Lost in the crush of the Breeders’ Cup frenzy was my final notes on the Louisiana Downs meet, which concluded on Oct 4th. Below is a belated wrap of the LAD season in words and pictures. Click on the name of each horse to view stakes replays.
Here are the horses that I voted for in the LAD meet champion categories…
Two Year Old: William’s Kitten – On the Super Derby undercard, the Michael Maker runner competed in the off the turf Sunday Silence Stakes. He was sitting at the back of the pack and unleashed an eye catching …read more

October 3rd Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast and firm conditions on Saturday. Edge to early/pressing types on the main. Turf course seemed to play fair.
Hat trick for Ramsey Zimmerman included one in the stakes ranks. Francisco Torres booted home a pair of stakes winners.
Louisiana Stallion (Fillies): Happyfromthegitgo was part of a favored entry, and both halves flopped. Maiden 2nd timer Pass It Down ($39.80) was the winner for Zimmerman/Mouton. Bombs away in the show pool with payouts ranging from $36.40 to $74.
Louisiana Stallion (Colts & Geldings): Spa shipper Red Rally ($3.60) could not have been more impressive in this …read more

October 2nd Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast and firm conditions on Friday. Had some rain on Thursday night, but not enough to affect the racing surface. Early-pressing types best on main. Turf seemed to play fair.
Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. Francisco Torres booted home a pair.
Foreign Production easily captured the 4th as the heavy fav. He might show up in a stakes event at Fair Grounds in the near future.
Kylie’s Dream tried turf and a route of ground for the first time in the 5th, and she did not corner well around the first turn. She finished 8th …read more

October 1st Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast and firm conditions on Thursday. Both surfaces seemed to play fair, and if there was any edge on the main, it appears to be with stalking types.
Sidney Lejeune Jr. booted home a pair.
First timer Centava was impressive in the 5th. She put away a couple of pace rivals, including heavy fav Big Red Grape, and she coasted home nine lengths to the good. ‘Cisco Torres booted home the daughter of Exchange Rate for Henry B Johnson Jr. Worth following.
Got a pair of tops home. Longshot play of the day Sequoia King scratched, and best bet Touch of …read more

September 27th Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast and firm conditions on Sunday. Main track played fair, and stalkers held the edge on the turf.
Sidney Lejeune Jr. and Ramsey Zimmerman both booted home a pair.
Wildrally won again over the local green and will be sad to see this meet end.
Got a pair of tops home including best bet Friendly Patriot ($5.40).
October 1st Preview
Weather: Isolated Thunderstorms (30% chance). High 85.
Thursday’s 9-race card features a pair of grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $4,481.
Touch of Iron (6th race) is my best bet on the card. He makes his 3rd …read more

September 26th Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast track and back on the turf…yes! Edge to early-pressing types on main. Turf seemed to play fair.
Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington. Rico Flores and Ramsey Zimmerman both booted home a pair. Jerry Cart saddled two winners on the day.
Brian House is 40% with debut maiden claimers, and he struck again in the 8th with Neverknocknoclass ($23.20). Bet down longshot play of the day Popcorn Secret was a non-threatening 8th in the same race.
Got one top home on Saturday. Best bet Ivor’s Empire (9th race) finished a flat 4th at 7-2.
September 27th Louisiana Downs Recap
Weather: Sunny. …read more

September 25th Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast track and off the turf on Friday. Four wire jobs on the drying out track.
Hat trick for Dustin Dugas and Jose Riquelme. Morris Nicks saddled two winners on the day as he tries to run down leading trainer Jerry Cart.
Only got one top home on a very competitive Friday card. Late Pick 4 paid on three winners, as did the Pick 6. Best bet He Dances Backward missed by a 1/2 length at almost 5-1. Longshot play of the day Colter Stone made a run but flattened out at around 8-1.
September 26th Preview
Weather: …read more

September 24th Louisiana Downs Recap
Dreary day with occasional showers, and we were off the turf for 7th straight day and 12th time in last 17 racedays. There was definitely some moisture in the fast main track, which seemed to play fair.
Francisco Torres booted home a pair.
Matzoh Toga always looked like a winner in the 5th, and Gerard Melancon gave him a very confident ride. He is going well right now and is a threat to click right back next time.
Got a pair of tops home on Thursday. Best bet Blushing Buddha scratched, and longshot play of the day Ulah Tyson …read more

September 20th Louisiana Downs Recap
Fast track and off the turf. Main started out fair and favored speed as the day wore on.
The Difference (8th race) was my original top for turf, but I downgraded him to my 3rd choice when the race was transferred to the main. He rallied to miss 2nd by a neck, and look for him to return to the sod next time.
I was hot all week long on the analysis front, and I escaped a post Super Derby bounce with three more tops getting the job done on Sunday, including best bet Jami Baby …read more

An enthusiastic crowd and a fine 13-race card made for an exciting Super Derby day this year. Below is a recap of the day in words and pictures…enjoy!
With an early post time of 12pm, my daily handicapping seminar was moved up an hour. I was joined by Louisiana Downs track announcer Travis Stone and special guests Nick Tammaro and Pat Cummings. The seminar was very informative, and the latter duo chipped in with interviews throughout the day…great job guys!
On the analysis front, I got four tops home, and my analyzed contenders were firing all …read more