Louisiana Downs week in review (August 21st-24th)
Louisiana Downs week in review (August 21-24)
by Jarrod Horak (Louisiana Downs Track Handicapper/TV Host)
The winners keep on rolling (knock on wood) with 10 top selections getting the job done, including a smokin’ Saturday with 4 tops and 4 trifectas. 3rd straight Best Bet winner Mz. Myrtle ($5.20) kicked off the racing week, and I finished the week on a high note with suggested Majestic Commander/Triple Points Day best bet exacta returning a sweet $61.60.
Thursday (August 21st)
Off the turf and drying out main track upgraded to fast by the 8th race. Four wire jobs with inside lanes best, especially during the first half of the card. Track and lanes seemed to switch to the fair side as the day wore on.
Flamingo Key (race 3) collared loose on the lead inside speedster Aggressive Gold to get through this 2L extended sprint. Lightly raced Andrew Leggio Jr. trainee has plenty of upside and is worth following. Beaten fav Elluna (race 4) was claimed by Pam Simpson, and watch for her money rider Donnie Meche to hop aboard next time. Bamboo Gap (race 6) was the overbet fav in this compact off the turf extended sprint. He ended up an okay 3rd behind a pair of better main track performers, and the Sam David Jr. runner can rebound on the turf next time.
Four wins for John Jacinto to kick off the week, and hard charging trainer Pat Mouton saddled a pair of winners.
Friday (August 22nd)
Fast main track and off the turf again. Four more wire jobs with outside rallying types winning a few as well.
Shawklit Royale was the beaten fav (2nd by a neck) in the opener, and he was nabbed out of the heat by claiming artist Jerry Cart, who is 41% 1st off the claim. Illuminique (race 2) continued her sharp form with a good looking wire job, and she was re-claimed once again by Jan Haynes/Jorge Lara. Miss Beccas Gold (race 5) flopped as the fav stretching back out 1st off the Jorge Lara claim. Joe Duhon bought her back, and maybe he turns her back in distance and reunites with Torres next time. Maybe she is best as a late running sprinter after all. Clear place finisher Windaroo (race 6) was much improved 2nd time out, and the Pat Mouton runner was getting to wire job winner Regent Rules in the late stages. Disappointing best bet Dot’s Imp (race 7) had no visible excuses but did face some decent droppers and is worth playing back.
Hat trick for Carlos Gonzalez, and Francisco Torres/Joe Duhon teamed up for a pair of wins.
Saturday (August 23rd)
Fast track before late day rains made the finale sloppy. Soft turf feature the only race to be run on the grass all week. Only one wire job over a main track that clearly favored stalkers and closers.
Galfriend (race 3) ended up 3rd as the fav, and Cody Autrey has her now…look out next time. I Know I’m Special (race 5) landed the place as the fav behind her uncoupled stablemate, and she was claimed by the recently hot Dewaine Loy. She will not be a maiden much longer. Note that Loy won the 4th with Fridaydathirteenth, and he re-claimed 5th place finisher Crafty Earl. Expect the latter to attempt a wire job under fav pilot Gonzalez next time. Autobeacat (race 9) sat the right ground saving tracking trip under Donnie Meche en route to a good looking $100k World Series of Poker triumph. Sister Ticket (race 10) surprisingly drifted up to 4-1 in the finale, and the turf/dirt winner was turning back to a preferred main track sprint. The betting public seemingly forgot how impressive she was in her 3rd place debut after blowing the break and galloping out strongly.
Hat trick for Donnie Meche, including his 11th turf winner since July 11th, and two more wins for Carlos Gonzalez and Francisco Torres.
Sunday (August 24th)
Fast track and off the turf. Four wire jobs to conclude the week as the track profile definitely shifted from the day before.
A pair of favs in the maiden ranks failed to deliver the goods on the track after getting fractious in the paddock. Opening Wild (race 2) and Channel Surfer (race 5) were the culprits, and the latter was especially wound up (flipped). Both finished 4th and are worth a gander next time if their behavior mellows out. Louisianalagniappe (race 8) was pitched over her head in a tough optional claiming feature, and she never got involved in last place finish. Sustained runner won a state bred $15k extended sprint claimer on July 13th, and she moves to the sharp Keith Bourgeois barn via claim. Best bet Triple Points Day chased lone speed Master Commander while 4-wide and fought hard to hold the place.
Rider of the week Carlos Gonzalez added a pair on Sunday and ended the week with 7 winners. Leading rider Don Simington only booted home two in an off week.
Dewaine Loy continued his scorching August with 3 more wins, and the aforementioned Gonzalez rode all three. Leading trainer Jorge Lara saddled a pair of winners on Sunday, and Jan Haynes owned both.
Tags: Autobeacat, Harrah's Louisiana Downs, week in review, World Series of PokerRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Trainers
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