Snowdrops won a pair of graded stakes from eight starts last year, while Beau's Town never made it to the starting gate, yet both are favored in stakes races at the Fair Grounds meet at Harrah's Louisiana Downs Saturday.Snowdrops, the early 5-2 choice in the $250,000-added Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the grass, comes in off a win in Calder's My Charmer Handicap (gr. IIIT) last month.Beau's Town, who gets the 5-2 nod in the $250,000-added Duncan F. Kenner Breeders' Cup Handicap at six furlongs, last started 14 months ago on opening day of last season's Fair Grounds meet, finishing third in the Thanksgiving Handicap.The 6-year-old Snowdrops has a Fair Grounds stakes win to her credit – the 2003 Pago Hop as a 3-year-old. The daughter of Gulch, trained by Christophe Clement for G. Howard Spink, has made all but one of her 22 lifetime starts on the lawn, with nine wins and more than $433,000 in earnings.Brice Blanc gets the return call aboard the 119-pound highweight.Locally based challengers in the field of eight include Black Rock Road, who went gate-to-wire in an allowance last month for trainer Al Stall Jr. Voz De Colegiala, a group I winner in Chile, won an allowance earlier in the meet for leading trainer Steve Asmussen.Before being sidelined by injury last year, Beau's Town won 12 of 21 lifetime starts, including the Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Del Mar in 2003. Calvin Borel will ride Beau's Town on Saturday.Beau's Town is one of four Cole Norman trainees entered in the Kenner BC, traditionally the premier sprint of the Fair Grounds meet. Norman also has That Tat and the Courtlandt Farms entry of Top Commander and Grand Bank. Beau's Town and Top Commander are co-highweights and will each carry 120 pounds.
$250,000 Duncan F. Kenner Breeders' Cup Handicap (Race 6, 2:39 p.m.), 4 & up, 6 furlongs
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Orphan Brigade (KY), 117, M. Clifton Berry
2. Dreamsandvisions (TX), 113, Luis S. Quinonez
3. Beau's Town (AR), 120, Calvin H. Borel
4. Top Commander (KY), 120, Carlos Gonzalez
5. Two Down Automatic (KY), 117, Roman Chapa
6. Stolen Time (FL), 118, Robby Albarado
7. Grand Bank (KY), 114, Jamie Theriot
8. That Tat (OK), 118, Tracy J. Hebert
9. Rodeo's Castle (FL), 118, John Jacinto Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 3:39 p.m.), fillies & mares 4 & up, 1 1/16 miles (turf)
1. Lenatareese (KY), 115, Robby Albarado
2. Where's Bailey (KY), 114, Donald R. Pettinger
3. La Reason (KY), 115, Terry J. Thompson
4. Freei (KY), 114, James Graham
5. Pad the Wallet (KY), 113, Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.
6. Voz De Colegiala (CHI), 115, Roman Chapa
7. Snowdrops (GB), 119, Brice Blanc
8. Black Rock Road (ON), 115, Gerard Melancon