Picks made today for fast track and NO turf
Race 1
2 – Rammer Jammer – may offer some value here if our second choice takes most of the win money
3 – Planters Punch – comes in off long layoff but does drop down with strong intention to win
Race 2
4 – Mokings – tough wide trip last out – may be able to work out an inside stalking trip here
2 – J B Gray – big win in last doing it the hard way on the outside in a tough race – livee to win right back
Race 3
7 – You Have No Idea – has some speed to display and will need it from the outside post position
5 – Two Hands Full – might be the better of the two Duhon trained first time starters in here
Race 4
1 – Bitsy Perfectmatch – broke tardy in first start – has rail here – should improve mightily for this
4 – Madison’s Screen – had rail in last and showed high speed – may have needed that first start for fitness
Race 5
5 – Constitutional Law – needs to find his form from the fall races to get the job done with these foes
1 – Badgeball – another who ran well in the fall in Kentucky who needs to find some of that form here
Race 6
8 – Wolf Hunter – stretches out to go around two turns and a distance of ground here – may be the key
4 – Harold’s Cloud – the likely early leader after showing good speed running shorter in last two
Race 7
8 – Crusader Express – hard to ignore this one’s affinity for the Fair Grounds surface as a three time winner
2 – Golden Palace – drops down to lowest level after running well in stakes – gets nice inside draw here
Race 8
8 – Johanny – has been working well – first time starter for Walsh who can hit with some of these types
9 – Bru Na Boinne – the one to beat after two good efforts in first two career starts – barn has been hot lately
Race 9
3 – Iron Banner – drops down to a low level trying to find that elusive third career win after 12 starts
2 – Eyeseemoney – winner in last in the slop here now stretches out to two turns – can repeat win
Around the Track
Going into Thursday’s race card there is a three-way tie at the top of the jockey standings with Reylu Gutierrez, Jose Luis Rodriguez and Jareth Loveberry tied with 16 winners each. Stalking those three is past champion James Graham with 14 wins. Bret Calhoun continues his hot start as a trainer and now has 12 wins to lead last year’s champion Ron Faucheux who has notched 10 trips to the winner’s circle heading into the Thursday card along with Shane Wilson who also has 10 wins at the current meet. There is no racing on Christmas Eve or Day but racing returns in a big way with a massive 13-race card on Monday the 26th.
Best Bet
Our Best Bet today will be in Race 4 - # 1 Bitsys Perfectmatch – ran well in lone start and should show some massive improvement with that race under her belt.
Good Luck and may they all come home safely.