Fast main track and turf listed as good . Stalking types best on both surfaces.

No riding or training doubles on Sunday. PVal, back from injury, found the winners’ circle in the 6^th aboard Sturges Ducoing first time starter U Belong To Me.

On the analysis front, I got home value top Wild Strike ($14.20) in a day that saw six of my 2^nd and 3^rd choices score. I also correctly tabbed the 4^th race superfecta, and the $186.40 pick three ending with the 7^th race.

Consistent filly Category Seven is back in action at Fair Grounds on Dec 7th

Fair Grounds Preview – Dec 7th

A 9-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Monday, and three turf races are scheduled. The skies are expected to be cloudy with a 40% chance of showers. Highs in the upper 60’s. Pick 6 carryover stands at $3,688.

Monday’s feature race is an optional claiming turf route for fillies and mares. It is an interesting contest between stakes quality entrants Category Seven and Love To Tell. The former is a gem of consistency, and the latter has been on a steady stakes diet.

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 Monday free selection (6^th race) from Fair Grounds.

My MySpace free selection of the day is the 3^rd race from Fair Grounds.

My Horse Racing Nation free selection of the day is the 7^th race from Fair Grounds.

Daily results and video from Fair Grounds can be found here.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Fast main track and good turf (Pago Hop). Edge to early/pressing types on the main track. Patient types did well in the lone race run on the sod.

Hat trick for Shaun Bridgmohan included a pair with trainer Steve Asmussen. Agilar and Lanerie both booted home a pair. Cody Autrey saddled two winners on the day.

Exciting renewal of the Pago Hop Stakes went to Akilina, who held on by a determined head over Dancin Perfect. Christophe Clement saddled the winner, and Shaun Bridgmohan capped off a big day in the irons.

When I perused the Saturday rider changes I noticed a familiar name…welcome back PVal!

Pat Valenzuela returned to the saddle at Fair Grounds on Dec 5th

On the analysis front, I got home best bet top Click Away ($11.20). I also correctly tabbed the early double, the first pick 3, the 2nd race superfecta, the 6th race exacta, and the 11th race superfecta.

Fair Grounds Preview – Dec 6th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Sunday, and four turf races are on the docket once again. The skies are expected to be cloudy with highs in the low 60’s. Note that all of the races were taken off the turf this week with the exception of the Pago Hop Stakes on Saturday. Pick 6 carryover stands at $2,621.

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 (6th race) from Fair Grounds.

Daily results and video from Fair Grounds can be found here.

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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.

Lonnie Meche at Louisiana Downs

Haran had to be put down, but the other horses appeared to escape serious.

Lonnie Meche took the worst of it with a cracked collarbone, fractured wrist, and injured ankle. He is expected to miss 5-6 weeks.

Rico Flores has an ankle fracture and could be out of action for 3-4 weeks.

Francisco Torres and Patrick Valenzuela are both sore but did not have any broken bones. ‘Cisco and PVal are day-to-day and could be back in the saddle as early as August 27th.

Veteran rider E J Perrodin luckily walked away from the scene and is expected to resume riding next week.

Image: Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 Pick 6 carryover of $5,649.

Seeking Ms Shelley is my best bet to wrap up the week. She projects the right trip behind multiple speed types in the turf sprint finale.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 bet on the Saturday card. He exits above par 7f win and has won at 6f in the past. Dangerous in current form. Was flattered when show finisher Claudia’s Forum came back to score on Friday.

Keep an eye on Vets Dream in the 6th. I put her on my watch list following a pair of clear place finishes here.

My longshot play of the day can be found in the finale. Bailey’s Brook drops in class and attracts PVal. Fits off solid May 24th effort here.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 my longshot play of the day. I liked her in the two lifetime ranks ealier in the meet, and she is back in a tight spot following a failed alllowance run.

Messy Marvin (race is my best bet on the Friday card. He has been right there in his last two local turf outings and appears primed for a repeat versus tougher. He will probably have to run down distance switcher Evacuation Route .

My daily selections can be found on the Louisiana Downs website.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 features four grass races and includes a Pick 6 carryover of $3,266.

Weather: Sunny. High 98.

My best bet can be found in the 7th race. A funny thing happened to Say The Word (7-2) in the stretch last time. He was on his way to victory but jumped tracks in the stretch and threw PVal. That one was originally scheduled for the turf, hence the gate tracks. Fast and firm conditions expected, so that will not be an issue this time. Graduated at this 7.5f distance on the turf and should make amends.

I thought about making Miss Lewis (9-2) my best bet in the finale, but the ice cold barn scared me away. She had her win streak snapped at four with a place finish behind heavy chalk here last time. Could sit right trip behind a contested pace.

My daily analysis can be found on the Louisiana Downs website.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 preview

Weather: Partly cloudy. High 95.

Saturday’s 10-race card features four grass races, and there is a small Pick 6 carryover of $1,602.

My best bet Tee At Night (race 8) could sit the garden spot trip in her 3rd race off the shelf.

Kipper In Space (race 10) is the Longshot Play of the Day. He is back at a better distance after failing in a pair of extended sprints. A stalking trip under Simington is expected.

My daily analysis has been added to the LAD site.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 was run down in late stretch by fav Cajun Persuasion.

June 19th preview

Weather: Sunny. High 95.

Friday’s 9-race card includes a trio of turf races, and my best bet Sefas Belle (race 2) likes this course, and PVal has options with the versatile sort.

Classy Dresser (race 8) is the Longshot Play of the Day. She enters in fine form and tries the weeds for a 2-for-6 1st turf outfit.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

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 set a wicked pace and just held on in the Top Corsage. Razor sharp miss Category Seven wheeled back quickly and just missed.

June 14th preview

Sunday’s 9-race card features a trio of grass races, snd my best bet Aptiseno looms the controlling speed in the 6th.

My daily selections can be found on the Louisiana Downs site.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever