Race 13 at Fair Grounds | Saturday January 21 | Post Time 7 PM Eastern

Louisiana Stakes – Grade 3 | Purse $150,000 | One Mile and One Sixteenth | Four Year Old and Upward

Top contenders:
Intrepid Heart (3) had a fantastic 2022 campaign but you couldn’t really tell it by looking at his 1-7-0 record in nine races. Four were stakes races and his best efforts of the summer came in those when beaten a half-length in the Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes (106 Equibase Speed Figure) and beaten a nose in a third level allowance race (106 figure). He lost all chance in the Tenacious Stakes last month in which three others in here ran, with a very awkward start that saw Intrepid Heart break last of 11 and really have no chance thereafter. Also, and perhaps more importantly, he had taken blinkers off for that race but had won them for a long time prior to that, particularly last January through March when he ran three “A” races in a row at Fair Grounds including a four length win and nose defeat. Those were actually his best efforts of the year because he earned 110 and 11 figures which would win here if repeated. With Saez getting on I think that’s entirely possible so opening at 8 to 1 Intrepid Heart gets top billing.
 
Forza Di Oro (7) was one of those which ran in the Tenacious Stakes over the track last month, finishing third after moving up to lead mid-race then tiring. That occurred because he had been off for four months, but now making his second start off a layoff, and with a very strong five furlong workout coming into the race, Forza Di Oro has a big shot to run back to his best efforts which were three straight wins including the Grade 3 Discovery Stakes. 

Zozos (8) won the first two starts of his career last January and February, a sprint here at Fair Grounds then a two-turn race at Oaklawn. He finished a fine second to Epicenter in the Louisiana Derby after that  but only managed 10th in the Kentucky Derby. Rested a full seven months, Zozos returned last month and won his comeback around two turns with no prep first and is set to improve off that effort. 

Win bets:
Intrepid Heart (3) to win at odds of 5 to 2 or more. 
Forza Di Oro and Zozos, both trained by Brad Cox, could be considered for win bets at 3 to 1 or more but that appears unlikely.

Exactas:
Box Intrepid Heart (3), Forza Di Oro (7) and Zozos (8)

Intrepid Heart (3), Forza Di Oro (7) and Zozos (8) over Intrepid Heart (3), Forza Di Oro (7), Zozos (8), Run Classic (2), Happy American (5) and Mr. Wireless (9)