Inveniam Viam back with statebreds

The Latin phrase “inveniam viam” roughly translates to “find a way,” and the Louisianabred fillies and mares entered against the horse with the same name as that phrase will find no easy way to beat her in the $60,000 Red Camelia Stakes, the Saturday feature at Fair Grounds.

Mother Nature could have a say. The Red Camelia is carded for about one mile on turf, and turf racing might get washed away this weekend at Fair Grounds. There was a 70 percent chance of storms Friday, and after a respite Friday night, another 50 percent chance of rain Saturday. With the big Louisiana Derby card just a week away, track management will take no chances with the course, and the Red Camelia could end up on dirt.

Inveniam Viam has raced exclusively on turf for more than a year, and trainer Brad Cox, who also entered D ont mess with joanne, said Thursday he wasn’t sure if Inveniam Viam would start should the Red Camelia be switched to the main track.

On grass, Inveniam Viam is the one to beat as she drops from two open turf stakes into a statebred-restricted race. Earlier at this meet, Inveniam Viam won consecutive Louisiana-bred turf stakes over similar competition, capturing the Si Cima Stakes and the Louisiana Ladies, both by one length. Win, lose, or scratch, she was a resoundingly successful $20,000 claim 14 months ago for Cox and owner the Allied Racing Stable.

There’s a new player in the division, Viva Vegas, a Tampa Bay Downs shipper trained by Derek Ryan. Viva Vegas began her career in California for Bob Baffert before moving east into Ryan’s barn, and this is the first time she’s been given a chance to capitalize on her Louisiana-bred status. Viva Vegas was no match for Grade 1-class fillies like Dona Bruja and La Coronel last out in the Grade 3 Endeavour but fits far more cozily in the Red Camelia field.

Pacific Pink finished a distant third in the 2017 edition of this race but would benefit if the Red Camelia is moved to dirt, her preferred surface. From her last five dirt races, including four stakes worth between $74,000 and $145,000, Pacific Pink has four wins and a second, and while her two most recent dirt starts came at Delta Downs, the mare has often run to her best form on the Fair Grounds main track.

COADY PHOTOGRAPHY Inveniam Viam may not run if the race is moved to dirt.