July 3rd recap

Stalkers fared best on the main. Early/pressing types held the edge on the sod.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington . Ramsey Zimmerman booted home a pair.

David Cummings saddled bookend winners to the tune of $11.40 and $60.20.

Not quite as bad as yesterday with 7 of my tops landing the place, but I did manage the feat four more times on Friday. Got overlaid top K D S One ($8.00) home in the compact 4th.

FTS Mary Catherine hesitated at the start in the 3rd and was well behind the rest. She managed to beat one horse and was less than three lengths out of the show under Torres in the special weight turf sprint. She galloped out well and might be worth playing back for Al Stall Jr.

My best bet Leestown Cajun landed the place in the grassy 6th. Down Home Boy sat the right trip behind the speed under the aforementioned leading rider, while my top did all of the pace dirty work from inside post.

July 4th preview

Saturday’s 10-race card features three grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $4,007.

Weather: Partly Sunny. High 98.

Many of the top riders are off to Evangeline for Louisiana Legends Night , including PVal, Simington, and Torres.

I mentioned last week that I have added a Horses to Watch list to our daily program, and a pair from that list are facing each other at Evangeline on the 4th of July. Up And Out Of Site and Wildrally are both 10-1 in the $100k 5th, and that would be a sweet exacta payoff.

Coulter Stone (race 4) is my LAD best bet. He exits an above par tally and figures right there in his current form.

My daily analysis can be found on the Louisiana Downs website.

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July 2nd recap

Both surfaces played fair.

Four-bagger for Francisco Torres. Dustin Dugas booted home a pair.

An odd occurrence with no less than 7 of my tops landing the place. Only one was the fav, and a pair (11-1, 15-1) almost made for a great day.

We also had three DQ’s and a dead-heat…weird!

My best bet Say The Word finished a troubled 4th (placed 3rd via DQ) in the grassy 7th. Frustrating animal!

Miss Lewis was placed 2nd via DQ in the turf sprint finale. I thought she could have been closer at the finish with a smarter ride. It seemed as though Dugas had plenty of horse under him but he waiting too long to pull the trigger.

July 3rd preview

Friday’s 9-race card features three grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $3,614.

Weather: Sunny. High 99.

Leestown Cajun (race 6) is my best bet. I liked him last time, but he was never comfortable sprinting on the turf from outside post. He draws the rail and makes first start for fine turf trainer John Locke.

My daily analysis can be found on the Louisiana Downs website.

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June 28th recap

Edge to early/pressing types in sprints. Routes played fair, as did the turf course.

Leading rider Don Simington ruled the roost with five winners, including three with trainer Allen Milligan. Francisco Torres booted home a pair.

Got a trio of my tops home on Sunday.

Vets Dream ran a winning race but once again settled for the place. Officer Jo Ann outgamed the runner-up by less than a length, and it was 9+ back to the rest. The Ronnie Ward trainee can break through the three lifetime level in the near future.

July 2nd preview

Thursday’s 9-race card features four grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $3,266.

Weather: Sunny. High 98.

My best bet can be found in the 7th race. A funny thing happened to Say The Word (7-2) in the stretch last time. He was on his way to victory but jumped tracks in the stretch and threw PVal. That one was originally scheduled for the turf, hence the gate tracks. Fast and firm conditions expected, so that will not be an issue this time. Graduated at this 7.5f distance on the turf and should make amends.

I thought about making Miss Lewis (9-2) my best bet in the finale, but the ice cold barn scared me away. She had her win streak snapped at four with a place finish behind heavy chalk here last time. Could sit right trip behind a contested pace.

My daily analysis can be found on the Louisiana Downs website.

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Calvin Borel abandoned Mine That Bird in favor of Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. He was back aboard the Derby winner in the Belmont, but he may be jumping ship again.

He frequently rides for Ian Wilkes and may have a scheduling conflict if Warrior’s Reward fires a big shot in the Dwyer (G2) this weekend.

If everything goes according to plan, Warrior’s Reward is scheduled to run in the Jim Dandy (G2) on August 1st, the same day Mine That Bird competes in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby. How many chances will Chip Woolley give his Derby winning pilot? It might be time to find another rider.

Papa Clem has left his SoCal base to prepare for the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth on August 2nd. He will use the July 11th Long Branch as his local prep. Seemingly a smart move by Gary Stute. Belmont hero Summer Bird is expected to arrive at the Jersey Shore later this week.

Trainer David Fawkes now has a pair of quality three-year-olds. Big Drama, 5th in the Preakness and recent winner of the Red Legend at Charles Town, is the big horse in the barn, but look out for Duke of Mischief. The latter has won two straight in easy fashion, including a sharp tally in the Iowa Oaks. The West Virginia Derby and Haskell are likely targets for the duo.

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Plenty of graded stakes action across the country for the upcoming 4th of July weekend.

Brass Hat, Court Vision, and Presious Passion headline the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth. The turf marathon is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, along with the Salvator Mile. Smooth Air is the one to beat in the latter race.

A competitive group is being assembled for the Grade 1 Suburban at Belmont Park. Recent overseas transplant Asiatic Boy is the marquee name.

On Sunday at Big Sandy, talented three-year-old sprinter Munnings faces quality older foes including Fabulous Strike in the Tom Fool (G2).

Three-year-olds take center stage in Belmont’s Dwyer (G2), an early prep for the Travers. Churchill invader Warrior’s Reward looks tough in this spot.

Speaking of Churchill, Thorn Song is the one to catch in Saturday’s Firecracker (G2). The flat mile specialist must hold off Wise River and Mr. Sidney.

Hollywood Park will play host to a pair of grade one events. First up on Saturday is the Grade 2 American Handicap, and Whatsthescript is out to defend his title.

Recent synthetic stakes winners Noble Court and Street Magician are expected for Sunday’s Triple Bend (G1), and an international cast is shaping up for the American Oaks (G1).

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Rachel Alexandra is enjoying her summer at Saratoga. She won another grade one with breathtaking easy on Saturday, and her two overmatched foes could not have been more accommodating after battling through sizzling early fractions. The rest of the three-year-old filly division is woefully weak, and the males are the only ones who can make her break a sweat. She may face the gents again in the Haskell or Travers in August.

Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird had an easy work on June 29th. The gelded son of Birdstone breezed four panels in :51 under regular rider Calvin Borel. The Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on August 1st in up next, and he may get a rematch later this summer with Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra in the Travers.

Barclay Tagg trainee Hello Broadway is gearing up for his turf debut, and I have been anxiously waiting for the son of Broken Vow to try the weeds. 4th in the Peter Pan and 7th in the Woody Stephens in his last pair, he shoots for turf glory in the $50k Don Jack Stakes at Belmont on July 1st. His older 1/2 brother Nobiz Like Shobiz was a multiple graded winner on the sod.

In other three-year-old news, Derby runner-up Pioneerof The Nile went seven furlongs in 1:26 and change at Santa Anita on June 29th. He is on target for the Swaps Stakes on July 18th.

Lane’s End winner Hold Me Back showed up on the worktab in New York, getting five furlongs in 1:03 flat. The Bill Mott runner clearly loves synthetic footing, and he owns a strong turf pedigree, so his connections have plenty of options in the coming months.

Warrior’s Reward, last seen on the wrong end of a photo in the Northern Dancer (G3) at Churchill, worked five furlongs in a minute and change in advance of this weekend’s Dwyer Stakes at Belmont. Calvin Borel will ride.

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A matchup between Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and undefeated champion mare Zenyatta is becoming increasingly unlikely by the minute.

According to recent reports, Zenyatta’s owner Jerry Moss does not want to ship to face Rachel because the Breeders’ Cup will be held in his backyard. You can blame BC officials since they opted to hold the Cup at Santa Anita for two straight years.

Mr. Moss did leave the door open a crack regarding a meeting after the Cup. “We may run against the boys at some point, and we’re open to meeting Rachel Alexandra perhaps after the Breeders’ Cup.”

Zenyatta packed 129 pounds and did not bring her A game in Saturday’s Vanity (G1), but her giant strides and class propelled her to another easy win. The Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on Aug. 9th is her next target. She is expected to retire at the end of ‘09.

Rachel Alexandra exited her Mother Goose romp in fine order, and she has ventured to the Spa for the summer. Her endless options include the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont (July 25th), the Jim Dandy at the Spa (August 1st), and the Grade 1 Haskell from Monmouth (August 2nd).

Later in the month of August, she is looking at the Alabama, Travers, or Personal Ensign. Owner Jess Jackson has already indicated that he has no interest in shipping to SoCal to run over synthetic ground in the Breeders’ Cup.

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June 27th recap

Hot and humid conditions once again on Saturday. Early/pressing types dominated on the main. Turf course seemed to favor stalkers and closers.

Went 5-for10 with my top selections.

Hat trick for Sidney Lejeune Jr.

Made it two-for-two with my Horses To Watch . Just Plain Wayne ($4.40) got the job done on Friday, and it was Burt’s A Stitch ($2.60) today. Both recent graduates hail from the fine Michelle Lovell barn.

Best Bet Sligo Joe did not have the cleanest trip in the 7th. He missed 2nd by a head and is worth following. SoCal transplant Angelonmyshoulder was a visually impressive winner for the 2nd straight time here. Might be headed to the local turf stakes ranks for George Northrop Jr.

June 27th preview

A 9-race card on tap for Sunday, and highlights include a couple of competitive turf routes. More of the same is expected in regards to the hot weather…sunny and 96.  Pick 6 carryover at $2,900.

Sense of Home (race 4) is my best bet on the card. He earned improved pace figs here last out, and he might not look back in this spot.

My daily analysis has been added to the Louisiana Downs site.

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June 26th recap

Hot and humid conditions once again on Friday. Speed strong in sprints. Routes played fair. No turf races scheduled.

Two more wins for Francisco Torres .

My 9th race top Delta Cachet was hung out to dry in outside post, and she ended up a better than appears 4th. May graduate with better post next time.

We have added a Horses To Watch section in our live program, and Just Plain Wayne was my first one to run back. He got the job done in the 4th and paid $4.40.

June 27th preview

A 10-race card on tap for Saturday, and we have three turf races carded. More of the same is expected in regards to the hot weather…sunny and 99.

My 2nd Horse To Watch is running back. A good chance to make it two-for-two with Burt’s A Stitch (race 4), but don’t expect to get rich at even money on the line.

Sligo Joe (race 7) is my best bet on the card. He chased a lone speedster as my best bet last time and ended up a solid 2nd that day. Should make amends in this spot.

My daily analysis has been added to the Louisiana Downs site.

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June 25th recap

Hot and humid conditions on Thursday. Edge to early/pressing types on both surfaces.

Leading rider Don Simington gave my top choice Mighty N Grand a crafty ride in the grassy 5th, giving profitable turf trainer Alfonso Balderas another win on the weeds.

Francisco Torres booted home a pair, and he stole the grassy 7th with Wild Dinner Party, who ran his record to 3-3 over the local green.

My Longshot To Watch Bee Bayou rallied thru traffic and was on the short end of a three-way photo to round out the superfecta in the 8th.

My best bet Joey’s Mizzen Mast finished an even 3rd in the finale. Deadly FTS trainer Bob Young won it with Illusive Hunt.

June 26th preview

A 9-race card on tap for Friday with no grass races. More of the same is expected in regards to the hot weather.

Pack of Lies is my longshot to watch in the 3rd. He stretches back out and should sit a prominent throughout ground saving trip.

Kristens Rebel (race 8) is my best bet of the day. She enters in fine form and projects a stalking trip at a hint of a price.

My daily analysis has been added to the Louisiana Downs site.

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