Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Marcus Hersh handicaps the Monday, March 16 racing card at Fair Grounds, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 2.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Authentic Angel (2nd race)
Second Race
1. Authentic Angel
2. Undisputable
3. Ice Cold Blonde
Think AUTHENTIC ANGEL has at least a little more sprint speed than she showed when cut back to this 6f trip on Dec. 26. Apparently needed (or just was given) some time after that, only appearing back on the work tab 2/21. Since has logged three drills in steady succession and set to get back to her best racing fresh at a $15K N2L class level that’s the right spot. UNDISPUTABLE’s lone win among four starts came on turf, and she’s done little in two dirt races. Both, however, came against stronger competition, and she returns on a class drop with blinkers on and a very encouraging work pattern. ICE COLD BLONDE a decent and early-troubled fifth facing slightly higher-priced N2L claimers in her first start with other winners. Her open-lengths maiden score two back came against only four foes.
Here are Marcus’ thoughts on the other eight races on Monday’s Fair Grounds card.
First Race
1. Go North Boss
2. Hannah Boo
3. Goodmorning Gracie
Maybe GO NORTH BOSS can’t even run enough to factor in an La-bred $10K maiden – but the jury’s still out, and her career debut suggested she might do here. What we see from the debut is that the horse does have some early speed that she wasn’t able to show following a poor break last out in her first try down at the bottom. That was Feb. 4, and while modest, the run marked sharp improvement from her previous try. Barn that during ’25 hit at 33% on volume has given her time, two suggested Delta works for this. HANNAH BOO in one sense very logical off the solid debut showing. However, connections passed on two subsequent races at this level while the filly has worked just once since her 1/16 race. There are issues, apparently, and she lacks speed. GOODMORNING GRACIE more likely to go backward than forward after missing by a nose last out at this level, her fifth defeat while facing $10K maidens.
Third Race
1. Foxtrot Harry
2. Boitano
3. Mister Muldoon
While it was a conditioned rather than an open claimer, the Feb. 16 grass race that FOXTROT HARRY exits probably was a stronger race top to bottom than the $10K claimers / $5K starters that most of these horses have contested throughout the FG season. Moreover, after a pretty good closing fourth there, Foxtrot Harry comes back under starter allowance rather than claiming conditions, and his summer grass form shows a series of races validating that last one. New face in the division hits the mark. BOITANO to some extent lost last time because of a short route distance, 7 1/2 furlongs, and a horse, Red Road, who got a great trip. Still feel like his best efforts during a long win streak get him home there, and that his form could be slipping. MISTER MULDOON comes in fresh having skipped the February race at this level. Solid second to Boitano on Jan. 22 and like him best among the pace players.
Fourth Race
1. Majestical
2. A. P.’s Girl
3. Huck’s Agenda
MAJESTICAL ran so poorly in the Rachel Alexandra that the inclination, since she worked back in good time and runs back less than a month later, is to just throw it out. I actually picked her to win that race off a quietly strong debut defeat and a solid FG maiden route score. If she’s right, she should handle these four foes, but expect a much shorter price than the morning line. A. P.’S GIRL went blinkers off for her second dirt try and broke through with a pretty good-looking FG maiden score. To me, she’s clearly the biggest threat to her favored stablemate, but Majestical should have a pace edge. HUCK’S AGENDA will be at a tactical disadvantage stepping up to face stronger competition than she beat in the 2/27 FG off-turfer.
Fifth Race
1. Kin to the Wicked
2. Blissit
3. Miss Makeithappen
The WB Calhoun logical droppers like KIN TO THE WICKED have been hitting the mark. This is not an especially negative drop, either, La-bred N1X to conditioned $17.5K claiming, and her standard showing will get it done. BLISSIT a modest long-layoff Delta comeback start last time, but the better summer form suggests she has another level to hit second off the bench. Sent to FG for two post-comeback works. MISS MAKEITHAPPEN in and out form, but not only raced in allowance company last out while returning from a break, she was one level above the condition to which she’s eligible. Suggests she was prepping for this class drop.
Sixth Race
1. Ever Dangerous
2. Another Mystery
3. Frosty Blue
EVER DANGEROUS only recently came to Fair Grounds and into the Diodoro barn, and who knows, the circuit and stable change could lead to something different. But all the established form, at both Gulfstream and Woodbine, points him out as comfortably the most likely winner here. Typical trip gets him into the right stalking spot behind a contested pace. Old-timer ANOTHER MYSTERY drops down to a level he might still be able to handle after being freshened up after facing considerably tougher in December. FROSTY BLUE could get the same trip that yielded a second-place finish racing at this class level two back at FG.
Seventh Race
1. Kalatua
2. Kingofsomewherehot
3. General Graham
KALATUA did not do a lot of running in his two Delaware starts in October – but he did get in two starts, which is experience and race fitness. The connections still value him – enter for a $50K tag. And that work pattern is loaded with suggestive drills. Might be a different horse now. KINGOFSOMEWHEREHOT took some betting but showed nothing making career debut and lone start at Kentucky Downs. She, too, has posted some quick FG drills for a career restart. First-timer GENERAL GRAHAM attracts services of the leading rider and has a relatively appealing work pattern, but suspect he’s going to be overbet.
Eighth Race
1. Vesture
2. Bridle a Butterfly
3. Mister Mmmmm
VESTURE loses the rider who won on him last time, but there are factors involved there beyond how the two horses stack up in this race. Vesture, who had trouble two back, was very impressive last time; has been building to that level and need not starkly regress off it. Will contend on dirt, too, should the race rain off. BRIDLE A BUTTERFLY simply very, very dull last out in return from long layoff. Too bad to be true? Barn comes right back at same level. Clearly contending form from 2025. MISTER MMMMM is who he is, and isn’t the same horse as at his peak. In with a chance at underlaid odds.
Ninth Race
1. Molto Vino
2. Strawberry Sundae
3. Apriority Catch
Steep class dropper MOLTO VINO won’t get much pace help but might, down with $5K conditioned foes, rally in time nonetheless. I can’t quite get there with potential lone speed STRAWBERRY SUNDAE, who pressed her pace advantage to a last-start score but probably won’t get quite so easy a lead. APRIORITY CATCH trips out decently on the drop but probably doesn’t want to run quite this far.
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