Saturday's Best Bet: Colonel Liam too tough in Muniz Classic

Saturday’s 12th race from Fair Grounds is the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic for 4-year-olds and up traveling a mile and an eighth on the turf course (Post Time 5:43 p.m. ET).

#5 COLONEL LIAM (3-1) is strictly the one to beat. Todd Pletcher’s $1.2 million purchase has shown plenty of ability on turf. He is three-for-four on the grass and exits a nice victory in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). He has enough positional speed to keep the leaders in his sights and his strong closing kick and stamina could easily lead to another victory.

Sticking with the Pegasus World Cup Turf theme, #4 Cross Border (5-1) and #12 Pixelate (8-1) finished 3rd and 5th in that salty affair. The former has struck twice at this distance and just missed in a local turf stakes route late last year. The latter won the Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds in his final start of 2020.

#11 Olympic Runner (8-1) is a sharp Florida shipper for Mark Casse. He owns strong late pace ratings and his recent form is solid. 

#1 Factor This (8-1) has a shot if he is able to get out there and dictate terms. He was excellent in 2020 and easily went all the way in this race last year. He was in too deep in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and got the wrong setup in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) and Fair Grounds Stakes (G3). This race seems to be lacking pace.

Wagers:

#5 to win

Trifecta Key 5/1-4-11-12

Trifecta 1-4-11-12/5/1-4-11-12 

Recent Best Bet Winners

March 14 - ANNA FANTASTIC ($5.00), Exacta ($22.20)
March 18 - Ocean Breeze/Wildwood's Beauty Exacta ($31.40)
March 19 - STANDING O ($9.80), Trifecta ($238.60)

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