(Friday, December 18) It is Super Santa Saturday at Fair Grounds, complete with a 13 race card that features nine stakes races.

Four of the stakes races are rescheduled from last Saturday where the Louisiana Champions Day card was cut short because of the weather.

First post for the marathon card is 12 noon, with the first of the nine stakes the fourth race on the card, the $60,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes for two year olds.

The likely favorite is the Steve Asmussen trainee Enumerate, who checked in third as the 4/5 favorite in the Old Hickory Stakes on Nov. 7.

The first of the rescheduled Champions Day races is the $100,000 Ladies Day Sprint, which drew a field of eleven fillies and mares.

Master Link is the likely favorite after a tough trip last out as the beaten chalk. The filly had to steady when caught in tight quarters on the far turn, had to check when trying to squeeze through an opening in the stretch, then finished up well when clear, missing the runner up spot by a head.

She is a two time stakes winner including winning the Louisiana Lassie over the main track here last December as a two year old.

Cajun Conference went gate to wire at 6/5 last out beating state bred Alw-2 company and is perfect in two trips over the main track at Fair Grounds. She was in the mix in state bred stakes company in her three previous starts going two turns but looks better suited sprinting.

Her previous sprint came in the Salute Stakes going seven furlongs and she missed in a photo. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and she left something in the tank despite earning a career top speed fig in her last start and looks like the value in the race.

The $150,000 Champions Day Classic drew the smallest field on the card, six going to the post in the nine-furlong race.

Star Guitar, riding a four race win streak is the 3/5 morning line favorite.

The $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf drew a field of ten and likely will be contested over turf with some give to it.

The Bill Mott Trainee Desert Wheat looks imposing off his win in the Mr. Sulu Stakes last out over the turf here where he beat fie he faces again today.

Wildrally won this race last year and had a three race win streak snapped last out in the Mr. Sulu where he stalked the early pace and had no punch in the stretch in a seventh place finish.

He finished behind four he faces again today but the gelding is better than he showed last out and I think he bounces back here with a much better effort.

If he runs back to his efforts two and three back where he beat open Alw-3 optional claimers that will put him in the mix here and his 8/1 morning line looks fair enough.

The biggest bomb of the day could come in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint, where I am looking for Silent Pipe to rebound with a much better effort.

I will have free selections for Fair Grounds in Saturday’s TURFBlog

Let us head to Bayou Country for today has featured race of the day:

Fair Grounds Race 12 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint S. (Post time 5:23 CT)

#11 Silent Pipe 15/1
#9 Mr. Porter 8/1
#10 Flashy Wise Cat 3/1
#6 Power Surge 6/1

#11 Silent Pipe put in a very dull effort last out in a eighth place finish in his first start off a 4 ½-month layoff. This gelding has had a productive year, bankrolling $113K and taking a state bred stake at Louisiana Downs back in May. The gelding has come back with three quick works including a couple of bullet drills. He figures to bounce back with a much better effort here for the Scherer barn that is 20% winners with horses making their second start off a 45-180 day layoff. We should catch a generous price on this person.

#9 Mr. Porter was a game winner last out at Delta Downs versus Alw-2 optional claimers in a two turn sprint. The gelding has done some of his best work over the surface here (14-4-3-1) including a pair of stakes wins. The gelding looks primed for a good effort here in his third start of his current form cycle.

Wagering
WIN #11 to win at 8/1 or better.
EX: 9, 11 / 6, 9, 10, 11
TRI: 9, 11 / 6, 9, 10, 11 / 6, 7, 9,10,11,12