Four wire jobs on a speed favoring main track. Edge to stalking types on the grass.

James Graham, John Jacinto, and Victor Lebron each booted home a pair.

Evolutionist ran to his low odds with a sharp win in the 23rd running of the Woodchopper Stakes. James Graham booted home the turf stakes winner for Bill Mott.

2009 Louisiana Derby winner Friesan Fire returns to the Fair Grounds against optional claiming company next Thursday

Wow Wow Wow (10th race) was aggressively handled by Jacinto in wire job route maiden tally for Wayne Lukas. A pair of Al Stall Jr. trainees (Dr. Hudson, Hazards of Love) followed the winner across the line, and they should not be maidens much longer.

On the analysis front, I got home tops Gail Golden ($5.80), Brentwood Bullet ($5) and best bet Blue Angel ($7.40). I also successfully tabbed the 2nd race superfecta, the early double, and a few pick 3’s along the way.

Pick 6 carries again, and the pool is up to $6,188.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 29th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Sunday, and two grass races are on the schedule. Another nice weather day on tap with partly cloudy skies and highs in the 70’s.

Speed continues to rule the day, especially in main track sprints. If that trend continues, watch for Cagey (1st race), Katrina’s Song (5th race), and Unexpected Valor (7th race) to have success on Sunday.

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 Sunday free selection (7th 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

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

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 correctly tabbed the 2nd race exacta, the 3rd race superfecta, the early double, and numerous rolling Pick 3’s.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 15th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Sunday, and three grass races are on the schedule. 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 Sunday free selection (4th race) from Fair Grounds.

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

Get an advantage over the competition – use Today’s Racing Digest today.

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

Image: Newscom

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

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

Fast track and off the turf on Thursday. Early/pressing speed was strong in the five sprints carded, and the five routes played fair.

John Jacinto booted home a pair, and Cody Autrey saddled two winners on the card.

Sharp prominent throughout score for Tensas Yucatan (PVal-Morris Nicks) in the originally scheduled for turf allowance feature. Carson City Babe set the pace and finished a clear 2nd.

Friday (1-98-09) Fair Grounds preview

Friday’s 10-race card includes a pair of turf races, and hopefully they will be back on the green after recent dry weather in New Orleans.

Weather: Partly cloudy. High 74.

Race 3: Alligator Bayou (3-1) has more upside than many of these with just two races under his belt. He exits a decent course/distance show finish (blinkers on), and Robby Albarado strings along. Ideseeyouinhouston (7-2) is now 0-26 and frequently take too much win action. Best used underneath if at all.

Alligator Bayou – Dec 19th Fair Grounds replay

Race 5: Long Bread (8-1) lands a better post today, and Frank Leggio is 25% 3rd off a layoff. John Jacinto is a profitable 20% with this barn, and he got to know this gelding in show finish last out. Nevada Erlton (5-2) is the one to beat, and Southern Soprano (4-1) can improve for 26% 1st off the claim trainer Keith Bourgeois.

Race 6: Queen of the Ridge (3-1) looms the controlling speed under PVal, and note that she has running style versatility should another entrant decide to get up and go.

Race 7: My MySpace free selection of the day.

Race 8: Longshot Legacy (6-1) is an improving sort climbing the class ladder seeking a four-bagger. The off the pace runner gets some pace to chase once again.

Longshot Legacy – Dec 26th Fair Grounds replay

Race 10: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Edge to early/pressing types on a fair main track. A couple of rare wire jobs at a flat mile on the turf (yielding). The lone turf sprint carded was nabbed by a horse showing positional speed (Coy Cat, 5th to 1st).

Four-bagger for Jamie Theriot included a hat trick for his main client Cody Autrey. John Jacinto booted home three winners on the day.

Lite the Cigar could not quite get to loose frontrunner Classy Deelites (Jamie Theriot) in the grassy 7th. Oro Tributo rallied to finish a decent 4th in his turf bow. He got no pace help and was the only one making up any ground.

Extra Exclusive (Theriot/Autrey) turned the tables on Hello Ladies (Torres/Morris Nicks) in the starter allowance 8th.

Island Warrior (Theriot/Autrey) got the bob over my 5-1 top Outta Tune (Albarado/Amoss) in the optional claiming sprint feature.

Down the backstretch at Fair Grounds

Monday (12-22-08) Fair Grounds preview

Monday’s 11-race card includes a Pick 6 (races 6-11) carryover of $100,066.

Weather: Partly cloudy. High 46.

Race 6: Pick 6 starts here with aforementioned carryover of $100,066. Hot Rocket (8-1) was headed as my top at Louisiana Downs when last seen in June. Daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, out of a Storm Cat mare, should enjoy the sod, and Sam David Jr. is 28% 1st grass. Meandyoubabe (4-1) was headed at this course/distance from post 11 last time. Dignified Air (6-1) sports a local bullet for this and owns a fine turf pedigree (Grand Slam-Storm Cat).

Meandyoubabe – Dec 5th Fair Grounds

Race 7: Sleeve (6-1) was 5th behind subsequent allowance winner Uno Mas in a straight maiden sprint on Nov 15th. Edward Johnston is 26% with 2nd timers, and I like the rider upgrade to Torres. He should route with Ten Most Wanted on top and Private Terms on bottom of pedigree. Last Martini (10-1) faced the likes of Grade 1 CashCall Futurity winner Pioneerof the Nile at the Spa. $150k Keeneland sales grad attracts the recently hot Jamie Theriot, and Morris Nicks is 27% with new additions to his barn.

Race 8: My racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Race 9: In The Forecast (2-1) was unlucky to get tagged late here last time after dueling through above par fractions. His hot new rider Jamie Theriot is 20% with speed types.

In The Forecast – Dec 4th Fair Grounds

Race 10: My MySpace free selection of the day.

Race 11: Bienheureux (5-2) earned an above par speed rating in a clear place finish off a layoff here last time. Sharp, versatile filly won two straight before that.

Bienheureux – Nov 21st Fair Grounds

Photo Credit: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

by Jarrod Horak (Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)

I had a solid week handicapping with 10 on top winners through Saturday, but I was only able to get one top choice home in a peculiar Sunday card. Weather played a factor with no turf racing on Friday/Saturday, and we were back on the sod Sunday although the unsettled weather crept back in…

Thursday (August 7th)
Outer lanes were good to start the race week, and the main track continues to play fair with the usual edge to early/pressing types.

Shorebreeze Bandit sure looked good winning the 6th, and I would not be shocked if he steps up and repeats. Make Money Quick (race 7) made short work of MSW turf sprinters, and he is a contender in 1st start versus winners regardless of surface.

Friday (August 8th)
Main track played fair and we were off the turf today. Sustained runners could definitely make up ground over the muddy surface.

British Medium likely needed his local bow. Former SoCal campaigner finished a solid 3rd and probably wants more ground and would not mind turf either. My best bet Hooter Who was necked out of 3rd in the originally scheduled for turf finale, and I’ll look for him to return to the sod next time.

Saturday (August 9th)

Fast track and off the turf again, and another fair surface as well.

Best bet Cream Level (race showed late interest to garner 4th behind a trio of decent sorts (Cocoa Max, Cape Bird, Wadi Suki), and I suspect that a few of those mentioned will not be in this 3L level for very long. Kipper Tyme was a clear 2nd in the 9th, a race originally scheduled for the turf. He is better on the sod and would appreciate a return to that surface next time. Hella Bella rolled off the Dewaine Loy claim in the finale, and it was surprising that barn $$ rider Carlos Gonzanez opted for another.

Sunday (August 10th)
Back on the turf but the weather was ominous throughout the day. Odd card because it looked chalky at first glance, and five of the winners paid $6 or less with chalky exacta and/or tri payouts in many of those contests. The other four winners paid $13.60, $15.80, $18.80, and $49.00, which triggered a $6,079 Pick 6 carryover.

One chalky wire job with the remaining main track winners stalking or closing. Both turf winners came from off the pace.

Miss Patsy was a clear 3rd after doing all of the pace dirty work in the featured turf route. That was her 1st start since June 26th, and I am willing to give her another look next time. The finale was strange indeed as there was not a ton of pace in the paper race, but no less than five vied for early supremacy through a ridiculous 22-3/5 opening quarter in the 7f finale. My top and best bet Rockittown was part of the early scramble between horses from an inner post and probably took the worst of it from a pace/trip perspective. He ended up 5th and I’ll tab with a better trip next out. Petitioner was outside and on the pace and ran a winning race, and the place finisher will graduate soon. 1-3 finishers were flattered by race shape.

John Jacinto continued his push for leading rider with 8 more winners. He still 10 behind Don Simington, but he is slowly chipping away at that advantage. For the record, Simington booted home 5 for the week, as did Carlos Gonzalez.

Pat Mouton had a rock solid July with 7 wins here, and after 1 winner to start off August last week, he saddled an impressive five winners for the week that was. Jacinto ride three, and PVal booted home the other two.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever