Saudi Crown, Smile Happy Return in Louisiana Stakes

Two high-level stakes competitors, Saudi Crown  and Smile Happy , return to action Jan. 20 in the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The 1 1/16-mile dirt race attracted seven competitors.

Favored at 8-5 on the morning line is Saudi Crown. After two nose losses in graded stakes company, the FMQ Stables colt broke through Sept. 23 with a half-length victory in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing on a sloppy track.

Video: Pennsylvania Derby (G1)

The Brad Cox trainee returns from a 10th-place finish in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park after not setting the pace for the first time since his debut. He also faced older stakes horses for the first time.

The 4-year-old Always Dreaming   colt may prove the pacesetter, having drawn inside of speedy rival and grade 3 winner Five Star General , who is coming off a score in the Dec. 23 Tenacious Stakes when he took command a half-mile into the race en route to a three-length victory at the same course and distance.

Smile Happy  has not raced since July 1 in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Ellis Park. After delaying the start by several minutes due to a reluctance to walk anywhere near the starting gate, Smile Happy settled in a solid position behind the leaders before finding an open seam turning for home and flattening out to run fifth beaten 4 3/4 lengths by West Will Power . Backers of the 9-5 second choice hope trainer Kenny McPeek has the 5-year-old Runhappy   horse smiling happier at the starting gate this time.

"He went through a period where he didn't want to train, load in the gate, he was very difficult," McPeek said. "The hardest thing is that he has a very strong will. He really likes training on the farm here in Florida and has had a really good series of works. We've been able to do some gate schooling. I run him with some trepidation because sometimes we don't know how he's going to act going to the gate. He's very much an alpha and wants to do things his way.

"We're cautiously optimistic that we've got him back to where we want him."

Before the Stephen Foster, the Lucky Seven Stable star added a second grade 2 victory in the $600,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs May 5 in his third start off a 10-month layoff. Brian Hernandez Jr. rode him that day for the first time since his career debut, and he will be back aboard in the Louisiana Stakes.

Video: Alysheba S. presented by Sentient Jet (G2)

Other Threats

• Happy American  looks for a second straight Louisiana Stakes score after winning it last year. He is 0-for-8 since.
• West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Red Route One  will make his first start since a third in the Zia Park Derby at Zia Park Nov. 28. Known for closing, Winchell Thoroughbreds' son of Gun Runner   will need a decent pace up front.
• Confidence Game  teams with jockey Corey Lanerie for the first time after three distant losses since a post-Kentucky Derby (G1) layoff that followed his 10th in the Run for the Roses.

The Louisiana Stakes is race 12 with a post time of 5:30 p.m. CT.