Bayou BC

Eight distaffers are set to line up in Saturday’s $250,000 Bayou Breeders’
Cup H. (G3) during the Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs meet, and SNOWDROPS (GB)
(Gulch) is the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The Christophe Clement trainee
captured the My Charmer H. (G3) at Calder last out and looks poised to make her
six-year-old bow a winning one, but we’re going with BLACK ROCK ROAD (Bertrando)
to lead this one from gate to wire.

The five-year-old mare, previously conditioned by Dave Bell, captured her
first start for trainer Albert Stall Jr. last out, taking a mile optional
claimer over the course by 1 1/2 lengths on the front end. She was never headed
during that test and earned a 107 BRIS Late Pace rating for her effort. Two
prior to that one, Black Rock Road was a close third, just three parts of a
length back, in an allowance at Woodbine while going Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile
distance. She shows five wins from eight starts on the green and could finally
break through in the graded ranks in this one with Gerard Melancon staying in
the saddle.

Snowdrops deserves to be the favorite in this one, posting a 111 Late Pace
figure for her My Charmer win after coming with a late rally. Our biggest
concern is that her BRIS Speed rating dropped from 96 to 90 in the My Charmer,
which could open the door for Black Rock Road to speed away with the win.
Nonetheless, Snowdrops is more than capable of coming late to snatch victory.
Brice Blanc has the call.

LENATAREESE (Broad Brush) is another late-running distaffer, coming from last
to finish second in a different My Charmer S. at Turfway Park last out. The David Carroll
trainee is equally adept on the dirt and turf, but has focused much of her
career on the green. The bay mare has continued to improve at 8 1/2 furlongs in
her past few races and could add some value to the top three at 8-1 on the
morning line. Robby Albarado being in the saddle only helps her chances of
making an impact here.

PAD THE WALLET (Skip Away) isn’t as fast as others in this field, but the
dark bay five-year-old is a game competitor, running a close third last out over
the course. She was making her first start there for trainer Kenny Smith after
being claimed in her prior race, which she came within three lengths of taking.
Yet another late runner, Pad the Wallet will be tough to deny in the bottom of
the gimmicks.

LA REASON (Labeeb [GB]) has raced on the turf only two times from 34 career
starts and didn’t finish on-the-board in either of those. She’ll give it another
try here and, based on her BRIS numbers, might be able to challenge for part
against this bunch. FREEI (Honor Grades) shows only four turf starts from 22
career races and also has yet to finish in the top three. She owns the same
record at the distance and is probably better suited on the main track.

WHERE’S BAILEY (Aljabr) is on her sixth trainer since May of last year and
might still be reeling from playing musical barns. We’ll let her beat us. VOZ DE
COLEGIALA (Chi) (Sayaret) won her last race on the turf, an allowance on the
course, and might show improvement here off a last-out dirt start. However, the
seven-year-old might not be able to mount a good enough rally to threaten. We’ll
go against.