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), and the enigmatic Macho Again was along in time to snatch the New Orleans Handicap (G2) away from longtime pacesetter Secret Getaway.

Sunday (3-15-09) Fair Grounds preview

Weather: Showers (60% chance). High 69.

We are probably looking an another wet track, and the turf races will likely be transferred. There is a Pick 6 carryover of $9,676.

Race 5: Gratified (4-1) could sit the right trip behind an expected contested early pace. Afternoon Deelites is a 20% wet track sire, and Mark Guidry is 2-6 with this type of returnee. He sports a best of 93 gate bullet for this. Salty Sid (5-2) could be the speed of the speed under Albarado. He ran his foes into the ground in maiden breaker on Feb 24th (replay below).

Race 9: Henry’s Teddybear (8-1) showed late interest from 12-hole in local bow. Barn is a profitable 17% with 2nd timers, and B. J.’s Mark is a 24% odd track sire. Jesus Castanon rides again, and he’s enjoying a solid meet. Really Did Bam (5-2) is the fav and one to catch for Torres/Ducoing.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The Pick 6 begins with the 4th race, which is my racingonthenet free selection of the day, and concludes with the 9th race, my MySpace pick of the day.

The 6th race has a few promising sorts with possible 2009 Kentucky Derby dreams. Mayor Marv is the 9-5 fav for Bob Baffert/Mike Pegram, and he exits a clear place finish in a similar Hollywood route. Resplendently (5-2) is a $140k purchase out of Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone, and he closed strongly in his sprint bow across town. Thomas Bell is 21% with 2nd timers. Andiron (5-1) is a Darley Stable blueblood (A.P. Indy-Danzig), and the firster is reportedly working well for Robert Frankel.

The feature race is $70k Impressive Luck Handicap for downhill turf sprinters, and Lucky J. H. the deserving fav. Fragile six-year-old has only started 17 times, but the 7-time winner always brings his running shoes despite his health issues. Hewitts (5-1) is the one to catch from the rail.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The aforementioned morning line favorite finished 2nd in this event last year, and he began his campaign with a graded tally at Fair Grounds before his current string of bad luck. He does like the local green, but note that he seems to do his best work with some give in the ground.

Monmouth Stakes replay – Big Brown, Proudinsky

Medici Code landed the show in this event last year, and he has only race three times since. Consistent, versatile turf perfomer lands the cozy rail and could be sitting on a top effort in his 3rd race off a layoff. He figures to offer nice value at 8-1 on the line.

Medici Code wins 2007 Del Mar Derby

Becrux has run two solid races since moving to the John Sadler barn. Flat mile specialist packs a nice late kick and has the class to run past them all. He is 0-4 over the local green, and distance/race shape are the biggest hurdles for this one.

Ferneley has failed to threaten in a trio of graded turf tries and might be better at a flat mile. He owns competitive speed ratings and is not without a chance.

Obrigado frequently sneaks into the exotics in this type of race, and the Neil Drysdale runner has fired from 9-12 furlongs.

Porfido is a long distance specialist for Robert Frankel, and he makes his first start since July. He has been a purse nibbler in this country, and maybe he grabs a share today.

Swift Winds has won three straight at a flat mile and is a solid California bred performer, but this company and distance will likely put an end to his current streak.

Sartorial is probably the one to catch for Richard Mandella, but he sports the look of an optional claiming type, and he has never run this far.

Silent Soul exits a wire job win at this distance in a race originally scheduled for the turf. Two-time grass winner will probably find this company too salty.

It was a wild and wacky day at the Great Race Place on Saturday. Garrett Gomez ended up in the hospital when his mount Back At You ducked into the rail in the Eddie Logan Stakes. Note that he is scheduled to ride Proudinsky on Sunday.

Fleet filly Indyanne fractured her left front sesamoid in the stretch of the La Brea (G1), a race won by heavy fav Indian Blessing. Indyanne has a realistic chance to be saved for broodmare duties.

Juvenile filly Saucey Evening stormed from off the pace to impressively nab the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes for Graham Motion, and Flashmans Papers once again held off Kelly Leak in the aformentioned Eddie Logan.

Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez, and Mike Smith each booted home a pair on Saturday.

Sunday’s card also includes the Blue Norther for grassy juvenile fillies, and Bob Baffert’s Internallyflawless is strictly the one to beat.

Sunday’s 5th race is my MySpace free selection of the day.

Sunday’s 6th race is my racingonthenet free selection of the day.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever