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FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 25, 2010 by Frank Cotolo A fast and clear week at Fair Grounds presented 40 races in four programs. The public was sharp every day except Saturday, the big stakes day, when only one public choice surfaced a winner. The other three days made up for the poor public-betting record; when the smoke cleared, the public-choice toll was back up to recent heights, with a 43-percent figure. On the surface Twenty-six races were sprints and routes on the main course last week, with 14 going on the green. Speed made a good impression on the main track, with 27 percent of the winners going wire to wire and 38 percent winning from close to the pace. Together, wire-to-wire wins and close-to-the-pace speed made up 65 percent of the wins. That left 35 percent to be won from off the pace, though few of those were wins from far back. Though no particular figures have been calculated, a general look at the come-from-behind dirt races doesn't say much for last-to-first winners. Midpack closers, still relatively close to the pace, make up most the off-the-pace stats. On the grass, however, off-the-pace winners came home 57 percent of the time in the 14 races offered, 10 of which were at a mile or longer. There was only one start-to-finish win, a 5 1/2-furlong affair, and that was the first race on the green since February 8. Trainers Steve Asmussen led the pack in raw wins this week with only three. One was a first-time starter. Michelle Lovell had a first-time winner along with another for the week. Other doubling conditioners on the week were Eric Guillot, David Carroll, Bret Calhoun, Cody Autrey and Morris Nicks. Todd Pletcher recorded two winners, both shippers from South Florida in stakes events, and won the big race for Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls, Saturday's Risen Star (G2), with DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft). Stakes This Saturday, the Allen Lacombe Memorial H. goes a mile on the grass for $60,000. Four-year-old-and-up fillies and mares compete. Last week we challenged the obvious choices in stakes and lost. We are still impressed with BRAVO WHISKEY (Smart Strike), though his first stakes effort in the Risen Star fell short to wire-to-wire winner Discreetly Mine. Our "Silverbullet" pick, AGE OF HUMOR (Distorted Humor), was third, and our Mineshaft longshot, GOOD AND LUCKY (Wild Rush), was last. We had the right idea trying to beat the favorites in both spots, as JODY SLEW (Slew City Slew) and STONEHOUSE (Chester House) each recorded upsets. Horses to Watch Our Watch lists produced the following winners since our last update: TENSAS CAT (Cat Thief), $6.80; LACY TO) (Autocracy), $6; ABELIA (Southern Image), $4.40; SNAKEBITE KIT (Sky Classic), $5.80; and WALL OF WORRY (The Cliff’s Edge), $5.60. Friday (2/19) 6TH -- LIGHT WIND (Storm Passage) was slow to start but charged late to make up for it and finished fourth. Saturday (2/20) 2ND -- ROLL ME AWAY (Evansville Slew) had to battle four wide early and was three wide on the turn, being used hard at 11-1 to get fourth money. 5TH -- IN JACK'S MEMORY (Malibu Moon) grinded to the lead by the stretch and was with two at the wire to get third. 13TH -- CANON MAN (Mingun) made a strong maiden special weight appearance, winning first out to warrant a bet back. Sunday (2/21) 3RD -- HITCH YOUR WAGON (Wagon Limit) had a good late kick for a change and may be perfecting the move. 7TH -- MY HOMETOWN GAL (My Friend Max) was far too wide around the turn to make obvious speed worth the trip. Monday (2/22) 2ND -- JENNI JENNI JENNI (Devil His Due) delivered a commanding win in this maiden claimer and should step up and perform well. 4TH -- PLEASANT CHIEF (Pleasant Tap) was on top confidently at 9-1 in this route until tiring. 6TH -- METER MAIDEN (Hold That Tiger) was flaming until the stretch, a first-time starter with guts at 59-1.
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