Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 28th
Four wire jobs on a speed favoring main track. Edge to stalking types on the grass.
James Graham, John Jacinto, and Victor Lebron each booted home a pair.
Evolutionist ran to his low odds with a sharp win in the 23rd running of the Woodchopper Stakes. James Graham booted home the turf stakes winner for Bill Mott.
Wow Wow Wow (10th race) was aggressively handled by Jacinto in wire job route maiden tally for Wayne Lukas. A pair of Al Stall Jr. trainees (Dr. Hudson, Hazards of Love) followed the winner across the line, and they should …read more

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 27th
Early-pressing types best in dirt sprints. Patient runners best in routes. Turf course played fair.
On the analysis front, I got home tops Mission Possible ($8.40) and best bet Rockin’ Joe ($9). I also successfully tabbed the 2nd race superfecta, the early double, the 4th race trifecta, and a pick 3 (race 4-6).

Pick 6 carries again, and the pool is up to $5,037.
Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 28th
An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and four grass races are on the schedule. The feature race is the $60k Woodchopper …read more

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 14th
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 …read more

Hold Me Back returned in style to nab the $500k Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park, and he has thrust himself into the Kentucky Derby picture thanks to his $282,000 graded payday.
He showed quality last year with a pair of Polytrack wins to kick off his career, and he was shelved after a 14-length defeat in the Remsen Stakes last November. Bill Mott is excellent with layoff runners, and he had the son of Giant’s Causeway in prime condition on Saturday.

Last year’s winning Ky Derby rider Kent Desormeaux is now 2-2 with this one, and he is …read more

The Grade 2 Lane’s End Stakes is Turfway Park’s major Derby prep, and the $50k nine furlong synthetic route has attracted big name trainers such as Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher, and Wayne Lukas.

West Side Bernie (Bernstein) won the Ky Cup Juvenile here. He was last seen finishing an even 3rd from disadvantageous outer post in graded flat mile affair at the Gulf. He handles any footing and packs a decent late kick, and he should give a good account of himself under new rider Edgar Prado.
Jack Spratt (Candy Ride) failed to handle regular dirt in Fountain of Youth …read more

Friday (2-20-09) Fair Grounds recap
No wire jobs on the main. Stalkers and closers fared best on the turf.
Hat trick for Brian Hernandez Jr. John Jacinto booted home a pair. Sam Breaux saddled two winners on the card.
Sharp stalk and pounce optional claiming turf win under Robby Albarado for returnee Costa Rising (race 5). The Louisiana-bred performer is likely headed back to the stakes ranks if able to remain healthy. Hope I get to see him at LaD this summer.
Turf marathon specialist Transduction Gold has been competitive from Kentucky to SoCal, and he returned in the pink …read more

Before I take a look at Super Bowl Sunday’s graded races, let’s review the big events run this week at the Gulf.

Thursday (1-29-09):
Old Hat (G3) runner-up Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality-Xtra Heat) won a 6f allowance race as Alan Garcia pleased and stopped the clock in a rapid 1:08.94. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is definitely headed back to the stakes ranks, and I would not want to tussle with the fleet miss around one turn.
Friday (1-30-09):
Old Hat (G3) show finisher Frolic’s Dream (Smoke Glacken) rebounded to nab the seven panel Forward Gal (G2) by 2.5 easy lengths. …read more

Thursday (1-29-09) Fair Grounds recap
Main track played fair. Edge to early/pressing types on turf.
Robby Albarado and Corey Lanerie both booted home a pair. Steve Klesaris saddled two winners on the day.
Classy Deelites controlled the pace and downed PVal-Mott fav Desert Wheat in the state bred stakes quality grassy 5th.
Nans Joy (PVal-Mott) dropped out of the turf stakes ranks and found the winners’ circle in the optional claiming 9th. The daughter of In The Wings notched an all-important confidence boosting stateside win and may be ready for another stakes engagement.

Friday (1-30-09) Fair Grounds recap
Four wire jobs on a …read more

Monday (1-26-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to early/pressing types on the main (2 wire jobs). Turf course played fair.
Jesus Castanon booted home a pair. Gabriel Saez/Larry Jones teamed up for two wins on the day.
More of the Best pulled off a rare wire job in the flat mile grassy 5th.
Pinpoint (Theriot-Autrey) stepped up in class and gamely wore down fav Snuck By in the 6th.

Thursday (1-29-09) Fair Grounds preview
Thursday’s 10-race card features a trio of quality grass races. Local state bred stakes winners Wildrally and Desert Wheat square off in the 5th, and 2-time Texas bred …read more

Saturday (1-24-09) Fair Grounds recap
A trio of six furlong wire jobs on the main. Stalkers/closers fared best on the sod.
Hat trick for Brian Hernandez Jr. Pat Valenzuela booted home a pair, and Michael Stidham saddled two winners on the day.
Stormy West won her 3rd stakes of the meet for PVal/Mott, and she once again outfinished Shytoe Lafeet in the 14th running of the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap for grassy fillies and mares. Quality miss Love To Tell (Donnie Meche-Mike Burgess) was a good 3rd from the outside post at almost 36-1.

Sunday (1-25-09) Fair Grounds preview
Sunday’s 10-race …read more