Beyond Blame looks tough

It only seems like trainer Brad Cox wins most of the turf races at Fair Grounds. In fact, Cox-trained turf starters this meet have lost 70 percent of the time. Of course, that works out to an elite 30 percent strike rate, and the sheer volume of grass winners Cox has amassed in recent Fair Grounds season is remarkable. So far this meet, Cox has won 28 turf races, that after capturing 33 during the 2016-17 meet, and 22 (from just 53 runners) the previous season.

Three meetings, 83 turf winners – no wonder the Cox turf brigade feels ubiquitous. And his Fair Grounds barn, overseen by assistant trainer Ricky Giannini, sends out the likely favorite, Beyond Blame, in the $50,000 Allen “Black Cat” Lacombe Memorial, a grass race over about one mile for 3-year-old fillies.

Beyond Blame drew the rail for the Lacombe, which attracted 14 entrants, 11 in the field’s main body and three also-eligibles. Beyond Blame’s main rival, Kabella, fared poorly at the draw, and would have to overcome post 11 if she’s to beat Beyond Blame for the second time this winter.

Kabella bested Beyond Blame by a head when they met Jan. 9 in a turf maiden, but Beyond Blame was making her career debut that day and might have gotten a little lost after making the lead halfway through the race. Beyond Blame, a Blame filly, left no doubt in her second start, winning a Feb. 10 turf maiden by more than nine lengths. Beyond Blame obviously has positional speed, but she hasn’t looked like a run-off incapable of rationing it behind horses if that’s how things shake out Saturday.

Kabella, meanwhile, came right back to validate her own maiden win as well as Beyond Blame’s form when she proved 1 1/4 lengths best Feb. 1 in a first-level turf-mile allowance race. Trained by Steve Margolis, Kabella has rated mid-pack and displayed a very nice quarter-mile kick in her two wins this meet, but her trip is almost certain to be tricky with a fairly short run into the first turn.

Go Noni Go, in from Florida for trainer Mike Maker, is listed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite, but she looks more like a third- or fourth-choice in the Lacombe. Starving Artist merits a second look coming off an eye-catching front-running turf maiden win Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds.

Deep cast in Menard

A full field of 12 older fillies and mares is entered in the $50,000 Nelson Menard Memorial, the turf-sprint co-feature on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Triple Chelsea is the legitimate 3-1 morning-line favorite and probably the horse to beat, but there are other ways to go.

Triple Chelsea won the $50,000 Pan Zareta over this same about 5 1/2-furlong trip in January, and appeared to be on the way to victory Feb. 13 in the Mardi Gras Stakes before losing momentum late in that turf sprint. Trainer Joe Sharp said after the race that Triple Chelsea has a tendency to lose focus when she’s in front, and figure her to be ridden accordingly Saturday.

Stallion Heiress makes her first start since June. She made a strong favorable impression last season at Fair Grounds, winning all three of her starts, including two stakes. Stallion Heiress races with blinkers off for trainer Mike Stidham, but has ample natural speed and should be on or near the lead.

Burma Road is interesting at a price. Mainly a turf route horse – and a decent one – during her career, she has been turned back to sprints this winter, and after a flat front-end performance Dec. 2, she came from 12th with a strong late run to finish a close fourth in the Mardi Gras.