It’s a brand New Year! And, a brand new start. A new lease. A fresh beginning. We will be adding some things to our picks this year, and we will be giving you a daily report on how well we did the day before and the “Year to Date.”

As we get started, this is no better place to journey south for a little racing and handicapping that the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Today, the track welcomes my good friend, Joe Kristufek, as their paddock TV host and their new racetrack analyst. Joe performs these duties regularly at Churchill Downs, and several other racetracks around North America. And, to be very honest, he is as good as they come in the business. You would only be so lucky to have him as a studio host, or regular commentator on any telecast of horse racing. His comments are succinct and spot on. His handicapping is very solid. And, his selections and “value placed betting strategy” are as good as anyone in the business. Here’s my first tip of the day: “Pay Attention to Joe. He is really good.”

Now, onward and upward. Here are my selections for today’s card:

1st…2-3-7-8-1…I get a real solid number on Run Your Race (2) in the first race of 2018 at the Fair Grounds. This one is getting a huge drop from the MSW ranks all the way to MC15 today for a trainer that does a solid job on this type of class relief. In addition, this one has ben flashing a lot of speed early on while routing. He will be shortened up to 6Fs today, and this will be his second start off a little layoff. No Limit (3) ran a well-beaten second at this level two back at Churchill Downs. According to my good friends over at Brisnet, this trainer scores with .37% on horses dropping down two class levels or more. This one fits that description. Jersey Town Cat (7) has never been close in 8 career starts to date, but is another dropping to the lowest level ever today. Hmmm. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the 2-3-7 in one small exacta and then box the 2-3-8 in a smaller one.

2nd: 2-7-5-6-4…Iquique (2) is a filly that I touted here on Dec. 1, and she won by a nose that day to break her maiden for a $25,000 tag. Now, she moves up to face winners for the first time and that is a tough condition and hill to climb, I know. Still, she has returned to train well since the win and she keeps one of the hottest riders in the land in Joe Bravo. Bravo and trainer Michael Stidham have teamed up to win with 40% of their last 20 horses. Heavenly Kingdom (7) is the horse to beat — no doubt. This one broke her maiden in September at Kentucky Downs for $75,000. Came back and was a forward presence in an allowance at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5, before fading late. Trainer had a super 2017, and no reason to believe that he can’t do it again in 2018. This one had a nice breeze here on Christmas Eve. Holiday Music (5) gets a nice class drop in here, and may be a real nice claim for someone with $30,000 to spend. A Harlan’s Holiday filly out of a Ghostzapper mare — who was Stakes placed. She has produced 1 turf winner, to date, out of two starters. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in the exacta.

3rd: 4-5-7-6-2…Efforting (4) is the 6-5 ML favorite and should be a solid PT favorite, as well. Looked good here sprinting on Dec. 8 in her first try since July. Got tired late in that one, but still held second. Has come back to work super here on Dec. 23 and looks to be mighty tough in this spot against LA-breds only. Has 2 wins and 4 seconds in 7 career starts, and may move up a notch today if she can catch a more solid footing than the slop last time. My first Best Bet of the Day — if you can get 4-5 odds or higher. I bet the 4 to win/place and then key over/under all the others listed in the exactas.

4th: 1-7-8-5-6…Zorzor (1) is a Bodemeister colt who will be making his first start ever for Brad Cox, who picked up this one’s training duties after he tired in a 11/16-mile turf event at Churchill Downs back in November. Trained very nicely here over the dirt on Dec. 15, and the trainer hits with .24% of those making their debut with this barn. Should figure prominently from the start, and the shorter distance today has to help. Cumulative (7) went an endurance route at Aqueduct on Nov. 25, fading late in that one. Was claimed from Chad Brown two starts back, when he closed well to be third. This trainer hits with .24% from those making the second start after the claim. Picks up Bravo for this one and is the horse to beat in here. She’s Ready (8) goes for the barn of Steve Asmussen, and he rallied well to finish second in a MSW race at Kentucky Downs back in September. Will be stretching out today, but did have a nice work at Evangeline on Dec. 23. I bet the 1 to win/place/show and then box the 1-7 solidly in one exacta. I then key the 1-7 over/under the other numbers in smaller versions.

5th: 1-3-2-4-7…Whateverybodywants (1) is my first Upset Special. This 5YO gelding was claimed two races back when he won at this level over the Churchill Downs surface. In the first start after the purchase, the new connections tried to put him on the grass, but it was washed off and he muddled around in the slop from an outside post, and against much tougher. Absolutely no chance in that one and a complete toss out. Picks up a nice rider switch, and gets back to the same level that he had two seconds at Keeneland and the win at CD. Love the 12-1 ML here. Mineyerownmalone (3) had back to back wins snapped in the last out — which was a move to the grass course for the first time in a long while. Gets back to the dirt surface today, which he much prefers, and gets a huge rider switch to Corey Lanerie. Has a shot in this spot. No Funny Biz (2) is coming off a win where he was claimed last time out at Hawthorne. New trainer scores with .35% of those making the barn debut. Worked well here on Dec. 15, too. Has a nice stalking style, and gets a nice rider up. I bet the 1 to win/place/show and then key the 1 over/under the rest of the numbers listed.

6th: 5-6-7-1-4…A really competitive field lines up for this 51/2-furlong sprint over the grass course — which is restricted to LA-breds only. Persuade me Lady (5) was claimed two starts back and immediately paid some dividends with a convincing 51/4-length victory for the new barn on Oct. 21 at Delta Downs. Has had some time away, but looks to be training forwardly for this one and the trainer hits with .29% of those coming off this type of layoff. Has run the grass sprint 4 times and has hit the board in 3 — despite no win yet. I think she moves up a notch today. Betsy’s C C (6) ran in a restricted Stakes event the last time out and has been facing much tougher. She will make her grass debut today and the trainer wins with .10% of those trying the turf. Has speed going longer and that will be put to the test today, but I love the work on Dec. 27. Looks primed.  Fancy Madelyn (7) may be the horse to beat. She tried Stakes company in her last after being claimed off a win two back. Here’s the kicker: She has run over this grass course 6 times in her life — with 5 wins and a third. Hard to beat those credentials. I bet the 5-7 to win/place/show and then box those two solidly in the exacta. I key the 5-7 over the rest of the numbers in a small saver.

7th: 6-5-4-8-3-2…Grandma’s Princess (6) gets a solid class advantage over these others in this spot. After breaking her maiden on June 12, 2016, her connections tried her in three straight Stakes events. Was off from September of ’16 until Dec. 10 here, when she was tried sprinting over the grass course against much tougher. Today, she is on sale at the $15,000 price tag. If she can show any of her previous talents, she airs this group — making her a solid Best Bet at ML odds of 6-1. Can’t pass that up. Meadow Gem (5) fired a good shot in her last out here on Dec. 10, nearly winning this same condition and level. Gets the same rider back for a high percentage barn. Trainer wins with .35% on second timers after the claim. Archusexy (4) faded in her last try and has thrown three poor efforts in a row. Before that, though, she won 4 of 5 in a row. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then key the 6 over/under all the numbers listed in this group.

8th: 13-1-14-5-10-12…A wide open Turf event going a mile. But the picture really clears up if this one comes off the grass. If it does, I slam Go Google Yourself (13) and Saguaro Row (14). The former had a really impressive win two back and caught a really good one in Cosmic Burst, who has already returned to win again, in the last. If it stays on the grass, though, I go solid on the inside with Deadline (1), who hails from the Ken McPeek barn. She broke her maiden on Nov. 11 in style, drawing off to win by nearly 5 lengths over a good one who just returned to run well at Gulfstream Park. A return to the grass today would surely help this one, who likes to make one run — late. Pretty Lady (5) is coming off a MSW win here on Nov. 25. But she has talent. The run on the turf in the Natalma at Woodbine two back was solid –and she finished ahead of Wonder Gadot in that one. Take note. On the grass, I bet the 1-5 across the board and book them solid in one exacta and key them over the “all button” in another. If it comes off the grass, I go with the 13-14.

9th: 6-1-7-3…Mas Mischief gets the free fall drop all the way from $30,000 to $5,000. If this doesn’t wake him up, nothing can. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then key the 6 over/under the others listed.