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FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK DECEMBER 31, 2009 by Frank Cotolo The Christmas holiday week reduced racing to three days, but the programs were filled with a lot of action, including 10 turf races and three days of fast-and-firm surfaces. No favorites won on Monday, but the public's choice still hit at a 30-percent clip, winning nine-for-30 races last week. Surface Report After watching late runners perform strongly the week before, speed carried much better over the main track last week at Fair Grounds, with 35 percent of the races being won in wire-to-wire fashion. Closers weren't at disadvantage, however; the dirt oval in New Orleans is generally one of the fairest tracks to all running styles. On the turf, it was better to be coming off the pace at any distance, with 50 percent of the winners using the late path to victory. But there were still three wire-to-wire wins, two at route and one sprint. Trainers Tom Amoss checked three winners over the week, while Steve Asmussen, Merrill Scherer and Corlae Richards each logged a pair. Of note was a win by former jockey Ray Sibille, once a competitive West Coast rider now conditioning stock. Though Asmussen leads by wins with 14 as Monday, his win percentage is well below the leading Bill Mott, who is hitting at a 40-percent clip. Cody Autry follows Mott at 36 percent. Steve Margolis, who at one point was eight-for-16, is now connecting at a 34-percent rate. Stakes On New Year's Eve, two features restricted to state-bred juveniles, each worth $50,000. The Louisiana Futurity for fillies and the Louisiana Futurity for colts and geldings are both six-furlong dashes on the main track. HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (12/26) 1ST -- DEMPSEY (Marciano) should have won this but for a late stretch duel that found his neck on the wrong side of the wire while driving. 4TH -- LADY MCBEE (Storm Passage) shot for the lead from the 11 post, retreated to last, then put in a come-back move that got her third money at 11-1. 7TH -- WINLOC'S SAINT RAY (Golden Missile) had good early speed, especially for a 25-1 shot. Sunday (12/27) 5TH -- CRIMSON CRUSADERS (Ide) broke through the gate before the race and was slow to start, but quickly made up 10 spots to grab second and stayed on well for the place at 12-1. 6TH -- THIS SMOKE DID IT (Devil His Due) got into a tough duel on the grass early, then gained after putting his foe away and just got caught at the wire at 6-1. Monday (12/28) 7TH -- OCTAVIA BLUE (Songandaprayer) is a Florida invader that flashed speed early and survived a stressful duel before finishing third at 6-1. 9TH -- POLITICAL ROCK (Political Whit) had sharp speed in the early going but was dueled to weariness in the route at 4-1.
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