Fair Grounds undercard: West Omaha, Saudi Crown win

After sitting a close fourth up the backstretch, odds-onfavorite West Omaha picked off rivals in the second turn and ran on to about a five-length victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes ona clear, cold day at Fair Grounds.

The race for 3-year-old fillies was worth 20-10-6-4-2 pointsfor the top five finishers toward qualifying for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May3 at Churchill Downs.

A Gary and Mary West homebred sired by West Coast and trainedby Brad Cox, West Omaha (4-5) was ridden to her second victory by Luis Sáez, thefilly’s fourth different jockey in as many races. Her previous victory came ina maiden race Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. Her last start resulted in a runner-upplacing in the Untapable on Dec. 23 over the same course and distance as the Silverbulletday.

Perfect Shot (2-1) finished second, Sistina Chapel (8-1)third, Miss Code West fourth (5-1), Accommodate Eva (11-1) fifth and NoriskitBiscuit (36-1) last in the field of six. Play Good Pay Good and Ma Rae’s Girlwere scratched.

The winning time for the mile and 70 yards on the fast maintrack was 1:43.48 following early fractions of 24.63, 48.84, 1:13.70 and 1:39.41.

West Omaha returned $3.80, $2.20 and $2.10; Perfect Shot $2.80 and $2.20; and Sistina Chapel $2.40.

Saudi Crown leads all the way in Louisiana

Tuning up for next month’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), odds-onfavorite Saudi Crown led the entire way in a geared-down, 5 3/4-length triumphin the $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) for older horses going 1 1/16 miles.

Owned by Mohammed Faisal al Qahtani’s FMQ Stables, trained byCox and ridden by Florent Géroux, 4-year-old Saudi Crown (3-5) set fractions of24.14, 47.93 and 1:12.10 on the way to his winning time of 1:43.20.

Red Route One (4-1) came in second, Happy American (23-1)third and Five Star General (11-1) fourth in the field of six.

Saudi Crown, who won the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10; Red Route One $3.20and $2.80; and Happy American $4.80.