Horse Racing: RT's Thursday picks are early races at Fair Grounds, also offers racing trends for the nation

RT’s Pick(s) and Trends 1.14.21

I will try to bring these trends daily as time permits.

Fair Grounds – lovely day in the 60’s and sunny

Early Pick 3

Race 1 - $5K Claimers N3X

Loo-Zee-Anna bred fillies and mares 4yo’s↑ going six furlongs

With a Beyer Par Rating of 59, only two horses in this field have raced to that number. #4 Get Directions (3/1), who just hit a 60 at the course and distance on December 11. This was after a loss in a N2L $17.5 claimer where she was not close. Prior to that, she spent seven attempts at breaking maiden. You must decide whether this $5K claim level is her garden spot where she will repeat, improve, or digress. Or did she have an outlier day and trip and will be beaten? Having a propensity to believe the latter, #6 Money In The Stars (5/2) looks likelier to get the win. First off the claim for Chris Hartman (see below under hot trainers), she put up a 62 at TP while pressing the leader throughout. She wound up making place dinero. Two back, she scored another 62 at Keeneland and with her two recent works, she should be there. Jockey switch to Mitch Murrill a big bonus as he and Hartman are a 29% winning team.

4-6

Race 2 - $35K/C Optional Claiming

Cajun 4yo’s↑ running a mile taken off turf and on dirt.

Trainer Chris Richard is a 20% winner with horses from dirt to turf and that is what makes Freddy and David’s songsake #2 Underpressure (10/1) a compelling choice. #7 Pound For Pound (8/1) won his last in convincing style at Delta in a 7.5 furlongs $35K OC, N3X, notching an 89 Beyer and figures to be closing late. Trainer Andrea Ali hot for the last thirty days with 25% winners. Aubrie Green in the irons and she has been struggling of late winning at just a 6% clip. This grandson of Mineshaft appears to be heading for a big ol’ bounce. #3 Changi (10/1) has a 4:1-1-0 for $39K at the track and 6:2-1-0 for $47K at the distance and is owned by Twitter bud Al Ulwelling. Mitch Murrill gets the mount and he has faced tougher, albeit on turf.

The one to beat is the classy Underpressure who won $30K per time raced last year. Second off a long layoff and his last a toss because of the mud, he is my choice.

Single #2

Race 3 $10K Maiden Claiming

La Bred Fillies and mares 3yo↑ going five furlongs

Yes, it is normally not a good proposition to bet a maiden who has not hit in twelve tries; however, #4 G’s Mile (4/1) is a speed favoring 4-year-old that is getting a much needed turn back in distance and class drop from msw to mcl. This will be her second race off the layoff and first time with Sturges Ducoing’s care (20%). Bullet work of 36 not that big of a tell as most thoroughbreds can do that, yet it does point to her condition. You can never count out Ron Faucheux in mcl races and his #5 Mollys Flyin High (7/2) has the early speed to set the pace, is third off the layoff and has raced above today’s Beyer par of 42. #2 Open Tab (9/2) second time out who projects to par today, gets 2^nd Lasix and leading rider Mitch Murrill.

4-5-2

$1 Ticket 4-6/2/4-5-2 = $6

1^st Lasix Maiden Finished 3^rd Or Better in Last

FG8 Koufax

2^nd Lasix MCL Finished 3^rd Or Better in Last

GP1 Anonymous Source

TuP5 Flash Of Glory

Trainer 20% Or Better First Off The Claim

CT6 Derek’s Boy

GP4 Monte Ne

Sam7 Raging Gold Digger

Jockey 25% In Routes

CT Bocachica

· 1^st Ragtime Cowboy Joe

· 5^th Cool Mo

· 6^th Never Compromise

· 7^th Hetty G

Trainer 25% In Routes

None Today

Hot Jockey For Week

CT

· Bocachica

GP

· Carlos Montalvo

· Benny Landeros

TP

· Rafael Bejarano

· Perry Ouzts,

TuP

· Luis Negron

Hot Trainer For Week

CT

· Michael Sandoval

· Irving Velez

· Kevin Patterson

· Laura Carson

· Manolo Manguel

DeD

· Joel Berndt

· Randy Degeyter, Jr.

· Ron Moquett

· Peter DeRousselle

· Anthony Arey

FG

· Emile Schwandt

· Chris Hartman (30% last 30 days)

· Sturges Ducoing (20% with 1^st time in barn)

· Hugh Robertson

· Tom Amoss

GP

· Paul Kopaj

· Mark Hennig

· Todd Pletcher

· Peter Walder

· Victoria Oliver

Sam –

· Paul Duhon

· Ron Moquet

· Todd Fincher

· Tina Hurley

· Brian Williamson

TP –

· Lilia Gonzalez

· John Ortiz

· Jonathan Thomas

· Stephen Sandy

· Reeve McGaughey

TuP

· Justin Evans

· Don Schnell

· Scott Rollins

· Nancy Summers

· Fred Danley

Key Races That Count

CT8 – Miss Forester

DeD2 – Miss Ocean Express

DeD9 – Jo Jo’s Halo

FG2 – Underpressure

FG4 – Media Mendacity

FG8 – Koufax

GP2 – Check Carismatica and if she does well, check the 7^th for Dizzy & Tiz Enough

GP8 – Tropicat

Sam 2 – Hi Skool Sweetheart

Sam 5 – Generator

Sam 7 – AJ’s Grand

Sam10 – Keeping Secrets

TP1 – Guilder

TP4 – Dance Or Stroll, My Dark Secret, Tempestuous Amy

TuP3 – Offensive

Horses In My Virtual Stable

GP4 – Monte Ne – Kelly Breen 31% off claim

GP6 – Discretionary Marq – Breen, again

DeD 7 – Kinlee’s Song – Karl 20% off claim

Tup6 – King Parker – Juan Pablo Silva 11% off claim

FG9 – Available Star – Karl 24% off claim

Sam6 – Vice Versa – Diodoro claim 2 back, won last

Sam7 – Raging Gold Digger – Danny Pish 25% off claim

CT4 – Uncut – Ronney Brown 18% with won last

CT6 – Derek’s Boy – Farrior 33% off claim, 33% won last