A horrific spill in the 9th and final race at Louisiana Downs on August 23rd has left a couple of riders out of action for several weeks.
The incident occurred near the far turn when Haran took a bad step and broke down under Pat Valenzuela. He was racing on the pace in the maiden turf route, and it set off a chain reaction as Get The Prize (Francisco Torres) fell over the stricken horse. Brazos Cat (Lonnie Meche), Invisible Force ( E J Perrodin), and Heat Pump (Rico Flores) also went down.
Haran had to be …read more

July 11th recap
Early/pressing speed strong on the main. Stalkers/closers best on the sod.
Got three tops home on another competitive day of racing at Louisiana Downs. My best bet Expectmoney ($4.60) wired the 4th.
Four-bagger for leading rider Don Simington. PVal booted home a pair. Hustling apprentice jockey Anna Roberts won a turf race for trainer Dallas Keen for the 2nd straight day. She can ride on the weeds!
Roseanne Strand got caught in a duel with hopeless longshot Holy Moon. Can go better next time with a smarter ride.

July 12th preview
Sunday’s 9-race card features four grass races and includes a …read more

July 10th Louisiana Downs recap
Main favored early/pressing types early; fair late. A pair of wire jobs at 8.5f on the weeds.
My four-bagger streak ended as I got a pair of tops home on a tough Friday card. In the grassy 8th race, my best bet Messy Marvin had nowhere to roam along the inside in the stretch. Next time with clear sailing.
Sidney Lejeune Jr. booted home a pair. Michelle Lovell saddled two more winners.  She’s been hot all meet!

July 11th preview
Saturday’s 10-race card features four grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $5,226.
Expectmoney (race 4) is my best …read more

July 9th recap
New race week saw a return to fast and firm conditions. Early/pressing types dominated on the main. Turf favored forwardly placed runners.
Got four tops home for the 3rd straight racing day, including my best bet Snooky’s Image ($4.60).
Twining’s Cat , my longshot play of the day, took some action at 9-2 and finished an even 3rd on the turnback.
PVal and Morris Nicks teamed up for two wins on the card. Two more wins for Ramsey Zimmerman.

July 10th preview
Friday’s 9-race card features four grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $4,777.
Mizz Wee (race 4) is …read more

June 28th recap
Edge to early/pressing types in sprints. Routes played fair, as did the turf course.
Leading rider Don Simington ruled the roost with five winners, including three with trainer Allen Milligan. Francisco Torres booted home a pair.
Got a trio of my tops home on Sunday.
Vets Dream ran a winning race but once again settled for the place. Officer Jo Ann outgamed the runner-up by less than a length, and it was 9+ back to the rest. The Ronnie Ward trainee can break through the three lifetime level in the near future.

July 2nd preview
Thursday’s 9-race card …read more

June 19th recap
Edge to stalk and pounce types on the Louisiana Downs main. Turf played fair as the best horses won.
Hat trick for leading rider Don Simington included a pair with trainer Jerry Cart. Two more wins for PVal.
My best bet Sefas Belle ($3.60) nabbed her 3rd win from seven starts over the local green, and she hit the board in other four grass starts. Great ride by PVal, and she’s a threat right back in the optional claiming ranks. Careless Rapture rebounded to finish a clear 2nd for fine turf trainer Mike Burgess.

June 20th …read more

June 18th recap
Edge to early/pressing types in sprints.
Jason Eads/Eric Guillot teamed up for two wins on the afternoon.
Longshots ruled the day at Louisiana Downs on Thursday. Early Pick 4 paid on 2 winners, and the Pick 6 paid 3 of 6. Carryover – $1,485 .
Master Link (race 7) was one of the few favs to get the job done, and she did it in style under PVal. My value best bet Miss Lewis completed the exacta at 5-1.
My Longshot Play of the Day Bonzaway almost pulled off a 17-1 wire job in the 8th, but he …read more

June 13th recap
Edge to early/pressing types on the main.
My top choices fared better with two wins, two seconds, and a show. It was a tough 10-race card on Saturday, especially later in the day. We had a few Pick 3’s pay 2 of 3, and the late Pick 4 paid on 3 winners. Pick six paid on three winners as well.
Curt Bourque and Sidney Lejeune both booted home a pair.
Both 7.5f turf stakes were taken in wire-to-wire fashion. Classy Deelites nabbed the $50k Barksdale under PVal, and he held off my best bet Lee’s Spirit in the process.
Hotlantic …read more

Week five of the Louisiana Downs meet starts on June 11th. Before I preview the Thursday card, let’s look back at the Sunday action.
June 7th recap
Early/pressing types dominated on the main. Turf course played fair.
Hat trick for Don Simington.
Stoney Gold stole the grassy 2nd under Lonnie Meche. My best bet Sligo Joe chased throughout , and I believe he could’ve been the wire job winner if Simington was more aggressive. Wildrally ran the best race under PVal. He rallied from last despite a lack of pace and missed the place by a 1/2 length. Tim Ice …read more

We have a 10-race card on tap at Louisiana Downs on June 6th, and a big crowd is expected to come out and root for hometown hero Calvin Borel in the Belmont Stakes. Before I look at the Belmont and Saturday card at LAD, let’s recap the last two racedays…
June 4th
Fast main track and off the turf. Five wire jobs on the day.
Big day on the analysis front. Tabbed 6 tops on the 9-race card.
Bourque, Riquelme, and PVal each booted home a pair.
Apprentice rider Anna Roberts won her 2nd race of the meet with trainer Jorge Lara. She sent my best …read more