Behemah Star the Pick at a Solid Price in Jacob V. Morreal Memorial on Saturday at Fair Grounds

The Jacob V. Morreal Memorial

Race 8, Fair Grounds, Saturday, November 23, 2024
Surface: Dirt Distance: 1 Mile 70 Yards Purse: $100,000

Jacob V. Morreal Memorial Picks

1. #3 Behemah Star (4-1)
2. #6 Allnight Moonlight (7/2)
3. #10 Highland Creek (5-1)
4. #7 Blue Cheese (6-1)

Jacob V. Morreal Memorial Longshots

1. #2 Mangum (10-1), #9 Wise Verdict (12-1), #5 Cosmic Train (8-1)

Race Preview

Saturday’s Jacob V. Morreal Memorial at Far Grounds shapes up as an intriguing matchup between Behemah Star and Allnight Moonlight. With the opening day track profile favoring tactical speed, while still featuring the Fair Grounds demanding stretch run, the race offers some compelling wagering opportunities.

Behemah Star: Potential Rebound Candidate

Behemah Star’s big back numbers may be somewhat hidden by his last three races in the mud and slop at Evangeline Downs and Louisiana Downs and he could rebound at a solid price with a big race over a fast track on his return to the Fair Grounds.

Allnight Moonlight: Tactical Speed and Improving Form

Allnight Moonlight brings sharp current form and tactical speed that fits the track profile. The Sprint/Route trainee has shown steady improvement against similar company and appears to be peaking at the right time. His ability to secure position early while having enough stamina for the stretch drive makes him dangerous, though at 7/2 he appears properly valued.

Other Contenders

Highland Creek enters with the good recent speed figures and his tactical style should allow him to work out a good trip despite his wide post, and his consistency demands respect. Blue Cheese enters on the improve and could be ready for a peak effort with the right trip. He sometimes gets too far back in his races, and he can’t afford to do that here, but he did sit close in his last race.

Longshot Opportunities

Several other longshots warrant consideration in this deep field. Mangum returns to Fair Grounds and ran some races here last year that would put him right there at the wire. He also has more tactical speed then his form might indicate and a good inside post. Wise Verdict had some peak efforts early in the season and ran some numbers good enough to win this, but he’s 0-for-5 at Fair Grounds. Cosmic Train would probably need a duel to win, and he sometimes drops too far back early, but he does get top jock Jose Ortiz and he finished a close fourth behind three of today’s entrants in his start. Worth including in your exotics at a what could be a big price.

Betting Recommendation

Behemah Star’s will be our key horse as a possible overlay, and we’ll be playing our other picks and longshots all around him in the exotics, hoping for some big prices.

Go get ’em Star!

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