Expert prediction
Horse Racing Picks: Louisiana Stakes Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Jan 20)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Fair Grounds hosts competitive graded action on track this weekend
- Louisiana Stakes is a Grade 3 contest run over 1 1/16 miles
There will be competitive action on track this weekend at Fair Grounds, as two Grade 3s headlines the card. The first of the races to get underway is the G3 Louisiana Stakes, which is run by horses aged four and older, and it is run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on the dirt.
Schedule and How To Watch
- When: Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 6:30 PM ET
- Where: Fair Grounds, Louisiana
- How To Watch: FanDuel TV
Louisiana Stakes Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Saudi Crown | +160 |
| Smile Happy | +180 |
| Red Route One | +500 |
| Five Star General | +600 |
| Happy American | +800 |
| Confidence Game | +1500 |
| Kupuna | +1500 |
Latest odds are taken from an offshore sportsbook.
Race Preview
The G3 Louisiana Stakes is the 12th race on the card at Fair Grounds this weekend, with the field of horses aged four and older competing over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The field will be competing for their share of the $175,000 this weekend, with seven runners set to go to post.
This race has been run over its current distance since 1952, and it has been listed as a Grade 3 contest since 1952. It has regularly thrown up a memorable winner of the race, including in 2022 when 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun landed victory for Brad Cox. Other recent winners of the stakes race include International Star and Friesan Fire.
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Brad Cox has won three of the last four runnings of the Louisiana Stakes, and he holds very strong claims with the lightly-raced Saudi Crown this weekend. The four-year-old has won three from his six career starts, and he has only finished out of the money on one occasion. That finish came in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but his tenth in that Grade 1 still appears standout form. He was a Grade 1 winner last term after scoring in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby.
It seems like a lifetime ago since Smile Happy was considered a standout contender for the Kentucky Derby. His career has taken some hits since then, but he looked better than ever when landing the G2 Alysheba at Churchill Downs last May. However, a response is needed after finishing fifth in the G1 Stephen Foster in July. Happy American was the winner of this race last year, but the 2024 edition looks a much hotter race.
Louisiana Stakes Prediction
The top two in the betting make the most appeal this weekend. Smile Happy gets weight from Saudi Crown and that could prove crucial. Therefore, we will be taking a chance on the five-year-old scoring at Fair Grounds this Saturday.
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