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Brian W. Spencer's Daily Picks
Fair Grounds - Race #3
Fair Grounds - Race #4
Fair Grounds - Race #8
Fair Grounds - Race #3
| #1 Basti Blue | He didn't show a whole lot in the comeback run at Delta, but he ran a couple decent races here last year, and I really like the fact that he has a comeback race under his belt ahead of this. |
| #2 Relic Hunter | He's probably supposed to be tough here off the layoff for a barn that has had a lot of early season success here in recent years, but I also wouldn't be against making her prove it with the locals as she only has the one solid run in Opelousas. |
| #7 Go Brother Go | Think he might be a decent option from a bit further off the pace, but the price probably gets quite a bit shorter after outrunning the odds with softer at Louisiana Downs at 35/1. |
| Race Summary | Basti Blue has some appeal at a mid-range price while bringing flat form, but his best work has come over the local footing and there is upside today off that last run. |
| #4 Uninvited Guest | His two local tries were both pretty solid, and I think he's capable of something a bit better than he showed in that last try at Horseshoe Indianapolis. First jump chance here at what I'm hoping will be something a bit better than the 5/1 ML price? Capable on the main, too, if it comes to that. |
| #9 Dust Em | He only goes on the main today, but he brings form that makes him look like the right one if this gets rained over. |
| #8 Beachcombing | He has done some good work over the local footing and should be in line for a tactical trip right up near the splits. Think he's maybe a bit overbet in a competitive race, but he'd be no surprise here. |
| Race Summary | My main piece of advice in turf routes here is this: give a long look to everything Brian Hernandez, Jr. rides going long on the grass once he gets here from Churchill. He was heads and shoulders above the rest of the colony here last year in these two-turn races. Uninvited Guest gets the edge here with a chance on either surface. |
| #4 Chattalot | Guessing he got something out of that comeback run when showing speed and fading badly at Keeneland, but I imagine that was meant to get a race into him ahead of a winter sprint campaign. He might be the most committed early in a race with players who want to settle just a bit and finish. Front-end threat. |
| #3 Surveillance | He's a pretty honest finisher with a ceiling high enough to win this if he runs his best race, and I think there are some fairly appealing names in the company lines. Mild worry about the race shape, but he wouldn't be a shock. |
| #6 Carribean Caper | She's in with the boys for the first time while cutting back a furlong off her first career loss last time out, and she might get a decent enough go of things from a spying spot. Her only local try produced a romping maiden win. |
| Race Summary | Chattalot gets a pretty strong lean for me in the feature, as two of his best lifetime races came at this exact local trip, and I think he might be quick enough to control the tempo while the rest sort themselves out behind him. |
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