|
|
FAIR GROUNDS NOTEBOOK DECEMBER 18, 2009 by Frank Cotolo We should certainly call the preceding week an anomaly, with weather taking out most of the Louisiana Champions Day races and the next day of racing. The track stopped December 12's card with four races left to run due to the storms in the late afternoon. (See below for rescheduling of Louisiana Champions Day stakes and review of our picks). The National Weather Service recorded almost six inches of rain in the area over a 30-hour period. Then on December 13, Fair Grounds canceled the racing program because of bad conditions on the track surface while more rain was predicted. The track maintenance crew spent Sunday restoring areas of the main track that had washed away in the storms. The track was listed sloppy again on Monday when racing ensued. By the time it ended, the wretched weather had reduced the number of the week's races to 33. The first two days were raced over a fast track, however, but the 19 races those days befuddled most of the bettors and the public only chose two winning favorites. Then, there were three on the abbreviated Louisiana Champions Day program but two days later the sloppy, sealed, track could only present one. In total, the public hit rate for the week was a mere 18 percent. SURFACE REPORT Only main track action was seen through this strange week. And on the dirt, dry or wet, staying close to the pace was the best strategy to win. While 39 percent of the winners raced with a quick measure of stalking, 33 percent went wire-to-wire (at sprints and routes). Giving speed the benefit of both styles, that means 73 percent of all winners had early foot. Those winning off the pace, some from the clouds, so to speak, only amounted to 27 percent. Ordinarily, we would suggest keeping an eye on those horses defying a speed-favoring track but with the mixed bag of surfaces there is not enough evidence to make it a positive point. As an example, two one-mile-and-40-yard events on the sloppy December 14 surface were held one after another. In the first a horse won from well off the pace and a wire-to-wire winner followed. TRAINERS Another survey for the strange week supports the anomaly. Only three trainers were able to double over the four days of racing and a total of 29 conditioners had winners. Bret Calhoun, Merril Scherer, Michael Stidham and Clyde McKean doubled. Three trainers sent out first-time starter winners: Stidham, Mike Burgess and Neil Howard. Of the top winning-percentage trainers, Steve Margolis, Cody Autry, Wes Hawley nor Eric Guillot saddled winners, while Ed Johnson, Scherer and Ken Bourgeois added to their figures. STAKES On Saturday, Fair Grounds will present the Louisiana Champions Day races washed out the week before. Here is a review of what we picked that was canceled on December 12. The $150,000 Classic for three-year-olds and up is at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. We like TAKIN' THE BULLET (Red Bullet). In the $100,000 Ladies Sprint S. for three-year-olds and up goes at six furlongs and MASTER LINK (Dance Master) looks great in her second race after a layoff. In the $100,000 Turf H., going 1 1/16 miles on the green, our choice is HIGH TONED (Zarbyev). In the $100,000 Sprint at six furlongs beware of FLASHY WISE CAT (Catastrophe) and don't be surprised if the four-year-old colt fires earlier than usual. The day's features include the grassy Bonapaw S. for three-year-olds and up and the Esplanade S. on the main track for fillies and mares three-year-olds and up, both 5 1/2 panels, as well as two events for freshman runners, the Letellier Memorial S. for the gals and the Sugar Bowl S. for the boys, both at six furlongs on the main track. These events are worth $60,000 each. HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (12/10) 3RD -- JUMPIN FOR JASON (Jump Start) had an unnecessarily long trip, with a few alternate moves, but finished fast to be second. 6TH -- ONESHOTAWAY (Holy Bull) was quickly away and holding well until gracefully challenged, still finishing fourth at 7-1. 8TH -- AMUSING PLAN (Pleasantly Perfect) dueled to the death after making up some ground leaving from the 10 post and still got third money just a neck back. Friday (12/11) 2ND -- STEP N IT UP (Old Topper) was impressive at 34-1, getting into the thick of the fray and holding for fourth. 4TH -- HOT ROD OVERTON (Catastrophe) dueled at two calls, strong for a 16-1 shot. 8TH -- CASPIAN (Tale of the Cat) is a bet back, winning with a threatening stalk and then having plenty left at the wire. Saturday (12/12) 4TH -- RENATA (Lone Star Cry) closed well in the mud at 7-1 and could be ready to break her maiden at a sprint or a route. Monday (12/14) 2ND -- IMPRESSIONIST (Strong Hope) is a rare one to break maiden at a route, no less wire-to-wire, as a first-time starter, earning a bet-back status. 4TH -- LODE OF GOLD (Mutakddim) had good early foot at 6-1, not a heavy choice but not ignored either, and the speed should sustain soon.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
