Louisiana Downs analysis – Saturday, October 18, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
FRIDAY RECAP
My 5-1 top Dixieland Breeze won the 6th for trainer Brian House, who ran his record to 6-10 with FTS and 5-8 with debut maiden claimers. Cody Meche rode. Mr. House also ran FTS Roseanne Strand in the MSW 8th race, but that one ran out of gas in the lane.
Saturday is closing day of the 2008 Louisiana Downs meet. I took over as Track Handicapper/TV Host on June 26th, and it was a great experience. I met many wonderful people …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Friday, October 17, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Overall Top 3 selections performance (June 26th thru Oct. 16th)
634 races (125 top pick wins, 167 second pick wins, 99 third pick wins)
THURSDAY RECAP
The track was sloppy/muddy and we were off the turf on Thursday. Main track played fair.
Jose Riquelme/Jorge Lara teamed up for two wins on the card.
No winners in the Pick 6, and the carryover pool stands at $2,688. The weather has cleared up for Friday with sunny skies and temps in the low 70’s. We are looking at …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Thursday, October 16, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Overall Top 3 selections performance (June 26th thru Oct. 12th)
623 races (124 top pick wins, 162 second pick wins, 97 third pick wins)
SUNDAY RECAP
Main track played fair on Sunday, and off the pace types were preferred on the turf (rail at 20 feet).
Sunday started in crazy fashion with Cato crashing the opener at $367.20 under Pedro Monterrey.
Eagle Two Hundred, my Sunday best bet, had a rough journey in the grassy 5th. He had nowhere to go turning for home and continued …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Sunday, October 12, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Saturday Recap
Early/pressing types dominated on both surfaces. I had four top choices get the job done, including $15 best bet Sefas Belle in the grassy 8th.
Sam David Jr.’s son Shawn had a fine day, as he saddled FTS Queen Janine to a fine place finish, and he found the winners’ circle in the next race with Ax Man ($24.20).
Another sharp turf win for Autobeacat, and he has a nice rivalry going with Diggy Fresh. They ran 1-2 today, and Autobecat beat that one …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Saturday, October 11, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Leading rider Don Simington surpassed the century mark this week as he continues to pad his lead with five days remaining in the meet. He won a pair of Thursday and a trio on Friday.
Sea the Soldier (race 5), a two-year-old Simington/Cart 2nd timer, rolled by almost 20 lengths despite being a handful in the early going.
A pair of turf wins on Friday for Kirk Leblanc, including a walk in the park 3-5 score aboard talented state bred mare Tortuga Flats. …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Friday, October 10, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Congrats to jockey Pat Valenzuela on 4,000 career wins. He hit the milestone in Thursday’s grassy 2nd aboard Burst of Light.
LAD 1 (Clm-5/2L, LA-bred f&m 3up, 6f) #2 HEAVEN’S PROMISE (6-1) broke 11th of 14 last time, and she showed marked improvement rallying from 5th to grab the lead in the lane. She ended up 2nd, beaten a length, and that was her first start without blinkers. She graduated in wire-to-wire fashion at this distance in May, and she showed the ability to pass …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Thursday, October 9, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Sunday (10-5-08) LA Downs Recap
Both surfaces played fair on Sunday, and note that there were no wire jobs on the main.
I had a nice $38.40 winner in the grassy 4th (Ante Go Go), and the angle was a sharp dirt horse with a fine turf pedigree.
Keith Bourgeois saddled a pair of turf winners. PVal was blanked once again, and he remains one win shy of 4,000 career wins. He is named to ride six horses on Thursday.
Donnie Meche, Lonnie Meche, and …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Sunday, October 5, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Nice ride by apprentice and September rider of the month Dustin Dugas aboard Lil Miss Pynes in Saturday’s 2nd. She was off a beat slow, but her jockey stayed patient, and she made a steady wide advance and won nicely as my bet down 2-1 top. That was his 4th win for trainer Ray Shumake recently. Dugas came right back to nail the 3rd race for his other main client, Charles Hukill.
A pair of wins for leading trainer Jorge Lara on Saturday. Torres …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Saturday, October 4, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
Burke (race 2) was a country mile behind the field throughout, and he rallied boldly in the lane to just miss the place. He easily galloped out past winner Heather’s Fantasy.
PVal failed to win his 4,000th race, and he is named to ride six horses on Saturday.
John Jacinto and Jose Riquelme both booted home a pair. Donnie Meche/Steve Asmussen teamed up for two wins on the Friday card.
LAD 1 (Clm-5k, 3up, 5.5f) #2 WE SANG DIXIE (2-1) failed to get …read more

Louisiana Downs analysis – Friday, October 3, 2008
by Jarrod Horak (Harrah’s Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
A five-horse spill in Thursday’s 5th, a turf sprint, was triggered when went Battle of Flowers (Colby Hernandez) clipped heels and fell, causing a chain reaction that included Hella Bella (Carlos Gonzalez), Mizzen to Me (Gerard Melancon), Aly Mon (Roberto Villafan), and Miss Kiran (Iram Diego). Villafan, Diego, Melancon, and Hernandez were off their remaining mounts. Gonzalez came back to with the 6th aboard One To Boot for Bret Calhoun, but he took off his final mount Suberi in the 7th.
Donnie Meche/Al Stall …read more