Early-pressing types dominated the six dirt sprints. Lone main track route was nabbed by a stalker. Stalkers and closers best on the sod.

James Graham and Jamie Theriot both booted home a pair. Bret Calhoun saddled two winners on the afternoon.

Fair Grounds Race Course

On the analysis front, I got Group ($17.20) home in the 2nd, along with the $794.60 pick three that started with him. Also nailed the $287.80 trifecta in the 6th, and my best bet $15.60 exacta in the 7th.

Pick 6 carries again, and the pool has crept up to $2,241.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 20th

A 9-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Friday, and three grass races are on the schedule. Mostly cloudy skies are expected with highs around 70.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest (free sign up), and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Friday free selection (5th race) from Fair Grounds.

Friday’s MySpace free selection is the 5th race from Hollywood Park.

Friday’s Horse Racing Nation free selection is the 7th race from Hollywood Park.

For information on remaining Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Hollywood Park Recap – Nov 18th

Three wire jobs in Cushion Track sprints. Lone turf race carded was nabbed by a stalker.

Quinonez and Rosario both booted home a pair. Two more wins for trainer John Sadler.

Note that I successfully tabbed the Wednesday pick six on my suggested $72 Budget Ticket on pick6blog.com. 6 of 6 paid $748.80, and that is my 4th winning pick six ticket on the site since Labor Day!

Hollywood Park Preview – Nov 19th

Another 8-race card is on tap for Thursday, and there is a pair of turf races in the pick six sequence.

Thursday’s 3rd race is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Thursday’s 7th race is my Horse Racing Nation free play of the day.

For information on remaining Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Hollywood Park Recap – Nov 13th

Horses showing early-pressing speed and staying within striking range did best on Cushion Track. Same can be said for the turf course.

Riding double for Rafael Bejarano.

Hollywood Park Recap – Nov 14th

Three wire jobs on Cushion Track as early-pressing speed continued to do well. Turf course also favored early-pressing types and produced a turf sprint (six furlongs) wire job for the 2nd straight day.

Hat trick for Joel Rosario. Riding double for Alex Solis. John Sadler saddled three winners, and Mike Puype doubled up in the training category.

Bestdressed finished full of run to take down the On Trust Handicap at 7.5f. He was the only late runner to win on synthetic.

Hollywood Park Recap- Nov 15th

Another good day for early-pressing types on synthetic. Edge to forwardly placed runners on turf as well. Note that the grass feature was nabbed by a patient runner, but that was a pace collapse as the three speed players brought up the rear.

Four bagger for Joel Rosario. A pair of wins for Rafael Bejarano. Jerry Hollendorfer saddled two winners on the card.

One of Hollendorfer’s winners was sharp debut runner She’s Funomenal (Fusaichi Pegasus). The juvenile filly coasted to an easy wire job (84 BSF) tally under Rosario and is one to keep an eye on.

There were five losing favs in the pick six sequence on Sunday, and the carryover pool for Wednesday is more than $86k.

Hollywood Park Preview – Nov 18th

An 8-race card is on tap for Wednesday, and as mentioned earlier, there is a pick six carryover of more than $86k.

Wednesday’s 5th race is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Wednesday’s 8th race is my Horse Racing Nation free play of the day.

For information on remaining Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

In compiling this early list, I looked for proven graded class and strong breeding, but I also wanted to use promising, lightly raced sorts on the way up. Much will change in the coming weeks, but I had to start somewhere. Please click on the name of each horse to view their Horse Racing Nation profile page, which includes news, pedigree, results, and video.

1. Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) – Tasted defeat for the first time in the BC Juvenile, but he raced wide from the outside post and just missed in an excellent effort. Expect the likely 2yo champ to follow a similar path as last year’s Derby runner-up Pioneerof The Nile (also Baffert).

Lookin At Lucky is the early favorite for the 2010 Kentucky Derby

2. Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) – Rolled through the Florida Stallion series, and he will be given every opportunity to make the Derby under the care of new trainer Nick Zito. Look for him at Gulfstream this winter.

3. Noble’s Promise (Cuvee) – Breeders’ Futurity hero had 3-race win streak snapped with BC Juvenile show finish. Ken McPeek has the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec 19th pegged as his next engagement.

4. Vale Of York (Invincible Spirit) – Surprise BC Juvenile winner brought good turf form to Santa Anita, and he proved he could handle synthetic ground. Godolphin runner is not bred for dirt, but the new track in Dubai (synthetic) should suit him.

5. Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway) – Found much early trouble in BC Juvenile, so his 9th place effort can be forgiven. Had been training well leading up to the Cup, and he’ll get a chance to rebound in the CashCall Futurity. Broke maiden on conventional dirt in Pilgrim Stakes.

6. Homeboykris (Roman Ruler) - Nice stalk and pounce winner of the Champagne for Rick Dutrow. He goes next in the Remsen at the Big A on Nov 28th.

7. American Lion (Tiznow) – Rolled to a sharp maiden win (93 BSF) in a 7f synthetic affair at Keeneland on Oct 18th. Eoin Harty trains the WinStar Farms colt, and he might show up next in the CashCall Futurity.

8. Interactif (Broken Vow) - Made a name for himself on the grass and was last seen finishing a rock solid 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Broke maiden in career bow on the main track, and the versatile Pletcher trainee has been sent to Florida to prepare for his 3yo campaign.

9. Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa) – Clearly likes Churchill Downs as he graduated there and won the Iroquois when last seen in Louisville. The Steve Asmussen runner goes next in the Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov 28th.

10. Dave In Dixie (Dixie Union) - Looked great in Del Mar debut, and he was not disgraced (6th) versus graded foes in the Norfolk 2nd time out. John Sadler wisely kept him out of the Cup, and he is one to watch for down the road.

Honorable Mention: Aikenite (Todd Pletcher), Dublin (Wayne Lukas), My Time To Star (Dale Romans), Soaring Empire (Cam Gambolati),  Super Saver (Todd Pletcher).

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Stalking types best on the main, and patient runners solid on the turf.

John Jacinto booted home a pair. Victor Lebron and Greg Foley teamed up for two wins on the card.

Desert Wheat (Lanerie-Mott) got back on the beam in the grassy Mr. Sulu stakes for fillies and mares. Nowandforevermore was 2nd, and my 19-1 top Lee’s Spirit was along for the show under Don Simington.

Had another fine day on the analysis front. Two tops got the job done including best bet Firy Mistress, and my analyzed contenders nabbed the 1st nine races. I correctly tabbed the 2nd race exacta, the 3rd race superfecta, the early double, and numerous rolling Pick 3’s.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 15th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Sunday, and three grass races are on the schedule. Sunny skies are expected with highs in the 70’s.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest (free sign up), and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Sunday free selection (4th race) from Fair Grounds.

For information on Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

Get an advantage over the competition – use Today’s Racing Digest today.

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Early-pressing speed strong in sprints, and dirt routes played fair. A pair of turf route wire jobs.

Jamie Theriot booted home a pair. Frank Leggio saddled a pair of maiden claiming winners, including $163 bomber Deenameetay in the finale.

Nice wire job by Dancin Perfect (Sellers-Burgess) in the grass feature. Going to the Sun was clearly 2nd best.

Had a rock solid day on the analysis front with four tops getting the job done, including best bets Goodgoshamighty and Pomegranate.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 14th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and the feature race is the $60k Mr. Sulu for Louisiana bred fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Classy Deelites, the 5-2 morning line favorite, will try to buck an anti speed bias at this distance on the turf. Note that speed did well on the turf, but was it just a Friday the 13th deal? Late running threats in the grass stakes event include Bill Mott trainee Desert Wheat. Sunny skies are expected with highs in the 70’s.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest (free sign up), and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Saturday free selection (8th race) from Fair Grounds.

For Fair Grounds results/video, check out Horse Racing Nation.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

No bias surprises on day three. Early-pressing speed strong in sprints. Turf course favored stalkers and closers. Note that one of the two turf sprints was taken in wire-to-wire fashion.

Hat trick for jockey Corey Lanerie, and Merrill Scherer saddled two winners on the day.

Trouble prone Say The Word (7th race) was at it again. He was nosed out of 2nd and cost me the superfecta after experiencing traffic woes in the stretch.

Turtle Creek Babe (9th race) was fractious at the gate and finished a better than appears 5th in her first start since Jan. Can go better next time for Bret Calhoun.

For Fair Grounds results/video, check out Horse Racing Nation.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 13th

A 9-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Friday the 13th, and three turf races are on tap. The skies are expected to be partly cloudy with highs in the 70’s.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available to purchase through Today’s Racing Digest (free sign up), and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Friday free selection (8th race) from Fair Grounds.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The fall meet has been scaled back to 27-days. The first two Friday programs will be run at night, and Friday racing will move back to daylight hours on Nov 27th.

Highlights of the meet begin with the Turf Festival, which kicks off with the Grade 1 Citation on Nov 27th. The Grade 3 Generous and Grade 1 Matriarch will be contested on Nov 28th, and the 3-day turf extravaganza ends with the Grade 3 Miesque and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov 29th.

Two-year-old males take center stage in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Dec 19th, and the juvenile fillies take their turn in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet the following day.

I will have all of the Hollywood action covered in my daily pick six blog, which began with the Del Mar meeting earlier this summer.

I successfully pegged one pick six and Del Mar and two more during the recently concluded Oak Tree meet.

The opening night Hollywood (Nov 13th) pick six is now posted, and click here to view the free analysis and tickets.

Friday’s free Horse Racing Nation selection is the 8th race from Hollywood Park, and you can view my pick here.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Remember to click on the name of each Cup winner to view a replay.

The first of eight Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday went to Pounced, who did just that in the Turf Sprint. Chalk up another win for the euros. Bridgetown set the pace and held the place by a head over Interactif. Frankie Dettori booted home the John Gosden trainee.

California Flag was cooked on the pace in the ‘08 Turf Sprint, but he controlled proceedings throughout in a sharp wire job this time around. Joe Talamo was the pilot. Downhill specialist Gotta Have Her rallied for the place, and Cannonball rounded out the trifecta.

Lookin At Lucky was an unlucky 2nd in the BC Juvenile

Zensational was not a fast breaker, so he was in trouble after drawing the rail in the Sprint, and he was never comfortable in a disappointing but predictable 5th place finish. Four noses on the wire with CA-bred Dancing In Silks upsetting the applecart. Crown of Thorns, Cost of Freedom, and Gayego made up the rest of the top four. Joel Rosario got the win aboard the Carla Gaines trainee.

Bob Baffert did not get a break. Zensational was stuck on the rail in the Sprint, and his undefeated 2yo Lookin At Lucky was stuck in post 13 in the Juvenile. He had every right to fold after racing wide behind a tepid pace, but he rallied strongly under Gomez to just miss by a head. Overseas invader Vale of York was the stalk and pounce upset winner for Godolphin.

Goldikova won the ‘08 BC Mile with a perfect trip, and some thought she was vulnerable from a bad post this time around. I thought she was impossible to beat, and she rolled from the back of the pack to prove a much the best repeat winner. Euros are on a roll!

Zenyatta made her case for Horse of the Year after beating the boys in the BC Classic

Midshipman was my Dirt Mile top because of his pace advantage and ability to handle synthetic. He ran a fine race but was run down by my 2nd choice Furthest Land (Leparoux/Maker). Unfortunately, Ready’s Echo rallied to head my top out of the place, costing me a nice exacta.

Another overseas runner was attempting a grass repeat, and Conduit did just that in the Turf. He ran down a game Presious Passion, who opened up early as expected.

‘09 was the year of the girls beating the boys, and girl power was on full display as Zenyatta stormed past eleven male rivals en route to an exciting BC Classic victory. Mike Smith had his regular seat aboard the John Shirreffs trainee. Turf specialists Gio Ponti and Twice Over took down the place and show, and Summer Bird completed the superfecta.

The 2-day Cup extravaganza was a smashing success, and the Horse of the Year debate begins. Is it 8 for 8 Rachel Alexandra, who beat grade one males three times, or is it 5 for 5 Zenyatta, who won the BC Classic for her 14th win from as many lifetime starts?

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

No bias surprises on day two. Early-pressing speed strong in sprints. Turf course favored stalkers and closers.

Day two belonged to Shane Sellers and Steve Asmussen. They teamed up for a hat trick and won the Pontalba with Right To Rule.

The other juvenile stakes race on the card was the Old Hickory, and Comedero lead the field on a merry chase after the defection of Western Smoke.

Got three tops home on Saturday. Had a bit of a frustrating day as I finished 2-3 in a pair of my turf best bets.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 8th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Sunday, and a pair of turf sprints and an allowance turf route are on tap. The skies are expected to be mostly cloudy with highs in the 70’s.

Belend is favored to capture the first turf sprint for Tom Amoss, and Turtle Creek Babe is the one to down in the 9th. The often troubled  Say The Word is the fav in the turf route.

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 Sunday free selection from Fair Grounds.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever