have a pace advantage over the majority of these, as she has speed and there’s not a lot of obvious pace in this opener; likely to stalk expected pacesetter PLEASANT BUFFY (#3, 10-1) and get first run on that rival. The latter has a chance to steal this if she’s able to shake loose and back down the fractions. She may well need to post the best Beyer of her career to win this but that’s within reach if the fractions are slow enough; consider a two-speed exacta punch. -Kenny Peck

Would it be nice to have a Weekend GamePlan play in easily the weekend’s biggest race, the $1 million Louisiana Derby? Of course, of course. And make no mistake: This is a very appealing race from a “solve the really hard puzzle” sort of perspective.

LEG A (LRL 9th): RUNS FOR LUCK makes his first start off the claim by Jamie Ness, who is winning at 26% with such runners. MINERS QUEST closed well for the place in his latest under these same conditions; obvious threat. MIDNIGHT CRY blew a clear lead as the favorite, drifting out late; nice works since suggest he'll come back better (3).

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Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.

QUICK FINISH

Trainer: Dan Blacker

Last race: March 14, 2nd

Finish: 2^nd by 4 1/4

Beyer: 83

Older sprinter ran super returning from long layoff. Set pace, hounded throughout, shook off pace foes, held second, winner rallied from last. Fits in similar statebred allowance.