Horse Racing Fair Grounds Monday (12/26): Gun Runner, Untappable Take Top Billing

[James]

Monday at Fair Grounds features a slew of stakes races. Perhaps none bigger than the Gun Runner and Untappable which pay homage to 2 of racing’s great superstars.

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 1​

Post: 12:00 PM CT; $60k Allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #8 BASALT STREET (3-1) gets the top selection. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #3 MAESTRIA (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #9 CANDY'S PRIDE (10-1) goes out for the Wilson barn and gets Castillo in the irons.
• #5 SHESABEAUTYDANCER (9-2) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 8 – 3 – 9 – 5

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 2​

Post: 12:30 PM CT; $60k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 12

• #9 EL DEAL ME ACES (8-1) is the top pick. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Calhoun and Gutierrez.
• #101 ANDERS SMILE (9-2) looks to be the class of the field. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #8 ALLNIGHT MOONLIGHT (7-2) should improve off the first start and has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #10 WISHERT (12-1) is a price horse that feels like it could outrun the odds.

Selections: 9 – 10- 8 – 10

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 3​

Post: 1:00 PM CT; $100k Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial S. going 1 mile 70 yards on dirt; Entries: 5

• #5 CHARLIE'S PENNY (7-5) looks best here. She should enjoy this level of competition.
• #3 POWDER RIVER (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #4 LIL KINGS PRINCESS (6-1) comes into the race in really good form.
• #1 MOON SWAG (5-2) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 4 – 1

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 4​

Post: 1:30 PM CT; $100k Sugar Bowl S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #6 LATE SEPTEMBER (7-2) gets the top selection. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 ALTO ROAD (8-1) has races good enough to beat this group. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #3 CORONA BOLT (8-5) should improve off the first start and has to be respected going out for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #5 TODDCHERO (9-2) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 3 – 5

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 5​

Post: 2:00 PM CT; $60k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #8 SENSE YOU ASKED (8-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. The debut effort would make him a likely winner.
• #4 RATE CONFIRMATION (8-1) seems to fit well enough here. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #10 GAMETIME GLADIATOR (9-2) debuts here and has to be respected going out for the combination of Calhoun and Gutierrez.
• #3 WOODYTHEBIDSPOTTER (3-1) is trained by Cox who looks to first call Florent Geroux on debut.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 10- 3

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 6​

Post: 2:30 PM CT; $100k Blushing K. D. S. going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 8

• #4 CARPE VINUM (7-2) looks best here. She looks to be the class of the field. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 LAKE LUCERNE (7-2) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #6 A MO REAY (3-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.
• #2 MO CLARE'S (8-1) makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 6 – 2

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 7​

Post: 3:00 PM CT; $60k Maiden Special Weight going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 13

• #8 MOBSTER (9-2) gets the top selection. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #1 SPIELMAN (7-2) has races good enough to beat this group and should be sitting a tactical trip.
• #3 BANISHING (5-1) should improve off the first start and that puts him in the mix.
• #12 PYRENEES (5-1) comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 8 – 1 – 3 – 12

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 8​

Post: 3:30 PM CT; $100k Letellier Memorial S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 DAZZLING BLUE (5-2) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. She has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #8 TWICE AS SWEET (4-1) comes into the race in really good form. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #4 PROMISE OF HOPE (7-2) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #3 NEUTRALIZE (6-1) will need to take a step forward off the debut but, if she does she’s a player.

Selections: 2 – 8 – 4 – 3

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 9​

Post: 4:00 PM CT; $100k Richard R. Scherer Memorial S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #2 MILES AHEAD (5-2) looks best here. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #7 MANNY WAH (3-1) comes into the race in really good form. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #1 BANGO (7-2) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #3 TULANE TRYST (9-2) makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 2 – 7 – 1 – 3

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 10​

Post: 4:30 PM CT; $100k Buddy Diliberto Memorial S. going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 11

• #6 SPOOKY CHANNEL (4-1) gets the top selection. He will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #10 RUNNIN' RAY (7-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.
• #8 SPANISH KINGDOM (5-1) looks to be the class of the field.
• #4 BIZZEE CHANNEL (6-1) isn't without hope. He seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 6 – 10- 8 – 4

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 11​

Post: 5:00 PM CT; $100k Gun Runner S. going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 7

Determinedly | HRN

• #3 DETERMINEDLY (7-2) is the top pick. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #2 JACE'S ROAD (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures.
• #6 RAISE CAIN (8-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 HAYES STRIKE (7-2) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 6 – 1

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 12​

Post: 5:30 PM CT; $100k Untapable S. going 1 mile 70 yards on dirt; Entries: 10

• #1 PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (3-1) looks best here. She could get the right setup in this race.
• #4 VAHVA (7-2) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #6 THE ALYS LOOK (4-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 ALL ABOUT ME (6-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 6 – 7

Fair Grounds Race Course- Race 13​

Post: 6:00 PM CT; $100k Tenacious S. going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 13

• #5 FORZA DI ORO (7-2) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #3 INTREPID HEART (9-2) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.
• #1 BUSINESS MODEL (15-1) has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #9 HAPPY AMERICAN (6-1) may benefit from a hot pace up front.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 1 – 9