st: no opinion
2nd: # 2 Bank On Andy, the favorite, looks like the logical winner. He was hindered by post position 12 in his last race on the Indiana Grand turf. His two prior races at Indiana Grand had slow paces which disadvantaged his closing style. Today’s pace looks swift on paper (prior to scratches) with # 1, 7 and 8 all wanting the lead.
Bank On Andy reunites with Declan Cannon, who rode him to a 19-1 upset win earlier this year at Indiana Grand.
3rd: This race looks like another with a potentially hot pace. Of the closers, I prefer # 6 Red Corvette. Owner/trainer Gary Scherer reclaimed him in August at Arlington Park after losing him the previous race, a sign of confidence. He didn’t have much chance last out at Hawthorne after they crawled through an opening half mile in :51 2/5.
# 4 Gustnado has the best numbers and is a contender but appears to be heading in the wrong direction at the end of his 6 year old campaign. # 1 Theoryintopractice is logical at a low price.
4th: no opinion
5th: no opinion
6th: # 4 Fire Lake loves Fair Grounds, with a record of 7: 3-3-1 on the main track. He’s been working out here for almost three months and looks to be pointing to this race. My primary contender is # 9 Wicked Stride. Although he’s primarily a turf horse, his one previous dirt race was promising (an allowance route at Churchill Downs). I think he’ll be closing fast.
7th: Yet another race that appears to set up for the closers. I pick # 10 Magic Vow. He’s been running in a lot of stakes races. Great workout a week ago, :48 flat, sharp sign of fitness for a horse without early speed.
The primary contenders are # 7, Ninety One Assault, and # 6 Mageez. The latter often hits the board but wins are less frequent, just 1 for 16 the past two years. Ninety One Assault likes Fair Grounds and is in good form, but that’s no secret to bettors after his near miss at Belmont last month.
8th: The horses in this race are below par for the class. Races like that are ripe for an upset. My pick is # 4 Star Yankee, who has never missed the exacta in a dirt sprint. Contention runs deep in this race as I can make some sort of case for the whole field.
9th:
# 10 Tupelo Hon E
Exits key race at Indiana Grand. Four horses came back to win their next race, and two more finished second.