Saturday (3-14-09) Fair Grounds recap

Sloppy track and yielding turf. Talented 3yo miss Rachel Alexandra was the only wire job winner on the day.
Four bagger for Robby Albarado. Hat trick for trainer Steve Asmussen, and Shaun Bridgmohan rode two. Jamie Theriot booted home a pair.
Everyone is buzzing about Friesan Fire’s romping win in the Louisiana Derby (G2), but it should be noted that filly Rachel Alexandra ran just as fast in her FG Oaks (G2) wire job, and she earned stronger pace figs.
Other highlights included Proudinsky’s repeat win in the grassy Mervyn Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2), …read more

There are no less than four Saturday Derby preps on tap, and each day this week I will preview one, starting with the Louisiana Derby.

I liked Patena in the Lecomte, and he ran on nicely to land the place in his initial try over conventional dirt. My Derby future (pool 1) play was subsequently purchased by IEAH and is now trained by Rick Dutrow, the same connections that brought us Big Brown last year. Well bred $250k Keeneland sales grad drilled a bullet at the Gulf on March 9th and figures to fire a big shot off the layoff under …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

Sunday (3-1-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to stalking types on both surfaces.
James Graham and Miguel Mena both booted home a pair. Two more wins for Briggy/Asmussen.
Heavy fav Cush just lasted over recent Tom Amoss claim Mr. Porter for state bred allowance sprinters (race 8). Speaking of Amoss, he found the winners’ circle in the 6th with late running surface switcher Cya Later Bert.
Points of Grace (Point Given) gamely held off Dictina Too and Talkin Indian in the optional claiming turf route feature (replay below). Overbet fav Lady Attack (4th) desperately needed the outing.

Thursday (3-5-09) Fair Grounds preview
Weather: …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

Monday (2-23-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to early/pressing types on the main. A stalker and a wire job made up the two turf route winners.
Jesus Castanon booted home a pair, and Bret Calhoun saddled two winners on the card.
Orthodox (John Glenney) controlled proceedings throughout in the allowance grass feature. 3yo son of Pulpit was last seen carving out the splits before weakening in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Tuesday (2-24-09) Fair Grounds preview
The special Fat Tuesday card features the $60k Mardi Gras Stakes for 3yo filly turf sprinters.
Weather: Partly cloudy. High 67.
Race 6: Mimi’s Boss Sauce (8-1) stretches …read more

Sunday (2-2209) Fair Grounds recap
Stalkers fared best on the main. The two turf races were taken by a stalker (5.5f sprint) and a late runner (8f route).
Hat trick for Robby Albarado, and John Jacinto & Corey Lanerie both booted home a pair. Steve Asmussen saddled three winners on the card, and Shaun Bridgmohan rode two.
Outta Tune (Albarado/Tom Amoss) smoked six panels in 1:10.03 en route to a clearly best 5-length tally in the optional claiming feature.

Monday (2-23-09) Fair Grounds preview
Weather: Mostly sunny. High 60.
Race 4: Steve’s Star (7-2) is a $500k Keeneland sales grad out of 15% …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

Friday (2-20-09) Fair Grounds recap
No wire jobs on the main. Stalkers and closers fared best on the turf.
Hat trick for Brian Hernandez Jr. John Jacinto booted home a pair. Sam Breaux saddled two winners on the card.
Sharp stalk and pounce optional claiming turf win under Robby Albarado for returnee Costa Rising (race 5). The Louisiana-bred performer is likely headed back to the stakes ranks if able to remain healthy. Hope I get to see him at LaD this summer.
Turf marathon specialist Transduction Gold has been competitive from Kentucky to SoCal, and he returned in the pink …read more