Comebackers may prefer dirt

Sonneteer might be the first name you recognize in the featured ninth race Thursday at Fair Grounds, but that doesn’t mean he’s the horse you want to play.

Sonneteer is entered for his 6-year-old debut in a high-level allowance race with multiple conditions and an $80,000 claiming option. All good, but the race is carded for 1 1/16 miles on turf. Sonneteer has a grass win behind him but has done all his best work on dirt. He excelled last spring going 1 1/2 miles winning the Champions Day Marathon at Churchill Downs.

“I don’t think he’s as good on turf, but this still should accomplish what we’re looking for,” said Keith Desormeaux, who trains Sonneteer for Calumet Farm. “It’s mainly a race to get him back in gear.”

Sonneteer hasn’t started since last June. He’s only a three-time winner from 26 starts and took forever to win a race of any kind, but at his best Sonneteer settles in as a Grade 3 type going a middle distance and longer on dirt. If rain forces the Thursday feature to the main track, he’ll have a chance.

“If it comes off [turf], I think he’s fit enough to win,” Desormeaux said.

Sonneteer isn’t the only long layoff horse entered. Nice Not Nice hasn’t raced since October 2018 and went to the sidelines just after hitting peak form for trainer Buff Bradley and owner Keene Ridge Racing. All Nice Not Nice’s best 2018 starts came on dirt, and like Sonneteer his best chance comes with a rain-off.

On grass, the situation is even murkier. Majestic Pride won the last turf race Fair Grounds hosted at this class level, getting away with a soft pace and leading all the way at a generous 18-1. His price is going down Thursday, but Majestic Pride could once again pull a comfortable front-running trip.

Ezmosh and Marquee Prince, both of whom showed flashes of stakes-level turf talent at age 3 but failed to progress much in the end, are also in this field. Ninety One Assault looked good winning the Louisiana Champions Day Turf last out but is up at least a half-notch in class here.

Honovi stands a decent chance to improve in his second start back from a layoff. His connections did enter him under the claiming option here, though the 7-year-old fits the allowance conditions.

The pick, albeit a tepid one, is Say the Word, who was an even sixth in Majestic Pride’s win Dec. 29 over the Fair Grounds course. Say the Word was making his first start since moving into the barn of trainer Neil Howard and ran well enough in several stakes races during 2019 to prove a major factor at a square price Thursday.

◗ Shaun Bridgmohan pulled his groin and was hopeful of riding Thursday, but Jack Gilligan will be out several weeks after a scary spill Friday. Gilligan broke his collarbone and sustained multiple facial fractures that will require his jaw to be wired shut, according to his father, Patrick Gilligan. The three-horse incident was triggered when Gilligan’s mount, Miss You Jo, clipped heels as Confederate Yell and jockey Adam Beschizza came out slightly into Miss You Jo’s path. Stewards will conduct a hearing into the incident on Thursday morning.