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

Friday (3-6-09) Fair Grounds recap
Main track played fair. A couple of rare wire jobs on the turf.
Four-bagger for Robby Albarado. Alvin Sider saddled three winners on the card, and John Jacinto rode two. Two more wins for Steve Asmussen.
Francisco Torres is back from an injury, and he guided More of the Best to a wire job win over fav Elision in the allowance grass feature.
Saturday (3-7-09) Fair Grounds recap
Main track favored early/pressing types in sprints. Turf course played fair.
Hat trick for Shaun Bridgmohan included a pair with his main client Steve Asmussen. Corey Lanerie rode …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

Sunday (2-1-09) Fair Grounds recap
Main track played fair. Both turf sprints were nabbed by stalkers.
Corey Lanerie booted home a pair.
Monday (2-1-09) Fair Grounds preview
Monday’s 10-race card includes a Pick 6 (race 5-10) carryover of $6,188. There is a good chance we are looking at an off track and no turf racing.
Weather: AM rain/wind (80% chance). High 59.
Race 1: Pure Malt (3-1) receives a rider upgrade to Bridgmohan, and Asmussen is 20% 2nd off a layoff and 22% sprint/route. Note that Pure Prize is a 23% wet track sire should that come into play.
Pure Malt – …read more

Friday (1-16-09) Fair Grounds recap
Main track played fair. Edge to stalkers and closers on the sod.
Corey Lanerie and Pat Valenzuela both booted home a pair. Bret Calhoun saddled two winners, and James Graham/Tom Amoss teamed up for two turf wins on the card.
Timely Advice looked good winning the 8th in 1:09.76 under PVal.
Timely Advice – Fair Grounds replay Jan 16th
Say The Word (Albarado-Morris Nicks) finished a troubled 7th in his 1st start versus winners in the grassy 9th. He’s worth playing again next time.
Saturday (1-17-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to stalk and pounce types on …read more