Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 6th

No bias surprises on opening day. Speed strong in sprints. Turf course favored patient runners.

James Graham, John Jacinto, and ‘Cisco Torres each booted home a pair.

Much Obliged was made the overwhelming fav in the Blushing K D Stakes, and she lived up to advanced billing with a solid off the pace tally under fine grass rider Francisco Torres. The Malcolm Pierce trainee definitely held a class advantage. Never Retreat was a stubborn 2nd, and the ultra-consistent Category Seven held the show.

A solid start on the analysis front. Got a pair of tops home including best bets Cole’s Music ($10.20) and Snow Delicious ($8.40). Note that my day one analysis (view sample) can now be viewed here.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 7th

An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and a pair of juvenile stakes races are on tap. Party cloudy skies with highs in the 70’s, so expect fast and firm conditions.

The fillies go six furlongs in the Pontalba, and synthetic/turf specialist Greeley’s Rocket is favored to handle dirt and get the job done.

The boys get their turn in the Old Hickory. Comedero and Western Smoke (Asmussen) are the speedsters. Note that Asmussen also has stalker Enumerate, and that one ran in a pair of graded races at the Spa.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest, and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Saturday free selection from Fair Grounds.

Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup?

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

Image: Newscom

Today is the first of the 2-day Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, and racing at the Fair Grounds also kicks off with a 9-race program. Weather looks good with sunny skies and temps in the 70’s, so expect fast and firm conditions.
The feature race in New Orleans is the $60k Blushing K. D. Stakes for fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Much Obliged is the favorite, and she was only a head behind ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together at Woodbine last time. Note that the …read more

With the 2-day Breeders’ Cup starting tomorrow at Santa Anita, we are having a live chat at Horse Racing Nation. Join us tonight and tomorrow night for a frank discussion on the Cup.

Starting soon at Horse Racing Nation is our first of two live Breeders’ Cup Handicapping chats. Join our top handicappers in a round table discussion of the Friday races at Santa Anita.

Check out the live chat starting at 9pm EST by going to this link…

http://www.horseracingnation.com/content/live_chat

We’re excited to talk about the races, find some longshots and figure out how to make some money! We’ll also do …read more

Lost in the crush of the Breeders’ Cup frenzy was my final notes on the Louisiana Downs meet, which concluded on Oct 4th. Below is a belated wrap of the LAD season in words and pictures. Click on the name of each horse to view stakes replays.
Here are the horses that I voted for in the LAD meet champion categories…
Two Year Old: William’s Kitten – On the Super Derby undercard, the Michael Maker runner competed in the off the turf Sunday Silence Stakes. He was sitting at the back of the pack and unleashed an eye catching …read more

The much anticipated 85-day Fair Grounds meet kicks off on November 6th. Those who follow this blog know that I am the Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper, and just like last year I look forward to sharing my thoughts about the New Orleans oval as well.
One of the changes to the new meet is the Louisiana Derby. Formerly run at a mile and a sixteenth seven weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby, it will now be contested at nine furlongs five weeks before the first Saturday in May.
Exotic bettors should be happy to hear that a $1 Super High 5 will be offered on …read more

Breeders’ Cup entrants continue to go through their final paces as the big days loom, and Zenyatta made a favorable Halloween impression at Hollywood Park.
The undefeated miss breezed an effortless six furlongs in 1:12.40, and her morning jaunt was reportedly better than her final Cup move in ‘08. Earlier this year she did not seem to be quite as sharp as she was last season, but all of that has changed now, and she appears poised to deliver the goods in the Cup.
In other Classic works, Summer Bird went five furlongs in :59.28 at Santa Anita. In his …read more

The Keeneland fall meet came to an end on Halloween, and the Grade 2 Fayette went to Blame.
Blame was my Super Derby top, and he ran a big race to land the place behind lone speedster Regal Ransom that day. He was facing quality older horses in Lexington, including multiple graded winner Parading. The latter had the lead in the lane on Oct 31st, but Blame wore him down for his first graded tally. Hats off winning trainer Al Stall Jr. and jockey Jamie Theriot.
Churchill Downs kicks off their fall meet on Nov. 1st, and the …read more

Part four of my Breeders’ Cup Classic blog, and below is a look at the final four pre-entrants.
Colonel John rates a longshot look in the Classic. 2-time local graded winner just missed in the Goodwood, and he won the Grade 1 Travers at this distance last year. He was my Ky Derby top in ‘08, and I have always had a soft spot for him. He was visually impressive winning the Wickerr on the turf earlier this year, and I would like to see him return to the weeds at some point.
Chocolate Candy is familiar …read more

Part three of my Breeders’ Cup Classic blog, and below is a look at the next four pre-entrants.
Mine That Bird shocked the world on the first Saturday in May with an improbable late running win in the Kentucky Derby. He had lost three straight before that, and he has dropped four starts since. Sustained runner is always at the mercy of the pace, and the 4-time synthetic winner finished last in the ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He was 6th of 10 when last seen in the Goodwood, the final local prep …read more

Part two of my Breeders’ Cup Classic blog, and below is a look at the next four pre-entrants.
Regal Ransom started his career in the US, and he was sent to Dubai for the winter following a disappointing effort in the ‘08 Norfolk at Santa Anita. He has been part of the exacta in 4 of 5 starts since, with his only below par effort a speed/fade trip in the Ky Derby. He returned from a 4+ month layoff to easily wire the Super Derby, and he continues to work well. Biggest questions are his …read more