Daily Handicapping

It's Closing Day and we have a "slight" shortfall in our season bankroll to overcome, but it ain't over yet! We're looking for some bombs to key in our exotics. #2 PLEASANT PACKY already has two nice wins this season, both of which came with top jock Robby Albarado on board. Even though this is the 6-year-old gelding's first turf attempt (in his 20th start), Robby sticks with him for a trainer that has had a solid meet. Note that Robby and Jake are an impressive 6-for-13 teaming up this season. Despite his age, Pleasant Packy is running as well as he ever has this meet. Those are some pretty decent angles for a horse that's the longest shot on the morning line at 20-1. It's closing day, what the heck, let's go for a big one and single him in the Pick Three.

I promised only double-digit morning line Value Plays for closing weekend so it's feast or famine for me today. Will I celebrate the end of the meet with a sizzling filet at the Crescent City Steak House or with barbacoa tacos from the truck that parks in front of Home Depot on North Carrollton Avenue? #2 NOT GROUNDED has only one career start on turf, in a minor stakes last summer at Louisiana Downs. That was also his only previous attempt against non-Louisiana-breds. He fared pretty well, setting the pace and opening up a one-length lead in the stretch before fading in the final strides to finish a close fourth. He comes off a disappointing effort at Delta but got a few weeks off after that and has been fairly consistent most of his career. He's a multiple state-bred stakes winner on dirt and if the turf moves him up a bit as it did before I would not be surprised to see him in the mix. He's 10-1 on the morning line and could float up higher as one of four who have been projected at that price, the highest in the race. Hmm, maybe I'll get the mushrooms and au gratin potatoes with that steak.

#4 IDESEEYOUINHOUSTON won a $44,000 state-bred maiden special weight in his 29th career start in January. From there he did the reasonable thing and gave allowance company two tries, but neither effort went well, resulting in distant 20-length-plus defeats. Despite his long history of disappointments before this season he has had a respectable meet, with two other board finishes before the maiden win. The public will likely overlook a horse coming off two hopeless efforts, but clearly he was overmatched. Today he drops in for a $10,000 tag in a race worth $29,000 less in purse money. He will find this more to his liking and if he can find that sub-1:13 form again he has a real shot to upset this bunch. He's 10-1 on the morning line and that's the kind of price we'd like to key our final Daily Double of the meet. In racing you're more than a spectator because the parimutuel handle is what makes the sport run, so thanks for choosing to play Fair Grounds and helping to make this one of the best seasons in track history. See you in November!