The opening day of racing at the Fair Grounds Race Course will have some notable guests Thursday.

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, team president Dennis Lauscha and other team executives are expected to attend, along with Pelicans director of basketball operations Joe Dumars.

They’ll be there to watch the No. 7 horse in the ninth and final race. Joey D, a 2-year-old colt making his first start, is owned by Benson and named after Dumars, who was hired to run the club’s basketball operation in April.

“We asked Joe what his nickname was as a player, and he said, ‘Joey D,’” Lauscha said. “So that’s the name we gave him. He (Dumars) loved it.”

Joey D is the dark brown son of Lone Sailor, one of the Benson stable’s most successful runners, and was bred at T&G Farm, her h

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