Fast main track and off the turf. Note that the rains arrived late, and the track was sloppy for the 10^th race. Numerous wire jobs on Friday as early-pressing speed dominated. Title Clear (3^rd race) was the only off the pace winner on the day, and he bested fellow closer and heavy fav Great Planet by a neck.

Richard Eramia booted home a pair, and Jose Riquelme/John Barger teamed up for two wins on the afternoon.

The horses break from the gate at Fair Grounds

On the analysis front, I got home tops Sun Valley Storm ($5.80), best bet Girlysgotitgoinon ($4), and Angelonmyshoulder ($12.20).

Fair Grounds Preview – Dec 4th

An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and four turf races are on the docket. The skies are expected to be mostly sunny with highs in the 50’s. Note that the races were taken off the turf on Thursday and Friday, and the track was sloppy (sealed) for the 10^th race yesterday. Pick 6 carryover stands at $1,503.

The Saturday feature is the $60k Pago Hop Stakes for 3yo fillies traveling a mile on the turf. Akilina is the one to beat for Christophe Clement. If this race is moved to the main, keep an eye on wire job threat Redreamit. Distant Kentucky Oaks runner-up Stone Legacy (Wayne Lukas) is entered for main track only purposes.

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 Saturday free selection (8th race) from Fair Grounds.

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

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

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First up was Blame, the 2009 Super Derby runner-up. He was my top selection when he ran at LAD, and I thought he was just as good if not better than wire job winner Regal Ransom. The latter saved all the ground through tepid splits, while the former raced wide chasing pedestrian fractions.

Blame was clearly 2nd best in the Super Derby, and in my horses to watch section of the LAD program, I said he was a future graded stakes winner.

Super Derby runner-up Blame at Louisiana Downs. He has since captured the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes and Grade 2 Clark Handicap.

The future came quickly as he earned his graded stripes in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland on Oct 31st.

The Al Stall Jr. trainee stepped up to face tougher rivals such as Einstein and Macho Again in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap (Nov 27th) at Churchill Downs, and he smartly got the job done over fellow sophomore Misremembered.

Blame is headed to Fair Grounds with a possible start in the Mineshaft or New Orleans Handicap. His ultimate goal is the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

On the Super Derby undercard, William’s Kitten lagged far behind the Sunday Silence field, but like a shot he was almost five to the good on the wire under Garrett Gomez. Late runners do not win too often at Louisiana Downs, so his win was even better than it appeared on paper.

Before the Sunday Silence, the son of Kitten’s Joy made his bones on the turf, and after LAD he had unsuccessful synthetic runs in the Grey (5th) at Woodbine and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (8th) at Santa Anita.

Back on conventional dirt for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, and he rallied to finish clearly 2nd best behind controlling speed Super Saver.

It is almost a given that the Michael Maker runner will avoid synthetic ground and point for a dirt campaign with the Kentucky Derby as a springtime dream.

Image:  Stacy Edwards

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Early-pressing types best in dirt sprints. Patient runners best in routes. Turf course played fair.

On the analysis front, I got home tops Mission Possible ($8.40) and best bet Rockin’ Joe ($9). I also successfully tabbed the 2nd race superfecta, the early double, the 4th race trifecta, and a pick 3 (race 4-6).

Pick 6 carries again, and the pool is up to $5,037.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 28th

An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and four grass races are on the schedule. The feature race is the $60k Woodchopper for grassy 3yo’s. Evolutionist is the 5-2 morning line favorite for Mott. Another nice weather day with partly cloudy skies and highs in the 60’s.

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 Saturday free selection (3rd race) from Fair Grounds.

For information on Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Drying out main track fast by 4th race. Off the turf. Three six furlong wire jobs as early-pressing types fared best on Sunday.

Hat trick for John Jacinto, and Jesse Campbell booted home a pair. Eric Guillot saddled two winners on the day.

Jays Wildcat could be bound for the Champions Day Juvenile following a razor sharp prominent throughout tally versus state bred allowance foes.

2009 New Orleans Handicap winner Macho Again goes next in Friday's Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs

On the analysis front, I got best bet Jays Wildcat ($10.60) home in the 9th, along with the $69.20 late double.

Pick 6 carries again, and the pool has crept up to $4,060.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 26th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Thursday, and the feature race is the $60k Thanksgiving Handicap for 3yo’s and up traveling six furlongs on the main track. Euroears is the 5-2 morning line fav, and the 7 for 10 win type looms a serious prominent throughout player in a race that came up light on pace.

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 Thursday free selection (6th race) from Fair Grounds.

For information on Hollywood Park pick 6 races, please check out Pick 6 blog for free analysis and tickets.

For daily free picks and racing news, visit HorseRacingNation.

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Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

I did a recap of the Nov 18th card on a previous blog, so I’ll move on to the 19th.

Martin Garcia and Garrett Gomez both booted home a pair of winners on Thursday. Loup Breton was a good looking late running winner of the grass feature. The Julio Canani trainee was making his US bow and appears headed to the stakes ranks. Yorktown finished a troubled 4th and is worth a look next time.

Diamondrella makes her first start for Gary Stevens in the Matriarch

Victor Espinoza rode a pair of winners on Friday night. The stakes quality 3rd race, an optional claiming turf sprint, was smartly captured by Reba Is Tops. Joe Talamo booted home the Mark Glatt trainee.

Mike Smith rode a pair of turf sprint winners on Saturday. The featured Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue was nabbed by a game American Lion. The 2yo son of Tiznow is on the Derby trail and figures to go next in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity on Dec 19th.

The story of the Nov 22nd card was Joe Talamo. The confident young rider booted home five winners, including Bickersons in the $100k Moccasin Stakes. Bill Spawr saddled two winners, and the aforementioned Talamo rode both.

An 8-race card is on tap for Nov 25th, and I have all the action covered on the pick six blog.

Hollywood will run another 8-race card on Thanksgiving day, and the 3-day Turf Festival kicks off on Friday with the Grade 1 Citation Handicap.

Juvenile males go in the Grade 3 Generous on Saturday, and Bridgetown looms a prominent throughout threat.

Also on Saturday in the Grade 1 Matriarch, and Diamondrella makes her first start for new trainer Gary Stevens. Classy lady Ventura figures to call it a career after this event.

Festival concludes on Sunday with the Grade 3 Miesque and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

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Early-pressing speed strong in sprints, and dirt routes played fair. A pair of turf route wire jobs.

Jamie Theriot booted home a pair. Frank Leggio saddled a pair of maiden claiming winners, including $163 bomber Deenameetay in the finale.

Nice wire job by Dancin Perfect (Sellers-Burgess) in the grass feature. Going to the Sun was clearly 2nd best.

Had a rock solid day on the analysis front with four tops getting the job done, including best bets Goodgoshamighty and Pomegranate.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 14th

A 10-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and the feature race is the $60k Mr. Sulu for Louisiana bred fillies and mares traveling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf. Classy Deelites, the 5-2 morning line favorite, will try to buck an anti speed bias at this distance on the turf. Note that speed did well on the turf, but was it just a Friday the 13th deal? Late running threats in the grass stakes event include Bill Mott trainee Desert Wheat. Sunny skies are expected with highs in the 70’s.

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 Saturday free selection (8th race) from Fair Grounds.

For Fair Grounds results/video, check out Horse Racing Nation.

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Remember to click on the name of each Cup winner to view a replay.

The first of eight Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday went to Pounced, who did just that in the Turf Sprint. Chalk up another win for the euros. Bridgetown set the pace and held the place by a head over Interactif. Frankie Dettori booted home the John Gosden trainee.

California Flag was cooked on the pace in the ‘08 Turf Sprint, but he controlled proceedings throughout in a sharp wire job this time around. Joe Talamo was the pilot. Downhill specialist Gotta Have Her rallied for the place, and Cannonball rounded out the trifecta.

Lookin At Lucky was an unlucky 2nd in the BC Juvenile

Zensational was not a fast breaker, so he was in trouble after drawing the rail in the Sprint, and he was never comfortable in a disappointing but predictable 5th place finish. Four noses on the wire with CA-bred Dancing In Silks upsetting the applecart. Crown of Thorns, Cost of Freedom, and Gayego made up the rest of the top four. Joel Rosario got the win aboard the Carla Gaines trainee.

Bob Baffert did not get a break. Zensational was stuck on the rail in the Sprint, and his undefeated 2yo Lookin At Lucky was stuck in post 13 in the Juvenile. He had every right to fold after racing wide behind a tepid pace, but he rallied strongly under Gomez to just miss by a head. Overseas invader Vale of York was the stalk and pounce upset winner for Godolphin.

Goldikova won the ‘08 BC Mile with a perfect trip, and some thought she was vulnerable from a bad post this time around. I thought she was impossible to beat, and she rolled from the back of the pack to prove a much the best repeat winner. Euros are on a roll!

Zenyatta made her case for Horse of the Year after beating the boys in the BC Classic

Midshipman was my Dirt Mile top because of his pace advantage and ability to handle synthetic. He ran a fine race but was run down by my 2nd choice Furthest Land (Leparoux/Maker). Unfortunately, Ready’s Echo rallied to head my top out of the place, costing me a nice exacta.

Another overseas runner was attempting a grass repeat, and Conduit did just that in the Turf. He ran down a game Presious Passion, who opened up early as expected.

‘09 was the year of the girls beating the boys, and girl power was on full display as Zenyatta stormed past eleven male rivals en route to an exciting BC Classic victory. Mike Smith had his regular seat aboard the John Shirreffs trainee. Turf specialists Gio Ponti and Twice Over took down the place and show, and Summer Bird completed the superfecta.

The 2-day Cup extravaganza was a smashing success, and the Horse of the Year debate begins. Is it 8 for 8 Rachel Alexandra, who beat grade one males three times, or is it 5 for 5 Zenyatta, who won the BC Classic for her 14th win from as many lifetime starts?

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Juvenile Turf: The favorite in this race is Interactif. He has done nothing wrong on the turf yet. If speed is still strong on the turf, then Bridgetown could be a live pace player.

Turf Sprint: A wide open event. Again, if speed rules, then California Flag rates a gander, along with Canadian Ballet. The downhill turf course at Santa Anita is a tricky layout, and horses proven down the dip typically fare well.

Zenyatta goes for Classic glory on Saturday

Sprint: Plenty of speed, and Zensational is fleet fav breaking from the rail. Fatal Bullet is also quick early, and he was 2nd in this event last year.

Juvenile: Hot trainer Bob Baffert has the aforementioned Zensational in the Sprint, and he also has favorite Lookin At Lucky in here. The fav is 4 for 4 lifetime and should be tough to beat under Gomez, but he must overcome unlucky post 13.

Mile: The defending champ is back, and if Goldikova fires her best shot they are all running for minor awards. She did lose her last overseas start and must work out a trip from an outer post, but she is more than talented enough to get the job done.

Dirt Mile: Europe has the fav with Mastercraftsman. He has won half of his six starts this year, with his three setbacks coming at the expense of superstar Sea The Stars.

Turf: The overseas contingent typically dominates this event, and the ‘09 renewal should be no exception. Click here for my analysis of the Turf.

Classic: Her stablemate Life Is Sweet won yesterday’s Ladies’ Classic, and let’s see if undefeated mare Zenyatta can down the boys in the Classic. Would be a great story if she could run her record to 14 for 14 with a win here!

Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup?

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

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The first two races on BC Friday were non-Cup events, starting with an optional claiming route on Pro-Ride, which was captured by Deal Breaker (Bejarano-Mitchell). The winner stalked the pace, and note that runner-up Mr. Hot Stuff was a Triple Crown series also-ran.

Optional claiming sprint in the 2nd, and Mike Mitchell saddled back-to-back winners. Miss McCall wired the field under Tyler Baze.

2nd running of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon also goes to Europe, but defending champ Muhannak did not win. He was 5th behind Man of Iron (Murtagh/O’Brien). 9yo Cloudy’s Knight did everything but win for Homeister/Sheppard…great effort! Better Than Honour was the dam of the winner, and she has also produced Jazil, Rags To Riches, and Casino Drive. Top two rallied from off the pace, and fav Mastery was a clear 3rd. I tabbed the trifecta in my full card analysis.

2nd running of the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Tapitsfly (Albarado/Romans) wore down a game Rose Catherine. The winner was training extremely well and was my 2nd choice. When I say training well, I mean according to professional clockers such as Bruno DeJulio from Today’s Racing Digest. Do not listen to what the connections of each horse are saying. They all state their horses are doing great. By the way, speed dominated this turf race.

Again, I looked to clocker thoughts to separate my leading contenders, and my top She Be Wild (Leparoux/Catalano) ran to her recent works in the Juvenile Fillies. Beautician held off Blind Luck for the place, and Biofuel was an unlucky 4th. Winner stalked the pace at 8.5f on synthetic.

Informed Decision wins the '09 BC Filly & Mare Sprint

Back to the weeds, and Europe captures another with ground saving stalker Midday (Queally/Henry Cecil). Pure Clan and defending champ Forever Together rallied for minor placings in the Filly & Mare Turf. The winner was my best bet on the Friday card, and I gave her out on Steve Bortstein’s Fast Track Radio Show on Fox Sports 1340 New Mexico.

Informed Decision (Leparoux/Sheppard) sat the right prominent throughout trip in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and that made all the difference in a game tally over rallying defending champ Ventura. I singled the latter, and that knocked out my suggested pick six ticket.

Final Cup race on day one, and Careless Jewel could not be rated and set fast fractions before fading to last. Off the pace runners loved the swift pace, and Zenyatta’s stablemate Life Is Sweet (Gomez/Shirreffs) got her turn to shine in the Ladies’ Classic. Mushka rallied for the place, and last year’s show finisher Music Note took up that spot again.

Grade 2 Las Palmas Handicap completed the card, and the grass route went to pace presser Tuscan Evening (Bejarano/Hollendorfer).

As for any bias info, it seemed as though you needed to be within striking range to win on the turf. As for the Pro-Ride, pace made the race, but it did not hurt to have positional speed either.

I’ll post a Saturday Cup preview shortly.

Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup?

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

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No bias surprises on opening day. Speed strong in sprints. Turf course favored patient runners.

James Graham, John Jacinto, and ‘Cisco Torres each booted home a pair.

Much Obliged was made the overwhelming fav in the Blushing K D Stakes, and she lived up to advanced billing with a solid off the pace tally under fine grass rider Francisco Torres. The Malcolm Pierce trainee definitely held a class advantage. Never Retreat was a stubborn 2nd, and the ultra-consistent Category Seven held the show.

A solid start on the analysis front. Got a pair of tops home including best bets Cole’s Music ($10.20) and Snow Delicious ($8.40). Note that my day one analysis (view sample) can now be viewed here.

Fair Grounds Preview – Nov 7th

An 11-race program will be run at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and a pair of juvenile stakes races are on tap. Party cloudy skies with highs in the 70’s, so expect fast and firm conditions.

The fillies go six furlongs in the Pontalba, and synthetic/turf specialist Greeley’s Rocket is favored to handle dirt and get the job done.

The boys get their turn in the Old Hickory. Comedero and Western Smoke (Asmussen) are the speedsters. Note that Asmussen also has stalker Enumerate, and that one ran in a pair of graded races at the Spa.

My daily full cards from Fair Grounds are available through Today’s Racing Digest, and I will be posting a daily free pick on their site as well. Click here to view my Saturday free selection from Fair Grounds.

Handicapping the Breeders’ Cup?

Use the BC Dashboard featuring over 100 replays, morning lines and handicapping analysis for all 14 races!

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