FAIR GROUNDS: LA. DERBY, GRADED STAKES UNDERCARD SELECTIONS

By Rick Francis

FAIR GROUNDS

Race 9) Grade 2 New Orleans Classic

6) Silver Dust – Tapit 6-year-old is firing on all cylinders now; winner of two straight taking the Grade 3 Mineshaft in last; the one to beat.

9) Gun It – dismissed in each of his last two but finished less than a length back in Mineshaft.

3) Fearless – Pletcher 4-year-old takes a major leap up the class ladder here but is fast; trainer/jock team, 27 percent o0n the year.

8) By My Standards – upset winner of the 2019 La. Derby return in first start following the Kentucky Derby to take OC’s here last month.

1) Lone Sailor – maybe in career best form.

Selections: 6, 9, 3, 8, 1

Race 10) Grade 2 Mervin Muniz Memorial

6) Instilled Regard – three strong efforts including game third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf.

1) Dot Matrix – a driving victor last out in the G3 Conley run at the marathon mile and a half route.

12) Synchrony – closed hard in his return to his favorite course missing by a length in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds.

9) Factor This – wired the FG last out.

Selections: 6, 1, 12, 9

Race 11) Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks

6) Finite – gets sixth straight win; the Pick-4 single.

Race 12) Grade 2 La. Derby 3yo 1&3/16ths Mile

13 Silver State – finished second and third in his two Fair Grounds Derby preps; extra distance here does the trick.

6) Shake Some Action – Into Mischief colt has won two straight, the last a gut check score over OC’s; another screaming for the extra yardage.

10) Enforceable – runner-up in the Risen Star got away slowly in that contest and raced wide; win factor.

1) Major Fed – also a Risen Star runner-up, he’s been working lights out.

14) Modernist – Risen Star winner got no respect then probably won’t get it here, but not ignoring.

Selections: 13, 6, 10, 1, 14