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.

Fair Grounds Race Course

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 will be run at the Fair Grounds on Friday, and three grass races are on the schedule. Mostly cloudy skies are expected with highs around 70.

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 Friday free selection (5th race) from Fair Grounds.

Friday’s MySpace free selection is the 5th race from Hollywood Park.

Friday’s Horse Racing Nation free selection is the 7th race from Hollywood Park.

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

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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, and the feature race is the $60k Mr. Sulu for Louisiana bred fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Classy Deelites, the 5-2 morning line favorite, will try to buck an anti speed bias at this distance on the turf. Note that speed did well on the turf, but was it just a Friday the 13th deal? Late running threats in the grass stakes event include Bill Mott trainee Desert Wheat. Sunny skies are expected with highs in the 70’s.

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 Saturday free selection (8th race) from Fair Grounds.

For Fair Grounds results/video, check out Horse Racing Nation.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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.

Super Derby runner-up Blame captures the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland

Churchill Downs kicks off their fall meet on Nov. 1st, and the opening day Stars of Tomorrow card features a pair of graded juvenile races.

First up is the Grade 3 Pocahontas for 2yo fillies, and they will be traveling a flat mile on the main track. Click here for my Pocahontas analysis.

The 2yo males get their turn in the Grade 3 Iroquois, and from the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it file comes likely fav Dublin. He reeled off two good looking wins at the Spa under Jamie Theriot, but the owners wanted a rider change for the Champagne. They got Ramon Dominguez, and he finished a flat 5th in that event. The Wayne Lukas trainee will now be ridden by Rajiv Maragh, and blinkers are added for this.

Speaking of Theriot, he will ride Comedero. The fleet colt easily captured both of his six furlong starts at Louisiana Downs, and the waters get deeper today.

For my free analysis of the Iroquois, click here.

Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup?

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 last time (replay below), and he’s 2-3 with this barn here.

Race 9: Monterey Street (12-1) exits two straight main track route wins, and she was claimed out of her last by competent trainer Alvin Sider. Candy Ride is a solid grass sire, and dam has tossed three turf winners. Elision (5-2) earned triple digit late pace fig in needed show finish here last out. She’s the one to beat.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 Miracle (Donnie Meche/Bob Young) came from last to nab the 25th running of the Gentilly for state bred 3yo males, and Wanna Cuddle (Corey Lanerie/Abdulla Ishaq) rallied to nab the Sarah Lane’s Oates for LA-bred 3yo fillies.

Sunday (3-1-09) Fair Grounds preview

Weather: Partly cloudy/wind. High 57.

Race 2: Hector Connector (9-2) hails from the recently hot Mike Burgess barn. Carlos Gonzalez has been riding well lately, and graduation day may have arrived.

Race 4: Ol’ Jack Magic (9-2) earned strong pace figs in much needed local return on Feb 7th. Jacinto/Calhoun are 3-9 together recently, and he might get brave if able to shake loose early.

Race 5: Forest Jazzy (9-2) exits sharp main track sprint tally (replay below) off the Keith Bourgeois claim. She is 0-4 on turf, but she faced better in the past, and she’s on top of her game in grass return. She has the speed to succeed at this 5.5f distance.

Race 9: Gloria Goodbody (8-1) returns for John Glenney, who has struck with a pair of local turf returnees (Transduction Gold, Orthodox) recently. Jesus Castanon was the pilot in her sharp Keeneland score on Oct 18th, and he’s enjoying a fine meet at Fair Grounds.

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

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

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 behind a runaway winner at this course/distance last time (replay below), and she earned strong pace figs in that stalking effort. Asmussen trainee lands a much better post today after a troubled start and wide trip from the 10-hole as the fav.

Race 7: My MySpace free selection of the day.

Race 8: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Race 10: Choctaw Prince (10-1) returns to proper $10k level and is back in a preferred sprint. Lanerie rode him well versus similar Jan. 22nd foes, and he looms a prominent throughout player at a price.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 (race 4-9) carryover of $5,269.

Weather: PM showers (40% chance). High 68.

Race 1: Misplaced (9-2) was nabbed out of her last by 26% claiming artist Tom Amoss, and the place finisher returned to score. She could sit the garden spot trip behind Glitter’s Forum and Time For Etbauer.

Race 3: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Race 5: Why Now (9-2) sports the best overall pace figs and might get brave if able to shake loose at a mile and forty yards. The dropper is bred to route on dam side, and Lanerie is 1-3 with this barn here.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 main track that favored speed as the day wore on. The lone turf race carded was nabbed by an off the pace type.

Hat trick for John Jacinto. Miguel Mena, and Jamie Theriot both booted home a pair.

Maryville looked good graduating in the 6th for the recently hot Steve Klesaris, who padded his 41% turf/dirt stats in this special weight sprint for 3yo fillies.

Saturday (1-31-09) Fair Grounds preview

Saturday’s 11-race card features the $60k Black Gold Stakes for grassy three-year-old sprinters. There is a Pick 6 (race 6-11) carryover of $4282.

Weather: Sunny. High 64.

Race 7: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Race 8: Chacahoula Choice (6-1) drops 2nd off the layoff for the high % Maynard Chatters, and he looms the one to catch in this flat mile claimer. Both of his wins were earned at this distance.

Race 9 (Black Gold Stakes): My MySpace free selection of the day.

Race 10: Bandido (3-1) has lost 9 straight, and he’s 0-3 here and 0-5 at 6f. I’ll try to beat the underlaid fav with Brother Bean (5-1), a 6f specialist who has inside speed and is capable of earning triple digit pace/speed ratings.

Photo credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever