Fair Grounds Recap – Nov 7th
No bias surprises on day two. Early-pressing speed strong in sprints. Turf course favored stalkers and closers.
Day two belonged to Shane Sellers and Steve Asmussen. They teamed up for a hat trick and won the Pontalba with Right To Rule.
The other juvenile stakes race on the card was the Old Hickory, and Comedero lead the field on a merry chase after the defection of Western Smoke.

Got three tops home on Saturday. Had a bit of a frustrating day as I finished 2-3 in a pair of my turf best bets.
Fair Grounds …read more

Today is the first of the 2-day Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, and racing at the Fair Grounds also kicks off with a 9-race program. Weather looks good with sunny skies and temps in the 70’s, so expect fast and firm conditions.
The feature race in New Orleans is the $60k Blushing K. D. Stakes for fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Much Obliged is the favorite, and she was only a head behind ‘08 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together at Woodbine last time. Note that the …read more

A field of seven has been drawn for the 30th running of the $750k Grade 2 Super Derby, to be run at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, September 19th.
Soul Warrior, who scratched out of the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day because of a temperature, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The Steve Asmussen trainee has been part of the exacta in three straight and defeated Ky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby last time.
UAE Derby winner Regal Ransom is probably the one to catch. Godolphin trainee is working well for his …read more

A field of seven or eight looks probable for the $750k Grade 2 Super Derby, to be run at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, September 19th. The post positions will be drawn tomorrow at the Super Derby press conference, and I will be on hand for the festivities.
Soul Warrior, who scratched out of the Penn Derby on Labor Day because of a temperature, has recovered and is the likely Super Derby favorite. The Steve Asmussen trainee was last seen downing Ky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby. John Velazquez has the …read more

It is looking increasingly unlikely that we will get Mine That Bird and Summer Bird for the 30th Super Derby (G2), to be run at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, September 19th.
The former was forced to miss the Travers following minor throat surgery, and the latter will probably shoot for the Jockey Club Gold Cup after a sharp win in the Travers (G1).
We have about seven or eight seriously looking at our event, and that list begins with the Super Derby Prelude top three Uno Mas, Electric Alphabet, and Red Lead.
Uno Mas, trained by Steve Asmussen, rallied from off …read more

Look out Rachel. Quality Road is heading to the Travers, and the talented early/pressing male is seemingly healthy again following quarter crack problems that forced him to miss the Triple Crown series.
He returned to dust his Amsterdam (G3) foes in track record time earlier this month, and his most recent Travers work was a sharp six furlongs in 1:13 at the Spa on August 16th. He will work again next Sunday, and the ten furlong Travers Stakes will be run at Saratoga on August 29th.
In other Travers news, Rachel Alexandra and stablemate Kensei will work at Saratoga on August 17th, and …read more

August 14th Louisiana Downs Recap
Wire job sprint winner to kick off the card, and stalkers and closers dominated the remaining main track races. Edge to stalkers and closers on the sod.
Dustin Dugas and PVal both booted home a pair.
My tops finished off the late double, including best bet Brentwood Bullet ($7.40) in the grassy 8th.
Rich Elm looked sharp breaking his maiden in the grassy 6th for Bret Calhoun. He bested my top Joey’s Mizzen Mast, who should graduate on the turf in the near future.
Penny Parfait had no excuses at 3-2 in the 7th. She controlled proceedings from the outset under Carlos …read more

Rachel Alexandra took down the boys again, and she did it easily in the Haskell (G1) over a sloppy track on August 2nd. Nothing that happened on Sunday was a surprise. Extended sprint specialist Munnings set a pressured pace, and he can run with anyone at shorter distances. I gave him a shot if able to relax on a easy lead, but he never got a breather and ended up a rock solid 3rd. Summer Bird got involved earlier than expected, but that was his only chance to win, and he outfinished Munnings …read more

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

Saturday’s $300k Rebel Stakes is the final local prep for the Arkansas Derby. The 8.5 furlong graded event has drawn a field of 9, and Old Fashioned is the 7-5 morning line choice.

The aforementioned Larry Jones (shown w/Wayne Lukas) trained fav is undefeated in four lifetime starts, and the $800k son of Unbridled’s Song owns fine early/pressing speed. I am not sure how much farther Old Fashioned wants to run, but he is effective at this distance and could easily make it five straight.
Wise Kid owns a strong pedigree (Lemon Drop Kid-Seeking The Gold), and he has won two …read more