Fast and firm conditions on Friday. Had some rain on Thursday night, but not enough to affect the racing surface. Early-pressing types best on main. Turf seemed to play fair.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. Francisco Torres booted home a pair.

Foreign Production easily captured the 4th as the heavy fav. He might show up in a stakes event at Fair Grounds in the near future.

Kylie’s Dream tried turf and a route of ground for the first time in the 5th, and she did not corner well around the first turn. She finished 8th of 12 in a good learning experience and can go better next time.

Got three tops home on Friday. Two days to go!

Electric Alphabet at Louisiana Downs

October 3rd Preview

Saturday Weather: Sunny. High 80.

Saturday’s 10-race card features four juvenile stakes races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $5,310.

Restless Star (9th race) is my best bet. Likes this oval and turns back in distance. Torres continues to ride well.

Independent Miss (10th race) is my longshot play of the day. Dams has tossed three turf winners, and it’s Torres again!

Note that my Oct 3rd analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Fast track and back on the turf…yes! Edge to early-pressing types on main. Turf seemed to play fair.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. Rico Flores and Ramsey Zimmerman both booted home a pair. Jerry Cart saddled two winners on the day.

Brian House is 40% with debut maiden claimers, and he struck again in the 8th with Neverknocknoclass ($23.20). Bet down longshot play of the day Popcorn Secret was a non-threatening 8th in the same race.

Got one top home on Saturday. Best bet Ivor’s Empire (9th race) finished a flat 4th at 7-2.

They're off and running at Louisiana Downs!

September 27th Louisiana Downs Recap

Weather: Sunny. High 92.

Sunday’s 9-race card features a pair of grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $4,080 . Dry conditions are expected through October 1st, and we are back on the weeds!.

Friendly Patriot is my best bet in the 3rd race. Raced wide last time, and Lara is 34% with this type of dropper.

Ready Charm is my longshot play of the day in the 5th. I am expecting a wire job attempt after a pair of disappointing efforts to kick off his career.

Note that my September 26th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Sunday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Sloppy track and off the turf once again. Main track played fair.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington.

Kept the analysis hot streak going with four winning top choices including best bet Izzy Golden ($7.80). Note that daily late Pick 4 play will resume on Saturday with $100k guaranteed pool. We did not have time to work up the graphics, etc. with all of the Super Derby preparations on Thursday and Friday.

Category Seven at Louisiana Downs

September 19th Preview

Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms (30% chance). High 79.

Saturday’s 13-race card includes six stakes races and includes the Grade 2 $750k Super Derby.

Unbridled Handicap: Mogumbo Cat goes for his 5th straight win and is clearly the one to beat under Garrett Gomez.

Sunday Silence Stakes: Analysis with wagering strategies can be found on Horse Racing Nation.

Temperence Hill Stakes: Wide open sprint. Morning line fav Cosmic drew the outside post and will be rallying from the back of the pack.

Happy Ticket Stakes: Rich Pearl is the morning line favorite exiting a solid win in the local prep for this.

Grade 2 Super Derby: Analysis with wagering strategies can be found on Horse Racing Nation.

River Cities Stakes: Category Seven (shown above) has been a gem of consistency this year with ten exacta finishes from as many starts. A head and a neck away from 6 straight tallies.

Note that my September 19th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Wet track and off the turf again. Early/pressing types dominated.

Richard Eramia, Don Simington, and ‘Cisco Torres each booted home a pair. Jerry Cart saddled two winners on the day.

Lucky Lou rallied from off the pace to finish a clear 2nd in the 6th race. He ran a winning race against the bias but could not reel in wire job winner Smokin’ Spirit. Royal Twine finished an even 3rd and is better on turf.

Big rebound day on the analysis front. Four tops got the job done and paid $8.60, $22.80, $13.20, and $4. The first three were part of the early Pick 4, and my 2nd choice nabbed the other leg. Note that nobody tabbed four correctly, and 3 of 4 paid $271.40. My race 2-5 analysis could have netted the entire $5k Pick 4 pool!

You know what is coming next. Frequent visitors to this blog and followers of Louisiana Downs racing are aware that I post a daily late Pick 4 ticket at the track. After the early Pick 4 was over, I knew a late card bounce was coming. My suggested $60 ticket bit the dust after Smokin’ Spirit pulled off a wire job in the 6th. I ended up with 2 of 4 and went 0-4 overall in my late Pick 4’s this week. Super Derby week next week, and I am looking to get back on the Pick 4 beam!

Super Derby Call to Post!

September 17th Preview

Weather: Thunderstorms (60% chance). High 78.

Thursday’s 9-race card features four grass races, but we may be off the turf with all of the recent rains.

Appealingtome (4th race) is my best bet on the card. Not much pace in the paper ran and should make presence felt throughout.

Dreamsalive (8th race) is my longshot play of the day. Dons the hood, and barn is 2 for 3 turf to dirt.

Note that my September 17th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Thursday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Fast and firm on Friday, but wet weather is looming. Edge to early/pressing types both days this week. Stalkers and closers continue to hold the edge on turf.

Hat trick for red hot jock Francisco Torres. John Jacinto booted home a pair.

In a bit of a handicapping slump. Only one top last Sunday and this Thursday, and no tops got the job done on Friday. Got a pair home in my suggested Pick 4, and I was 2nd and 3rd in the other two legs. My suggested single Tootie Mama controlled the pace as expected in the grassy 8th, but she ended up a disappointing 3rd.

Longshot play of the day Kristys Gold Forum was headed out of the show in the 2nd race. Best bet La Estrellita scratched out of race eight.

Wiener Dog Races at Louisiana Downs!

September 12th Preview

Weather: Thunderstorms Likely (80% chance). High 76.

Saturday’s 10-race card features four turf races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $1,642. Up to two inches of rain is in the forecast, so this could be a messy day of racing.

Wiener Dog Races begin at 10am (rain or shine), and I will be doing the play by play alongside track announcer Travis Stone. Should be fun…bring your umbrellas!

Lorenzo’s Love (3rd race) is my longshot play of the day. Improved on turf last time, and dam has tossed five turf winners. Good chance this race moves to the main track.

Snooky’s Image (9th race) is my best bet on the card. He enjoys this oval and gets the services of leading rider Don Simington.

Note that my September 12th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Fast and firm on Thursday. Slight edge to early-pressing types on the main. Turf course continues to favor stalkers and closers. Turf rails at 15 feet this week.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. A pair of turf wins for Francisco Torres.

Longshot play of the day Walk Easy carved out the splits in the grassy 3rd and weakened to 5th.

My best bet Rather Exciting stalked, pounced, and took the lead as expected, but he weakened to 5th in the late stages. Belfast powered home as the chalky winner, but he sat a golden trip saving every inch of ground throughout, and the Mike Burgess trainee is worth trying to beat against tougher foes next time.

As for my daily late Pick 4 adventure, missed the opening leg and got the next three home. Note that the amount I am allowed to spend must not exceed $60, and I got it down to $54 by tossing Belfast…oops! In my defense, I tried to beat the chalk in the opening leg in hopes of a nice score. For the record, 4 of 4 paid $929.20 for a deuce. Only one top got the job done for me on Thursday.

Taylors Sister flew home and just missed the place in the 5.5f finale. This one needs more ground and can graduate before the meet ends.

Post Parade at Louisiana Downs

September 11th Preview

Weather: Scattered Thunderstorms (60% chance). High 80.

Friday’s 9-race card features a pair of turf races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $1,235.

Kristys Gold Forum (2nd race) is my longshot play of the day. Her quest for a hat trick came to an end with a wide trip last time. Can start new streak today.

La Estrellita (8th race) is my best bet on the card. She found trouble in a place finish here last time. She is up the ladder off the claim and can compete here.

Note that my September 11th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Friday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Fast track and off the turf. Reportedly had some sort of water main break on the turf, so that is why we were off the weeds on the 5th.  Main track played fair again.

Hat trick for top two local jocks Don Simington and Francisco Torres.

Nice aggressive ride by hustling apprentice Anna Roberts aboard Penny Parfait in the 4th. She opened up a large early lead and was almost two lengths to the good of Get A Victory, who ended up a clear 2nd after a less than ideal start.

Takin’ The Bullet was a razor sharp stalking winner of the Red Erwin, and Muffin received a great ride by ‘Cisco Torres to nail Cajun Conference in the Elge Raspberry. Both state bred events were worth $150k.

Takin' The Bullet at Louisiana Downs

Got a trio of tops home including both stakes winners Takin’ The Bullet and Muffin. Saturday’s best bet Honey Jane’s Boy scratched. Longshot play of the day was bet down firster Lee City, who attended the pace and was DQ’d from 3rd.

Pick 6 was hit to the tune of $4,477.40. I had three tops and a trio of 2nd choices get the job done in the pick six sequence. Got my suggested late Pick Four home. Paid $166.80 for a deuce.

September 6th Preview

Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms (30% chance). High 88.

Sunday’s 9-race card features a pair of turf races. Due to the Labor Day holiday, we are racing Friday thru Monday this week.

Twining’s Cat (6th race) is my longshot play of the day. She has raced wide a few times at the current meet, and she was a nice 2nd at Evangeline in July. Hails from a sharp profitable barn and should offer value.

Fly South (8th race) is my best bet on the Sunday card. Ran big in wire job dirt sprint bow, and she was a troubled 4th in turf sprint stakes event last time. Back in main track sprint and will probably stalk the pace.

Note that my September 6th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Sunday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Fast track and back on the turf, which was listed as good. Both surfaces seemed to play fair. Note that the turf rails are down this week.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. Pam Simpson saddled two winners on the afternoon.

Got my best bet Miss Salti ($7.60) home in the 2nd. She was aggressively handled under Jose Riquelme and simply outmaneuvered fav Curley Kim, who ended up 3rd under leading rider Don Simington. My longshot play of the day Nacatoch was an early scratch.

Skipping Town was razor sharp in the 6th, an optional claiming turf sprint for fillies and mares. She is now 2-for-2 on the weeds, and her other win was around two turns at 7.5 furlongs. Note that she graduated in a dirt sprint, and profitable trainer Sam Ishaq has options with the versatile miss.

My Pick 4 single Dream Town Lady ($4) did her thing, but I could only manage one other winner and a pair of 2nds in the other 3 legs, so I remain winless in the daily Pick 4 ticket. All I need is one, because it will surely pay. If you have access to the Louisiana Downs signal, tune in tomorrow to view my suggested play.

Winners' circle at Louisiana Downs

September 5th Preview

Weather: Scattered Thunderstorms (40% chance). High 84.

Saturday’s 10-race card features a pair of turf stakes races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $11,974. Due to the Labor Day holiday, we are racing Friday thru Monday this week.

Lee City (3rd race) is my longshot play of the day. This firster could hit the ground running. Show a pair of bullet works, and dam has tossed three winners.

Honey Jane’s Boy (6th race) is my best bet on the Saturday card. She coasted in latest three lifetime tally and should sit another nice stalking trip.

Note that my September 5th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

A thunderstorm rolled through early in the morning and knocked the races off the turf. Track upgraded to fast by 3rd race. A pair of sprint wire jobs, and the remaining seven races were nabbed by stalkers.

Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. ‘Cisco Torres followed up his Friday hat trick with a riding double.

Sharp win for stakes quality Going To The Sun in the optional claiming route feature. She landed the place in a $100k Florida event earlier this year. I will try to talk to trainer Michelle Lovell this weekend and see where this promising filly is heading next.

Got four tops home including best bet Foxy Flyer ($4). Longshot play of the day Had To Bee scratched when his race was taken off the turf.

Got the first three chalks home in my suggested $48 Pick 4, and I ran 2-3-4 and missed by a neck in the finale. For the record, 4 of 4 paid $190.40 for a deuce.

Approaching the gate at Louisiana Downs

August 29th Preview

Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms (30% chance). High 88.

Saturday’s 10-race card features four grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $8,501. If it stays dry maybe we can sneak back on the weeds this weekend.

Victory Bridge (7th race) is my best bet on the card. She fires over the local weeds and nowhere else, so hopefully we are back on the sod.

Oneafternoon (9th race) is my longshot play of the day. He has not won since scoring for me over the local main last year and paying $30+. Seems to be rounding back to form and handles turf or dirt. Recently hot Torres on this one.

Note that my August 29th analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Saturday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Both surfaces seemed to play fair.

Ramsey Zimmerman booted home a pair.

One top home on Saturday (Toccet Launch, $8.40). Longshot play of the day Precious Metal Man ran a big debut race to miss by a neck at 6.80-1. Had contenders firing all day including a pair of 2nd/3rd choice winners at 9-1.

We have a new Pick 4 graphic up and running. My suggested ticket on Saturday cost $50, and I ended up with 3 wins for the 2nd straight day. My best bet Mr. Hunter cost me the Pick 4 when he stalked, pounced, lead, and was eventually outfinished by Mr J B and Stan Michael L.

Lorenzo’s Love finished an improved 5th when trying the turf for the first time in the finale. Would give her another shot on the turf next time.

Please hold all tickets!

August 23rd Preview

Weather: Sunny. High 89.

Sunday’s 9-race card features four grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $6,727.

Ladygoeasy (2nd race) is my best bet on the Sunday card. She goes for the hat trick and might lead these on a merry chase under leading rider Don Simington.

Kobe Doo (9th race) is my longshot play of the day. He disappointed on turf last time but showed turf prowess on July 10th.

Note that my August 23rd analysis is complete and posted here. Just click on the Sunday Selections and the pdf file will open.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever