Across the Board: Key Classy John in Saturday stakes bets

While we are winding down in size and perspective, as the racing game is into its last month of 2018, there still are wagering opportunities to consider.

That’s because there are seven stakes on Saturday for Louisiana-breds being offered at the Fair Grounds on its Louisiana Champions Day. Add in events at Los Alamitos, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park and elsewhere, and the total purse money up for grabs in 29 stakes totals more than $2 million.

Yes, even at this late date, there will be a series of multi-race wagering opportunities, as well as more than a few races that astute players can take a few shots in multi-race exotics, or in races that might offer above average plays in single-race wagers.

I do believe that Saturday’s seventh race at the Fair Grounds, the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, deserves a very close look and a possible decent play. With nine colts and geldings in, Classy John looks like a probable winner you could key around all types of bets.

After all, Classy John did win his career debut at Saratoga in late August. Then in his second career start, this son of Songandaprayer was a good second in a strong allowance race at Churchill Downs four weeks ago. He’s trained by Dallas Stewart and will have Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons.

Classy John also has worked well since his two starts and earned the top two Beyer Speed Figures in this Fair Grounds field. That seems to be enough to suggest a class edge and labels him as the horse to beat among this group.

Among the other horses to evaluate in this field, I slightly prefer the following two as partners for play with Classy John in the exacta: the Victor Arceneaux-trained Hampton Roads and the Glenn Delahoussaye-trained PicketT!

Frankly, Classy John deserves to be labeled as one of the foremost “horses to beat” on any of the Saturday cards in the country. He will be my play.

Good luck and all the best.

Steve Davidowitz has written many books on handicapping, including the classic, "Betting Thoroughbreds." His Across the Board columns appear regularly at Horse Racing Nation. Click here to read past editions.