The last time Saudi Crown raced at Fair Grounds, it was on the back of a 10th-placed finish in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic. You might think the pattern could not get worse, but it has. Saudi Crown headlines the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, his first start since he finished 13th, beaten 58 lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. This past January, Saudi Crown rebounded from his Breeders’ Cup thumping and won the Louisiana Stakes in a romp. A similar resurrection will be expected this weekend, as Saudi Crown is the 9-5 morning-line choice in the Tenacious. “We’ll know more Saturday, but I like how he’s trained since the Breeders’ Cup. His works have been really solid. I’d like to get him back on the winning track,” trainer Brad Cox said. The Tenacious, carded for 1 1/16 miles on dirt, drew a field of eight, a race far stronger than its relatively modest purse. “Obviously, it’s a tougher race than we were expecting for $100,000,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who sends out Track Phantom. The leading 3-year-old stabled last winter at Fair Grounds, where he won the Gun Runner and the Lecomte, finished second to Sierra Leone in the Risen Star, and was a close fourth in the Louisiana Derby, Track Phantom makes the second start off a post-Kentucky Derby layoff, having finished an encouraging second racing a one-turn mile in Churchill Downs allowance company last month. “I do believe it’s time to find out where we’re at with him,” Asmussen said. “He had a solid first race back, and we’re glad to have back at two turns. Let’s see what he can do back at the Fair Grounds.” Track Phantom likes to show pace and drew the rail under Jose Ortiz, the problem being that Saudi Crown possesses more early speed. A crack 4-year-old miler, Saudi Crown went from his Louisiana tally at Fair Grounds to the $20 million Saudi Cup, where he led and held third in a strong performance racing 1,800 meters, about 1 1/8 miles. He flopped in the Godolphin Mile in Dubai, then turned in a commendable comeback run winning an Ellis Park Stakes in August, and was set to use the Ack Ack at Churchill in September as a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile prep. But Saudi Crown developed a hind-foot issue that forced a scratch from the Ack Ack. He went to Del Mar very light on serious training for a horse trying a major race after a layoff of nearly three months – and ran like it. “Throw the race out,” Cox said. “When he’s good, he’s good, and he’s really, really doing well.” Cox’s second runner, the Godolphin homebred Kinetic, comes to the end of his 3-year-old campaign at least hinting at top-level potential. Sixth in his debut in June, Kinetic has since won three straight, running through the maiden ranks and two allowance conditions while displaying a versatile running style and an affinity for route racing. “He’s really improved through the fall. He’s physically developed a good bit, continuing to grow and do things the right way,” Cox said. “Now, you can work him by himself if you want.” Velocitor can’t be ruled out. A competitive fourth last March in the New Orleans Classic, Velocitor most recently finished second, albeit well-beaten, in the $1 million Charles Town Classic. He should slot into a stalking trip Saturday under David Cohen – and hope Saudi Crown isn’t ready to regain his throne. Trio of turf stakes Even when dirt stakes have struggled to attract entries in decent numbers, Fair Grounds historically has counted on turf races luring big fields. That did not happen when entries were taken last weekend for the three grass stakes on the Saturday program. The $100,000 Blushing K. D., a grass route for older fillies and mares, drew a startlingly short field of six. The $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial, for older horses over a route of ground, got just seven entries, and while the $100,000 Richie Scherer Memorial did slightly better with nine, Stitched could run instead in the Diliberto and One Timer, who’d be favored, will be scratched after racing last weekend in Kentucky, trainer Larry Rivelli said. The 1 1/16-mile Diliberto, despite limited numbers, should unfold at an upbeat tempo – and should have Gigante as a winner. Making his third start Saturday after a long layoff, Gigante ran in his October comeback at Keeneland like a horse who needed a race. He performed better when third last month in the River City at Churchill and now returns to Fair Grounds, where, last meet, he won the age-restricted Woodchopper and turned in a career-best finishing second in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial. “He is in a good spot,” trainer Steve Asmussen succinctly stated. Gigante, a 4-year-old millionaire, gets the services of hot-riding Jose Ortiz and should find the fence into the first turn. He figures to run down pace players Idratherbeblessed and Swiftsure while holding clear 8-year-old warrior Another Mystery, who has won four in a row while facing lesser foes this summer and fall at Hawthorne. Bear River won’t reach his 20-1 morning-line odds, especially with One Timer out of the Scherer, but he has a chance to wire this field of turf sprinters. When he was able to establish an early lead, Bear River won three in a row over the summer, and he appears to be the primary speed in the 5 1/2-furlong Scherer. Minnesota Ready would be the horse to beat here, but only if his recent dirt form carries over to grass – which, based on his race history, is possible. Panther Island ships from Florida to make his first start since being transferred into Cox’s barn, and his best races from earlier this year, all in Florida, make him a major threat. Lute Warm could finish only fifth as the odds-on favorite in an open Keeneland allowance race in October but still figures the public choice in the Blushing K. D. Before the Keeneland loss, Lute Warm had won four in a row for trainer Brittany Russell, who’s running a Fair Grounds string for the first time this winter. Callie’s Grit looms a front-running threat if she can shake loose from pace rival Join the Dance in the early or middle stages. In this surprisingly short field, there will only be a handful of rivals to hold clear if she can. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.