Quills Picks Winners – Friday 3/20 – Fair Grounds Race 8
After a winner in yesterday’s featured race, we will take another shot at the Fair Grounds with their featured race of the day. Today, they are on the turf today in an optional claiming race. These optional claimers go one mile on the grass here in the penultimate race of the day.
Fair Grounds Race 8 – Allowance Optional Claiming
Favored in our featured race is the 5 Higgins Boat (5/2 morning line). He stalked and then dueled with the leader and dug in to win last month here at the Fair Grounds. He has won two in a row here in New Orleans after having almost six months off. He will be close to the pace and be looking to outkick anyone who is challenging him late.
The 3 Neat (10/1 ML) is one of two horses with ties with Commonwealth this afternoon. This horse returns for the first time since August when he was eased in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes. If he is at his best, this is a steppingstone race for his five-year-old campaign. If he is ready today in his first race in seven months, he will be closing late.
The 7 Legalize (6/1 ML) appears to have found a home on the grass here during this Fair Grounds season. He has a win via disqualification and a third on the grass during this meet. He won on the lead in his previous winning races, but he did rally late from off the pace last time out.
The second horse that has ties to Commonwealth is the 9 Chasing Liberty (8/1 ML). He races for the first time since September at Kentucky Downs where he finished fifth in the Grade 1 Franklin Simpson Stakes. His last two races before taking the winter off were turf sprints, but I think he is more suited to go a mile here today.
Joe’s Pick
If Neat is ready to go here, I think he can be a dangerous horse here. He was running in graded stakes race after graded stakes race for the most part until whatever happened at Saratoga back in August. There are targets on the front end for him, and I think he gets up at hopefully a nice price.
I’m calling this race 3-9-5-7. My first play is a $20 win wager on the 3, and I’ll also have a 3 and 9 exacta box for $10 which will cost $20 as well. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
