$125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap Attracts Wide Open Field of Eleven

Topping the wide open field as the morning line favorite at odds of 4-1 is Skyring for trainer Neil Drysdale. A six-year-old son of English Channel, he will get blinkers back on after competing without them last time out in the San Gabriel (G2) where he finished fifth. He was second, beaten a nose, in the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3) last year and has a total of five victories to his credit. Mike Smith will be aboard and they are scheduled to break from post position ten.

Villandry trying to rebound second time over the surface

Second choice at 9-2 on the morning line is Villandry for trainer David Carroll. A six-year-old gelded son of Mr. Greeley, he has won five of his nineteen career starts including the River City (G3) last fall. He is trying to rebound after finishing sixth as the favorite against stakes company on the turf at Fair Grounds last time out. He has been training steadily since that race and will have Florent Geroux back aboard from post two.

Stateside debut for Glenard (GB) 

Also in the field at morning line odds of 6-1 is Glenard (GB) who will be making his North American debut for trainer Graham Motion. A five-year-old gelded son of Arch, he will race without blinkers after wearing the equipment in his most recent three races, one of which he won. He has won three of his eighteen starts and will be trying to earn the first graded stakes win of his career. James Graham will be aboard from the rail.