Saturday’s Best Bet: Smile Happy may be carefree in Louisiana
Saturday’s 12th race at Fair Grounds is the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes for 4-year-olds and up traveling 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The scheduled post time is 6:30 p.m. EST.
Click here for Fair Grounds entries and results.
No. 2 Smile Happy (9-5) has a world of talent, but he just cannot seem to stay healthy. The 5-year-old horse faced the starter four times last year, and his big effort came in the Alysheba (G2) at this distance. He runs well fresh and is 3-for-3 at 1 1/16 miles.
No. 3 Saudi Crown (8-5) is using this as a prep for the Saudi Cup (G1). He fired exacta shots in his first five starts last year and made the grade in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1). He pressed the pace before fading in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last time.
No. 1 Red Route One (5-1) might be able to rally for a share from the advantageous inside post. Joel Rosario knows him well, and this is his first start as a 4-year-old after banking almost a million bucks as a sophomore.
Get Jarrod’s Santa Anita analysis.
Wagers
No. 2 to win
Exacta 2-3/1
Trifecta key 2/1-3
Recent Best Bet winners
Jan. 1 – Otello ($5.40), trifecta ($100.00)
Jan. 4 – Dr. Ray D. ($7.00), exacta ($15.40), trifecta ($28.60)
Jan. 5 – Virat ($7.40), trifecta ($72.20)
Jan. 6 – Comparative/Saddle Up Jessie/Evidencias trifecta ($45.40)
Jan. 9 – In Spades ($7.80)
Last Friday – Crimson Rose/Nokie exacta ($10.80), trifecta ($56.40)
Sunday – My Mane Squeeze/Bernietakescharge/