Guest Suite, Hawaakom among $10 win bets at Fair Grounds

Saturday’s $200,000 Lecomte (G3), the first of three Kentucky Derby qualifying races at Fair Grounds, highlights a 12-race card that includes six stakes and TwinSpires.com is offering players 20X Points Winsurance at the New Orleans track. By making $10 or more in Win bets on any race at Fair Grounds Saturday, players will receive 20X Points for all bets in the race if they fail to cash a ticket in the same race. It's a little insurance on your win action.

Visit the TwinSpires.com/promotions page, select the “20X Points Winsurance at Fair Grounds” button, and click “Opt In” to take advantage.

Fair Grounds appears to have escaped predictions of heavy rainfall, with the possibility for a “fast” main track, but the turf will have at least some give to it. I will be betting $10 to win on the following horses today:

Race 6: #10 Pinch Hit lacked focus when finishing second in her debut at Churchill Downs and continued to run in spots at Fair Grounds last time before being checked on the far turn and spitting the bit. Out of a Grade 3-winning mare, Harlan’s Holiday filly should appreciate stretch out to two turns after being well-supported in both starts sprinting and Brad Cox (30% win rate this meet) excels with runners going sprint-to-route. Pinch Hit is eligible to put it all together at a nice price (10-1 morning line).

Race 7: #6 Hawaakom has shown an affinity for Fair Grounds (7-2-1-2) and really came on in the second half of 2016, recording his first stakes victory and three consecutive stakes placings before a troubled fifth in the Clark H. (G1). The 7-year-old gelding registered triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in his last three outings while squaring off against rivals who will be competing in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) next Saturday and easily tops this field in BRIS Prime Power, with a 4.6-point advantage over the nearest rival. Six of seven wins have come at this distance and I don’t expect Hawaakom to be favored.

Race 11: #8 Guest Suite caught the eye when stretching out to a route with a 2 ¼-maiden tally at Keeneland in his second start and the gelding jumped straight to stakes company with a respectable third to unbeaten McCraken, who was flattered by Uncontested in Monday’s Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. Guest Suite concluded his juvenile campaign with a sharp allowance tally, registering a co-field best 90 BRIS Speed rating for the 6 ¼-length decision at Churchill Downs, and I’m looking for further improvement in his second stakes attempt. The son of Quality Road shows a 3-furlong bullet work in preparation and has displayed decent tactical speed in his last two outings. Guest Suite can prove best with Robby Albarado from just off the pace.

Race 12: #8 Oxford Lane ran into a buzzsaw in his debut but displayed excellent speed before weakening to third behind a subsequent Grade 3 winner. The Into Mischief colt shows five local works since December 20 and trainer Kenny McPeek wins at 21% clip first-time in the first start at a route. This company doesn’t appear too imposing and I like Oxford Lane’s chances on the front end.

Good luck Saturday!