Fair Grounds selections for Sunday, December 29

6th Race: False Clock.

7th Race: Illusion Confusion.

8th Race: Triumph and Song.

Fair Grounds selections for Saturday, December 21

Blushing K.D.: Same Cross.

Letellier: Toni's Hollyday..

Bonapaw: Channel Marker.

Tenacious: Ground Transport.

Diliberto: Pure Tactics.

Sugar Bowl: D'cajun Cat.

Change to Champions Day Selections

Skip The Pinot is now my selection for the Classic.  He figures to be the lone speed and gets a significant weight break.

Selections for Louisiana Champions Day

Lassie: Caroline's Prancer.

Turf: Request A Puck.

Ladies Sprint: Mischievous Mama.

Ladies: Sweettalkin Hottie.

Juvenile: Coteau Ridge.

Classic: Arkansas Martini.

Sprint: Louisiana Glory.

Stakes selections for Saturday, November 30

Demoiselle: Got Lucky.

Comely: Teen Pauline.

Cigar Mile: Capo Bastone.

Remsen: Intense Holiday.

Golden Rod: Bird Maker.

Kentucky Jockey Club: Culprit.

Hawthorne Gold Cup: Street Spice.

Woodchopper: General Election.

Selections for Breeders' Cup Saturday

I went three for four with my top selections yesterday.  The Pick 3 of Outstrip ($14), Goldencents ($5.60), and Chriselliam ($15.80) returned $210 for $1.

Juvenile Fillies: She's A Tiger (1st), Concave (2nd), and Rosalind (3rd).

Filly and Mare Turf: Dank (1st), Romantica (2nd), and Alterite (3rd).

Filly and Mare Sprint: Sweet Lulu (1st), Dance Card (2nd), and Book Review (3rd).

Turf Sprint: Capo Baston (1st), Chip's All In (2nd), and Unbridled's Note (3rd).

Juvenile: Mexikoma (1st), Tap It Rich (2nd), and Strong Mandate (3rd).

Turf: Real Solution (1st), The Fugue (2nd), and Indy Point (3rd).

Sprint: Secret Circle (1st), Fast Bullet (2nd), and Gentlemen's Bet (3rd).

Mile: No Jet Lag (1st), Wise Dan (2nd), and Obviously (3rd).

Classic: Palace Malice (1st), Declaration of War (2nd), and Will Take Charge (3rd).

Selections for Breeders' Cup Friday

Juvenile Turf: Oustrip (1st), Bobby's Kitten (2nd), and Wilshire Boulevard (3rd). Dirt Mile: Goldencents (1st), Hymn Book (2nd), and Golden Ticket (3rd). Juvenile Fillies Turf: Chriselliam (1st), Vorda (2nd), and Granny's McKitten (3rd). Distaff: Royal Delta (1st), Authenticity (2nd), and Close Hatches (3rd).

Stakes selections for Saturday, October 12

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup: Concise.

Knickerbocker Hcp: Plainview.

Athenia: Assateague.

Stakes selections for Saturday, October 5

First Lady: Better Lucky.

Breeders' Futurity: General Jack.

Shadwell Turf Mile: Summer Front.

Jamaica: Jack Milton.

Frizette: Artemis Agrotera.

Champagne: Grand Arrival.

Stakes selections for Saturday, September 28

Kelso: Souper Speedy.

Vosburgh: Private Zone.

Flower Bowl: Somali Lemonade.

Turf Classic: Nutello.

Jockey Club Gold Cup: Palace Malice.

Stakes selections for Saturday, September 21

Hope you played Peace Preserver ($34.20) in the Noble Damsel last Saturday.

Gallant Bloom: Classic Point.

Gallant Bob: Clearly Now.

Cotillion: Street Girl.

Pennsylvania Derby: Fury Kapcori.

Stakes selections for Saturday, September 14

Kentucky Downs Turf Cup: Najjar.

Noble Damsel: Peace Preserver.

Garden City: Concise.

Stakes selections for Saturday, September 7

Arlington-Washington Futurity: Captains Affair.

Arlington-Washington Lassie: She's Offlee Good.

River Cities: Grandma's Rules.

Happy Ticket: Elusive Cowgirl.

Temperence Hill: Joe Hollywood.

Super Derby: Treasury Bill.

Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint: Soft Whisper.

Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf: Drama Drama.

Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon: Left A Message.

Selections for Travers Day

5th Race: Why Not Whiskey.

7th Race: Cantonic.

Test: Wildcat Lilly.

Ballston Spa: Pianist.

King's Bishop: Overanalyze.

Travers: Verrazano.

Stakes selections for Saturday, August 17

Secretariat: Jack Milton.

Beverly D: Gifted Girl.

Arlington Million: Grandeur.

Sword Dancer: Optimizer.

Stakes selections for Saturday, August 3

Whitney: Ron The Greek.

West Virginia Derby: Betweenhereandcool.

Saratoga selections for Saturday, July 27

Prioress: So Many Ways.

Diana: Laughing.

Jim Dandy: Code West.

Stakes selections for Saturday, July 13

Man O'War: Twilight Eclipse.

Stars and Stripes: Ioya Bigtime.

Modesty: Embarr.

American Derby: Admiral Kitten.

Arlington Hcp: Keep Up.

Virginia Oaks: Hedonemewrongsong.

Virginia Derby: Jack Milton.

A Gleam: Rumor.

American Oaks: Scarlet Strike.

Queen's Plate Day selections

Dance Smartly: Julie's Love.

Singspiel: Aldous Snow.

Highlander: Super Chunky.

Queen's Plate: Midnight Aria.

Stakes selections for Saturday, July 6

Suburban: Fast Falcon.

Hollywood Gold Cup: Kettle Corn.

United Nations Hcp: Big Blue Kitten.

Umphrey Turf Sprint: Tripski.

Carry Back: Mico Margarita.

Azalea: Guadalupe High.

Smile Sprint: Fort Loudon.

Princess Rooney: Spectacular Sky.

Hollywood Wildcat: Callmethesqueeze.

Stakes selections for Saturday, June 29

New York Hcp: Minakshi.

Chicago Hcp: Maude S.

Iowa Oaks: Seaneen Girl.

Iowa Derby: Bashaar.

Cornhusker: Nicklaus Way.

Selections for Belmont Stakes Day

Just A Game: Hungry Island.

Woody Stephens: Declan's Warrior.

Belmont: Palace Malice (1st), Unlimited Budget (2nd), and Oxbow (3rd).

Stakes selections for Memorial Day

Sands Point: Watsdachances.

Phipps Hcp: Centring.

Acorn: Midnight Lucky.

Met Mile: Swagger Jack.

Gamely: Tiz Flirtatious.

Winning Colors: Funnys Approval.

Stakes selections for Saturday, May 25

Arlington Matron: Ausus.

Hanshin Cup: Mister Marti Gras.

Arlington Classic: Admiral Kitten.

Louisville Hcp: Najjaar.

Sheepshead Bay: Mystical Star.

Selections for Preakness Day

Dupont Distaff: Sea Island.

Gallorette: Hard Not To Like.

Maryland Sprint: Action Andy.

Dixie: Willcox Inn.

Preakness: Oxbow (1st), Orb (2ns), and Itsmyluckyday (3rd).

Selections for Kentucky Derby Day

Turf Sprint: Cactus Son.

Humana Distaff: Jamaican Smoke.

Distaff Turf Mile: Channel Lady.

Churchill Downs: Unbridled's Note.

Woodford Reserve:  Silver Max.

Kentucky Derby: Goldencents (1st), Normandy Invasion (2nd), and Oxbow (3rd).

Selections for Kentucky Oaks Day

La Troienne: More Chocolate.

Edgewood: Judy In Disguise.

Eight Belles: Blueeyesintherein.

Alysheba: Macho Macho.

Kentucky Oaks: Unlimited Budget.

Stakes selections for Saturday, April 20

Illinois Derby: Ground Transport.

Lexington: General Election.

Stakes selections for Saturday, April 13

Shakertown: Hogy.

Madison: Byrama.

Jenny Wiley: Samitar.

Blue Grass: Tesseron.

Oaklawn Hcp: Win Willy.

Arkansas Derby: War Academy.

Stakes selections for Saturday, April 6

Ashland: Kitten's Dumplings.

Bay Shore: Silver Morgan.

Carter: Brigand.

Wood Memorial: Normandy Invasion.


Potrero Grande: Apriority.

Santa Anita Derby:  Power Broker.

Selections for Louisiana Derby Day

Crescent City Oaks: Mischievous Mama.

Fair Grounds Oaks: Flashy Gray.

New Orleans Hcp: Cool Street.

Louisiana Derby: Proud Strike (1st), Ground Transport (2nd), and Revolutionary (3rd).

Muniz Hcp: Wilcox Inn.

Crescent City Derby: Don't Be Mad.

My top 3 renewals of the Fair Grounds Oaks

1.)  Tiffany Lass (1986):   Laz Barrera wasn’t playing games when he shipped Tiffany Lass to the FG barn of his brother Angel following her debut win at Hollywood.  The road to Kentucky was going through New Orleans.  After making short work of the overmatched locals in three starts, the budding champion lined up against a highly regarded  invader from each coast in the FG Oaks.   Patricia J.K. arrived from New York with a stopover win in the Bonnie Miss over Family Style.  The Mig took the call.   Coming from the SoCal barn of D. Wayne Lukas was Life at the Top, fresh off a win over Twilight Ridge in the Las Virgenes.  Life at the Top was finished by the top of the stretch, and the real running began as Patricia J.K. and Tiffany Lass surged past her.  The pair battled down the lane with Tiffany Lass, on the inside, prevailing in the end.  If not the best race that I’ve ever seen at FG, it is in my top five.  Tiffany Lass would go on to edge Life at the Top in the Kentucky Oaks.

2.)  Blushing K.D. (1997):  The well-bred Tomisue’s Delight looked primed to follow in her mother’s footsteps and tear through the FG 3yo filly division on her way to Grade 1 glory.  Standing in her way was Blushing K.D., a product of the FG 2yos-in-training sale.  Tomisue’s Delight would never catch her rival, at FG or in the Kentucky Oaks.  Blushing K.D. simply toyed with her and the rest of the field in a stakes-record performance.  In a gross racing injustice, Blushing K.D. was denied the Eclipse for Champion 3yo Filly.

3.) Take Charge Lady (2002):  Take Charge Lady won for fun in the FG Oaks, earning a gaudy 107 Beyer in the process.   That Beyer is the third highest Beyer ever for a FG 3yo route stakes, placing her behind Badge of Silver’s 108 in the Risen Star and her own 109 in the Silverbulletday.*  Take Charge Lady would have taken the Louisiana Derby had her connections opted to run her in that spot instead of the FG Oaks.  She was that good.

* It bears mentioning that Blushing K.D. received a 106 Beyer for her daylight win in the Fair Grounds Sales Derby.           

Selections for Saturday, March 23

Four of the five selections last Saturday ran second.  Billy Two Hats (29-1) finished a distant second in the Colonel Power.  Storm's Promise (11-1), dropped the Happy Ticket by a nose.

Red Camelia: Divine Lorreta.

Spiral: Balance the Books. 

Selections for Saturday, March 16

Colonel Power: Billy Two Hats.

Happy Ticket: Storm's Promise.

Honey Fox: Pianist.

Azeri: Don't Tell Sophia.

Rebel: Oxbow.

Selections for Saturday, March 9

4th Race at FG: Call Me George.

5th Race at FG: Warren's Rebel.

6th Race at FG: Mama's Dia.

8th Race at FG: Pharme's Missteak.

Kenner: Gantry.

Suncoast (Tampa): Caraquista.

Hillsborough: Kya One.

Tampa Bay Derby: Dynamic Sky.

Fair Grounds selections for Friday, March 1

Starlight racing on tap!

1st Race: Fast Wolf.

8th Race: Majestic Harbor.

Selections for Saturday, February 23

Fountain of Youth: Orb.

1st at FG: Checkered Past.

4th at FG: Carson's Crown.

Fair Grounds Hcp: Two Months Rent.

Mineshaft: Golden Ticket.

Rachel Alexandra: Blue Violet.

Risen Star: Code West.

11th at FG: Tread.

12th at FG: Reason to Be Proud.

Selections for Saturday, February 9

7th Race at FG: Hard Aces.

8th Race at FG: Bluffalatta.

9th Race at FG: Parabellum.

Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship: Good Morning Diva.

Donn Hcp: Bourbon Courage.

Selections for Saturday, February 2

3rd Race at FG: Stourbridge Lion.

4th Race at FG: Hero of Order.

6th Race at FG: Merv.

8th Race at FG: Cool Street.

Battle of New Orleans: Sunset Time.

Florida Oaks: Floral Sky.

Endeavour: My Redbyrd.

Sam Davis: My Name is Michael.

Hutcheson: Honorable Dillon.

Strub: Guilt Trip.

Arcadia: Sebastien Flyte.

Fair Grounds selections for Friday, February 1 (Starlight Racing).

1st Race: Mary Magdalene.

6th Race: General Election.

8th Race: Warren's Rebel.

Selections for Saturday, January 26

Van Berg: Animal Style.

Colonel Bradley: Bim Bam.

Forward Gal: Ashlee's Princess.

Holy Bull: Fredericksburg.

Stakes selections for Saturday, January 19

Louisiana Hcp: Self Control.

Silverbulletday: Touch Magic.

Lecomte: Oxbow.

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf: Regalo Mia.

Sunshine Millions Sprint: Close It Out.

Selections for Sunday, January 13

8th at Fair Grounds: AP Zapper.

Hal's Hope: Associate.

Selections for Saturday, January 7

Pan Zareta: Flashy Lassie.

9th at Fair Grounds: Pure Pegasus.

Fort Lauderdale: Big Blue Kitten.

Gasparilla: Cotton Pickin.

Pasco: Mind Spell.

Selections for Saturday, January 5

8th Race at Fair Grounds: Do Dat Blues.

Dixie Poker Ace: Lovely Vin.

Marshua's River: Frontside.

Turf Dash (Tampa): Hold On Smokey.