What a wonderful Friday to jump on an early weekend binge of horse racing. The card at The Fair Grounds is intriguing, difficult, challenging and potentially rewarding. We went to our good friends at www.brisnet.com for all our handicapping needs and tools today. Occasionally, I will insert some of their picks in here, too. Here is a closer look at our selections and plays for today:

1st: 1-6-5-2…I waiver from the BRISNET numbers in here and go with the second time starter for trainer Steve Asmussen, who is starting to warm up at his winter home in New Orleans. This one ran unimpressive debut at Retama on debut, but she was steady throughout. She goes for a high percentage trainer (.20% this year) and gets a top rider to pilot. I think she can improve mightily with the class drop and against LA-breds only. Desert Empress (6) is the top pick for BRISNET and I can see why, dropping out of MSW ranks to this level for a high percentage trainer and the meet’s leading rider. As my friend’s point out, the trainer wins with .29% when dropping from MSW to MC. Bulletsandbourbon (5) gets a drop in class today, as well, for a trainer who is still looking for his first win of the meet, after 20 starts. Should break that string soon, but don’t see it happing with this filly. I bet the 1 to win/place/show and then box the 1-6 in one exacta and then key those two over the rest in another.

2nd: 6-1-3-2-4…Star’s Bella Vita (6) gets the drop into the claiming ranks for the first time today after a bid and fade effort against much tougher at Keeneland in October. Will push the pace from the outside post and should appreciate the shorter distance in this spot. How Sweet It Is (1) has hit the board in the last 8 tries and has a couple of wins mixed in there, as well. Will drop in class and get back on the grass for this effort today, and this filly is by Scat Daddy — who loves the green. Can’t dismiss. Promises Broken (3) gets in at 6-1 ML odds for a hot trainer/jock combo — who have combined to win .39% of their races over the last 60 tries. Will try the grass for the first time, but has the breeding to do it on first ask. I bet the 1 (take note) to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta.

3rd: 6-5-7-1…Easy Geaux (6) takes a huge plunge down the ladder today, and this trainer does well with the drop. BRISNET points out that the trainer hits with .52% of those taking a drop of 2+ classes, which this one does today. Go two back, and she broke her maiden at Delta Downs with a nice closing kick. I look for a repeat of that performance today. Lookin At Grace (5) bombed in her last try at Indy back in October, but is making a significant drop, as well for a new trainer. Might like the lighter company in here at a price. Dollar Dancer (7) and Miss Dreamsicle (1) both have a shot, too. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then key the 6 over/under all the rest in the exactas.

4th: 7-6-8-1-4…Boomtiderock (7) had a rough go of it in the last try, but I toss that one as this filly returns to the dirt and her preferred surface. She gets a huge jockey change, as well, and this trainer takes to the bottom with the drop and he does well with this big of a change in company (.23%). Had two nice ones in a row and now plunges to the bottom. Take note. Native Wahoo (6) has been facing tougher for a barn off to a bit of a slow start this meet. She gets the huge drop today, as well and gets back to the dirt, where she appears to be much more comfortable. Red Hot Cherry (8) has been right in the mix of things against tougher ones. Will be stalking the leaders and will get the first jump on the pace-setters. I bet the 7 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta.

5th: 5-1-2-3-6…My first Best Bet of the Day comes here with Tip Tap Tapizar (5), who posted a couple of thirds against the likes of Classic Empire and Gunnevera last year. Won the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park  as a 2YO, too. Has not hit the board in 5 starts this year, but one was the G3 Lecompte here in January and 3 of the others have been against state-bred Stakes competitors. Looked like he woke up a bit in the last try and with any improvement off that, he should be tough in here today. Gets a top jock aboard, as well. I bet the 5 to win/place and then key the 5 over/under all the others.

6th: 9-8-2-6-7…The outside post positions have been difficult to overcome the early part of the meet, but I am going out there to pick off a 6-1 ML longshot here. Hud (9) gets a nice class drop and will be making his third start since a long layoff. Picks up a top rider, who has struggled in the early going of this meet but is sure to catch fire soon. If this deep closer can negotiate a clean trip, he may be motoring at the end. Conquest Mystique (8) is a speedy type who will try to hold the rest of these off in the late going. Shortening up a bit today will not hurt, and will be making his third start off a layoff, too. May be primed. Keep It Up (2) goes for a trainer off to a nice beginning here, and picks up a hot jockey in Mitchell Murrill. Had a nice work here and the class drop should help. I bet the 9 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta and then key those 3 over the rest in another.

7th: 8-5-7-2-10…Good Play (8) is my second Best Bet. Trainer Brad Cox is off to a red-hot start here (.36%) and this one just missed as the near 2-1 favorite in his debut try on Nov. 12 at Churchill Downs. This 2YO son of Majestic Warrior broke slowly in that one, and still made the lead late before tiring at the wire. A better break today and these connections could be getting their picture taken again. Oakmont (5) comes out of that same race and ran just behind the preferred choice. He was well back in that try and was gaining late. Gets Corey Lanerie back in the saddle today and this one has trained OK over this track in prep. Look for him late. Magnanimus Man (7) goes for Tom Amoss, who has 4 wins and 7 seconds in his first 20 tries this meet. This one was claimed two back and was horrible when moving up to $50MC. Now gets the plunge and should benefit from the class drop. Always wonder about this big a drop. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then key the 8 over/under all the numbers listed.

8th: 4-6-5-1-9…If it gets moved off the grass, then I have to use the #10. If not, I get a “dot” (must use) on Path of David (4) in this spot. Was beaten just a head in his last try here on Nov. 24 as the overwhelming favorite, but the trainer hits with .37% with those returning from that situation. Looks like his stalking style will put him in a perfect spot to move up a notch today. Methuselah (6) is only 3 years old, despite his name, and comes into this one off a 2-length victory. He moves up in class after popping that condition, but has now put up 2 wins in 3 career starts for a red-hot barn. Can’t dismiss this guy. King of All Media (5) has hit the board in each of the last three tries and comes off a 51/2 length win here on Nov. 26. Rider picks the #6 today, though, and that may be telling. I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta and then key those 3 over the rest in another.

9th: 3-11-2-12-7…Today’s finale is a 51/2-furlong event for LA-breds at the $5,000 level. Tough spot, but I go to Outback Jack (3), who hasn’t faced state-breds of this type since March. Gets a huge plunge in class for this one and I think will be very tough to handle in this crowd. I would love to get the 7-2 ML odds. Caleb Hawk (11) is caught way wide and that is a tough post to negotiated. Has some speed going long, but doesn’t appear to have sharp enough to get the lead at this distance. Did win for much higher price last year and is coming off a long layoff. Bullet work here on Nov. 30 indicates he may be ready enough. Phil Up Da Bank (2) gets Lanerie to stick around for the last race today, and there must be a reason? I use. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then key the 3 over/under all the rest in the exactas.

Good Luck &

All the Best/Gene