Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 21st
Wet track and off the turf on Saturday. Early/pressing types best in the seven sprints (2 wire jobs). Four routes played fair with no wire to wire winners.
Hat trick for Brian Hernandez Jr., and Wes Hawley saddled two winners on the card.
On the analysis front, I got three exactas home including best bet Cat Eyes/Peachesfromthegitgo ($55.40). I have been very consistent through my first eight full cards.
Pick 6 carries again, and the pool has crept up to $3,476.
Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 22nd
A 10-race program will be run at the Fair …read more

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 20th
Main track played fair on Friday, and early-pressing types fared well on the turf course.
Jesse Campbell and Brian Hernandez Jr. both booted home a pair.

On the analysis front, I got the chalky $18 exacta home in the opener, and best bet Lite The Cigar ($5.40) tallied in the grass feature. My 2nd and 3rd choices nabbed five races.
Pick 6 carries again, and the pool has crept up to $2,905.
Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 21st
An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and three grass races are on the …read more

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 15th
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.
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 …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

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 13th
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, …read more

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 8th
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 …read more

Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 7th
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 …read more

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 …read more

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

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