Drying out main track fast by 4th race. Off the turf. Three six furlong wire jobs as early-pressing types fared best on Sunday.

Hat trick for John Jacinto, and Jesse Campbell booted home a pair. Eric Guillot saddled two winners on the day.

Jays Wildcat could be bound for the Champions Day Juvenile following a razor sharp prominent throughout tally versus state bred allowance foes.

2009 New Orleans Handicap winner Macho Again goes next in Friday's Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs

On the analysis front, I got best bet Jays Wildcat ($10.60) home in the 9th, along with the $69.20 late double.

Pick 6 carries again, and the pool has crept up to $4,060.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 26th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Thursday, and the feature race is the $60k Thanksgiving Handicap for 3yo’s and up traveling six furlongs on the main track. Euroears is the 5-2 morning line fav, and the 7 for 10 win type looms a serious prominent throughout player in a race that came up light on pace.

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 Thursday free selection (6th race) from Fair Grounds.

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

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Four bagger for Robby Albarado. Hat trick for trainer Steve Asmussen, and Shaun Bridgmohan rode two. Jamie Theriot booted home a pair.

Everyone is buzzing about Friesan Fire’s romping win in the Louisiana Derby (G2), but it should be noted that filly Rachel Alexandra ran just as fast in her FG Oaks (G2) wire job, and she earned stronger pace figs.

Other highlights included Proudinsky’s repeat win in the grassy Mervyn Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2), and the enigmatic Macho Again was along in time to snatch the New Orleans Handicap (G2) away from longtime pacesetter Secret Getaway.

Sunday (3-15-09) Fair Grounds preview

Weather: Showers (60% chance). High 69.

We are probably looking an another wet track, and the turf races will likely be transferred. There is a Pick 6 carryover of $9,676.

Race 5: Gratified (4-1) could sit the right trip behind an expected contested early pace. Afternoon Deelites is a 20% wet track sire, and Mark Guidry is 2-6 with this type of returnee. He sports a best of 93 gate bullet for this. Salty Sid (5-2) could be the speed of the speed under Albarado. He ran his foes into the ground in maiden breaker on Feb 24th (replay below).

Race 9: Henry’s Teddybear (8-1) showed late interest from 12-hole in local bow. Barn is a profitable 17% with 2nd timers, and B. J.’s Mark is a 24% odd track sire. Jesus Castanon rides again, and he’s enjoying a solid meet. Really Did Bam (5-2) is the fav and one to catch for Torres/Ducoing.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Flying Pegasus ran a huge race to land the place off a layoff while wide from 12-hole in Risen Star. Albarado abandons for Patena, but Johnny V is an ample sub. Ralph Nicks is 21% 2nd off a layoff, and he can compete here if able to avoid a bounce.

Friesan Fire goes for a sweep of the Fair Grounds graded schedule. After wasting too much early energy in an entry level loss to Uno Mas in December, he relaxed nicely and parlayed stalking trips into Lecomte (G3) and Risen Star (G3) wins. Son of A.P. Indy sports a local bullet for this, and this could be a big weekend for Larry Jones as he has Rebel fav Old Fashioned going on Saturday as well.

Papa Clem is the wildcard. Synthetic specialist was beaten a 1/2 length by Pioneerof The Nile in the Robert Lewis Stakes (replay below), and he outfinished subsequent Gotham winner I Want Revenge that day. Early/pressing type is working well for this, and top notch jockey Rafael Bejarano strings along. Gary Stute is 0-15 in graded races and 21% with horses moving from synthetic to dirt.

Giant Oak finished a troubled 5th as the overbet fav in a needed Risen Star effort. He should move forward but could be one of those late running trouble prone types. Note that his two wins occurred on turf and synthetic.

Free Country exits disappointing 4th in graded event at Tampa Bay, but some horses do not handle that surface, so he could rebound with blinkers today. Kent D/McPeek are 30% together, and he sports a pair of Gulfstream bullets for this.

Soul Warrior showed no speed in 6th place Risen Star effort, and Steve Asmussen adds the hood in hopes of getting him focused and involved earlier. He reunites with barn $$ rider Shaun Bridgmohan.

Uno Mas finished 3rd in the Risen Star and 4th in the Lecomte after upsetting Friesan Fire in a local allowance race on Dec 18th.

Nowhere To Hide ran better than expected in even 4th (Risen Star), but he had a good inner post that day, and he’s on the outside looking in today. Just like countless others, the Nick Zito (pictured) runner enters off a bullet work.

Terrain has not been seen since flopping as the fav in Delta Jackpot (G3) on Dec 5th. Al Stall Jr. is 40% blinkers off, but note that this one has lost all four of his starts at a mile or longer. Leparoux hops aboard and he sports a pair of local bullets, but I’ll give the returnee a race.

Top 3 Selections: (1) Patena, (2) Flying Pegasus, (3) Friesan Fire

Longshot To Watch: Free Country

Tomorrow, I will take a look at the San Felipe Stakes.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Main track played fair. A couple of rare wire jobs on the turf.

Four-bagger for Robby Albarado. Alvin Sider saddled three winners on the card, and John Jacinto rode two. Two more wins for Steve Asmussen.

Francisco Torres is back from an injury, and he guided More of the Best to a wire job win over fav Elision in the allowance grass feature.

Saturday (3-7-09) Fair Grounds recap

Main track favored early/pressing types in sprints. Turf course played fair.

Hat trick for Shaun Bridgmohan included a pair with his main client Steve Asmussen. Corey Lanerie rode two winners on the card.

Gold Wonder (John Jacinto/Michelle Lovell) carved out tepid fractions and held off my top Get Rich Quick in the 2nd running of the Allen Lacombe Memorial Handicap for grassy fillies and mares.

Sunday (3-8-09) Fair Grounds preview

Weather: Partly cloudy. High 77.

Pick 6 carryover: $4,536

Race 8: Recapturetheglory (2-1) tries to do just that in this optional claiming event. 2008 Illinois Derby (G2) winner needed his last show finish here (replay below), and James Graham has options from the rail with the early/pressing colt. He opted out of yesterday’s turf feature in favor of this dirt route.

Race 9: Trackerman (6-1) earned triple digit late pace figs in last two, but he fell too far back at a flat mile (slow pace) last time. Malcolm Pierce is 21% with this type of layoff runner, and he is back at winning distance today. He scratched out of yesterday’s turf stakes in favor of this optional claimer.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Edge to early/pressing types on the main. Turf course played fair.

Robby Albarado, Shaun Bridgmohan, and Jamie Theriot each booted home a pair.

Overbid (Eric Guillot) looked good in a clearly best flat mile entry level tally (race 8). The SoCal synthetic specialist may have found his niche routing on dirt.

Selva (Albarado/David Carroll) turned back a challenge from On The Menu (Larry Jones) en route to a sharp wire job tally in the 65th running of the Mardi Gras Stakes. 3-time stakes winner dashed 5.5f on the turf in 1:04.63.

Friday (2-27-09) Fair Grounds preview

Weather: AM clouds/PM sun. High 77.

Race 7: Final Judgement (5-2) ran into a pair of subsequent winners in a local 4th place effort last time, and he hooked Danger To Society and Saratoga Sinner at Churchill (replay below) before that. David Carroll is 25% with new additions to his barn, and graduation day has seemingly arrived. Robby Albarado teamed up to win the Mardi Gras Stakes (Selva) with this barn.

Race 9: Sir Rabbit (6-1) did not get the proper race shape last time, but today’s expected slow/early fast late event should allow him to bring it on. Note that he earned triple digit late pace figs in both of his good local efforts at this distance (Nov 23rd & Jan 15th).

Race 10: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Edge to early/pressing types on the main. A stalker and a wire job made up the two turf route winners.

Jesus Castanon booted home a pair, and Bret Calhoun saddled two winners on the card.

Orthodox (John Glenney) controlled proceedings throughout in the allowance grass feature. 3yo son of Pulpit was last seen carving out the splits before weakening in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Tuesday (2-24-09) Fair Grounds preview

The special Fat Tuesday card features the $60k Mardi Gras Stakes for 3yo filly turf sprinters.

Weather: Partly cloudy. High 67.

Race 6: Mimi’s Boss Sauce (8-1) stretches out and receives a rider upgrade to James Graham, who is a profitable 2-9 with this barn. 1-17 miss might get brave if able to shake loose early.

Race 7: My MySpace free selection of the day.

Race 9 (Mardi Gras Stakes): Selva (9-5) was last seen setting the pace and holding the place in the flat mile $75k Tiffany Lass (replay below). She is 3-3 in sprints and is bred well enough to handle the sod. Robby Albarado hops aboard the 2-time stakes winner.

Race 10: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Stalkers fared best on the main. The two turf races were taken by a stalker (5.5f sprint) and a late runner (8f route).

Hat trick for Robby Albarado, and John Jacinto & Corey Lanerie both booted home a pair. Steve Asmussen saddled three winners on the card, and Shaun Bridgmohan rode two.

Outta Tune (Albarado/Tom Amoss) smoked six panels in 1:10.03 en route to a clearly best 5-length tally in the optional claiming feature.

Monday (2-23-09) Fair Grounds preview

Weather: Mostly sunny. High 60.

Race 4: Steve’s Star (7-2) is a $500k Keeneland sales grad out of 15% 1st grass sire Dynaformer, and Corey Lanerie/David Carroll are 3-4 together. He’s been working here since November and should be fit for his debut.

Race 7: War Eagle Lady (5-1) paired-up tops in her last two, a flat mile maiden win at Churchill (replay below) and a clearly 2nd best entry level effort at Turfway. Angel Montano shows a profit with new additions to his barn, and she fired fresh on turf last fall.

Race 8: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Race 9: My MySpace free selection of the day.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Both surfaces played fair.

Justin Shepherd booted home a pair including Love To Tell in the Bayou Hcp. Hat trick for trainer Mike Burgess, and the aforementioned Shepherd rode two. Jamie Theriot/Cody Autrey teamed up for two wins on the card.

Love To Tell carved out pedestrian splits and cruised to an easy 2-1/4 length tally in the 41st running of the $125k Bayou Handicap for grassy fillies and mares.

Sunday (2-22-09) Fair Grounds preview

The Feb 22nd card features a pair of grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $4,077.

Weather: Mostly sunny. High 58.

Race 5: Woodway (6-1) crossed the line 1st (Dq’d to 2nd) in lone turf sprint try last summer. He goes synthetic to turf and owns fine early/pressing speed from the rail for the 38% Graham/Thornbury team.

Race 7: Queen Of The Ridge (6-1) was re-claimed out of her last by 17% local trainer Merrill Scherer. She switches to recently hot jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and figures all over an expected tepid early pace. She breaks inside of Durrymane (3-1) today and appears capable of turning the tables on that rival. A replay of their Jan 31st meeting is featured below.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 at a shorter than best 8.5f for John Glenney in the optional claiming grass feature. Back classers Sterwins and Crested filled out the exotics, and both likely needed the outing.

Saturday (2-21-09) Fair Grounds preview

The Feb 21st card features the $125k Bayou Handicap for grassy fillies and mares.

Weather: Partly cloudy. High 68.

Race 3: Destiny Bound (8-1) receives a rider upgrade to John Jacinto, and Pat Mouton is 21% with this type of returnee. She rallied for the show in turf sprint bow, then experienced a wide trip at this flat mile distance 2nd time out.

Race 5: Man Named Sue (9-2) has run well without winning in last two tries at this level, and he was nabbed out of his last by 24% claiming artist Cody Autrey. Barn $$ rider Jamie Theriot hops aboard, and a trip to the winners’ circle is just around the bend.

Race 9 (Bayou Handicap): Larry Jones trainee Shytoe Lafeet (8-5) frequently runs her race and enters in decent form, but note that she is 0-4 at nine furlongs. Meribel (7-2) is a veteran graded performer with the ability to win this one. Love To Tell (8-1) was only a length behind Shytoe here last out (replay below), and she reunites with winning stakes pilot Shepherd. Nans Joy (9-2) is headed the right way for Robby Albarado/Bill Mott, and we’ll see if she can navigate added furlong.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Early/pressing types dominated on the main. The lone turf race carded was nabbed by an off the pace runner.

Robby Albarado, James Graham, and John Jacinto each booted home a pair. The recently hot Bret Calhoun saddled two more winners.

Cash Refund (Steve Margolis) pulled off a sharp wire job in his career bow (race 9). The 3yo son of Petionville, out of stakes winning dam Swept Away, dashed six furlongs in 1:09.43 and is worth following.

Friday (2-20-09) Fair Grounds preview

The nice weather has returned, and so has the turf racing.

Weather: Mostly sunny. High 62.

Race 3: She’s Yummy (4-1) could be a runner in this maiden turf sprint. Dam has tossed a pair of turf winners, and Stidham is 21% with first time starters. She sports a local 3f bullet and might show early foot.

Race 7: Say The Word (9-2) deserves another chance versus winners after finding traffic along the inside last time. Albarado sticks, and he did look good in his local turf bow on Dec 7th. He sports a best of 20 bullet in the slop for this.

Race 8: Art World (9-2) switches surfaces, drops back in for a tag, and reunites with winning pilot Robby Albarado. Al Stall Jr. is 20% in the claiming ranks, and this filly could sit the right ground saving trip behind the speed. Below is a replay of her Nov 14th Churchill debut…

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever