Azalea Featured on Friday Night Lights Card

Smitty’s Cougar will break from the rail as the 8/5 favorite while looking for her third consecutive stakes tally. The Ron Faucheux trainee won the Louisiana Futurity at Fair Grounds to cap her two year-old campaign and opened her three year-old season in style with a victory in the Louisiana Starlet February 6 at Delta where she is unbeaten in two starts. A winner of 4 of 6 career starts, Smitty’s Cougar has never finished worse than third and looms as the most logical betting choice in the field. Jockey Eramia will be aboard.

Jet Black Magic tries to turn tables 

Jet Black Magic (2/1) draws outside her main rival and warrants plenty of consideration for the win despite finishing second behind Smitty’s Cougar last out in the Starlet. The William Brett Calhoun trainee’s most notable achievement is a Grade 3 victory in the Delta Downs Princess Stakes, but she has shown plenty of consistency hitting the board in all six career starts while winning twice. Colby Hernandez will ride while trying to avenge the upset loss to Smitty’s Cat.

Aunt Nellie needs improvement to factor

Aunt Nellie is a bit of an outsider at 6/1, but cannot be overlooked with 3 wins in 6 career starts. The Floyd Pitzer trainee finished a well-beaten fourth behind the top two last out in the Starlet.