The Keeneland fall meet came to an end on Halloween, and the Grade 2 Fayette went to Blame.
Blame was my Super Derby top, and he ran a big race to land the place behind lone speedster Regal Ransom that day. He was facing quality older horses in Lexington, including multiple graded winner Parading. The latter had the lead in the lane on Oct 31st, but Blame wore him down for his first graded tally. Hats off winning trainer Al Stall Jr. and jockey Jamie Theriot.
Churchill Downs kicks off their fall meet on Nov. 1st, and the …read more

Thursday (3-5-09) Fair Grounds recap
Both surfaces seemed to play fair.
Brian Hernandez Jr., Lonnie Meche, and Jamie Theriot each booted home a pair. Two more wins for Briggy/Asmussen.
Hallway (Briggy/Asmussen) smartly nabbed the optional claiming turf feature for Louisiana breds. Oro Tributo lunged at the start and missed the place by a 1/2 and a head. Sib to Tortuga Flats deserves another chance.
Friday (3-6-09) Fair Grounds preview
Weather: Partly cloudy. High 77.
Race 5: Spider Power (4-1) has fired in six straight and earned triple digit late pace figs in his last three local turf outings. PVal got to know him …read more

Friday (2-27-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to stalkers on the main. Turf course played fair.
Robby Albarado, James Graham, and Jamie Theriot each booted home a pair.
Final Judgement rolled to a popular maiden route tally (replay below) for his new trainer David Carroll. Robby Albarado piloted the 3yo son of Northern Afleet, out of a Demons Begone mare.

Saturday (2-28-09) Fair Grounds recap
Stalkers and closers fared best on both surfaces.
Hat trick for Robby Albarado, and Shaun Bridgmohan/Steve Asmussen teamed up for three wins on the day.
A pair of Delta Downs invaders nabbed the co-features on the lawn. Milwaukee …read more

Tuesday (2-24-09) Fair Grounds recap
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 …read more

Saturday (2-21-09) Fair Grounds recap
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. …read more

Sunday (2-8-09) Fair Grounds recap
Main track played fair. A pair of wire jobs and an off the pace type made up the three flat mile turf winners.
Jamie Theriot and Patrick Valenzuela both booted home a pair.
Tizaqueena (Tiznow) won her 3rd start in 4 outings with a wire job in the optional claiming grass feature. Darley Stable miss figures to tackle stakes foes in the near future for Michael Stidham.
Monday (2-9-09) Fair Grounds preview
Monday’s 10-race card features a pair of competitive claiming turf routes.
Weather: Cloudy. High 74.
Race 5: Heart Ashley (7-2) was clearly 2nd best …read more

Saturday (1-31-09) Fair Grounds recap
Both surfaces seemed to play fair.
Hat trick for Jamie Theriot. Brian Hernandez Jr. booted home a pair. Morris Nicks saddled two winners on the day.
Turfiste (Theriot-Holthus) headed favored pacesetter Big Push in the 52nd running of the Black Gold Stakes for 3yo turf sprinters. Steve Asmussen returnee Unbridle’s Dream rallied from last after coming in at the break to finish best of the rest. He was my top, and I would consider playing him back next time.
Sunday (2-1-09) Fair Grounds preview
The 9-race Super Bowl Sunday card includes a Pick 6 …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

Friday (1-23-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to early/pressing types on the main, and the turf course favored stalkers.
Hat trick for Jesus Castanon. Lonnie Meche booted home a pair. Theriot/Autrey teamed up for two wins, and Bret Calhoun saddled two winners on the card.

Saturday (1-24-09) Fair Grounds preview
Saturday’s 10-race card features the $60k Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap for grassy fillies and mares.
Weather: Few showers (30% chance). High 72.
Race 5: Broad Quality (6-1) cost me the Pick 6 in length defeat here last time. She reunites with PVal and could graduate at a hint of a price. …read more

Sunday (1-4-09) Fair Grounds recap
Fast track and off the turf. A pair of wire jobs with an edge to horses with positional speed on the main.
Riding double for Jamie Theriot.
Fort Denmark (Miguel Mena-Angel Montano) surged late to neck my top choice Geocache (Torres-Ducoing) in the exciting maiden claiming finale. The runner-up ran too good to lose. Uncle Josh (Lonnie Meche-Michelle Lovell) overcame a poor start to sweep to the lead turning for home, but he understandably weakened late from his earlier adventures. He ended up a good 3rd and is worth following.

Monday (1-5-09) Fair Grounds preview
Monday’s 10-race card …read more