Fair Grounds BC

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

All eight horses in Saturday’s Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup H. (G3), which is
taking place at Louisiana Downs, will be making their 2006 bows in the 1
1/16-mile turf test, but six of those just raced in December. CHINESE DRAGON
(Stravinsky) is one of those who made his previous start last month, taking a
division of the Sir
Beaufort S. at Santa Anita by a nose for trainer Bob Hess Jr. At 3-1, the bay
four-year-old was beaten out for morning-line favorite status by FORT PRADO (El
Prado [Ire]), who is listed at 5-2 off a close second over the course in the
Colonel E. R. Bradley H. most recently. While both are logical picks, we’re
going with ONTHEDEANSLIST (Honor Grades) to deny them the victory.

Trained by Ralph Nicks, Onthedeanslist made his first start over Louisiana
Downs’ turf last out in the Bradley, scoring by three parts of a length over
Fort Prado while leading from gate to wire. He earned a 103 BRIS Late Pace
rating for that one, which was only his seventh race on the turf from 21
lifetime starts. The seven-year-old veteran came alive last year when switched
to the green, taking four of his last six turf starts, after closing out 2004
winless. Onthedeanslist has earned some nice BRIS Speed numbers along the way
and could take this one on the front end at a nice price. Corey Lanerie has the
call.

WAUPACA (Forest Wildcat) is another who could nicely reward his backers. The
dark bay six-year-old returns to his preferred course (8-5-2-1) and loves the
distance as well (9-4-3-1). He was last seen finishing a good fifth in the
Remington Green S., where he posted a 113 Late Pace figure, after running second
in the Louisiana Downs Breeders’ Cup H. The Donnie Von Hemel trainee is
returning off a more than three-month layoff but has done well in the past
coming off breaks. He’ll be tough to deny in the top three under Elvis Perrodin.

The other returning runner in this field is G P FLEET (Northern Afleet), who
finished second by a nose last time in the November 20 River City H. (G3) at
Churchill Downs. Though he’s never raced at Louisiana Downs, we don’t think that
will slow the chestnut down as he has been competitive at seven different
tracks. The six-year-old gelding actually won the Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup
last year when it was ungraded, scoring over Grade 1 winner and recent Ft.
Lauderdale S. hero Honor in War (Lord at War [Arg]). G P Fleet looks poised for
another big campaign and could get the ball rolling with a win here. Jesus
Castanon returns to the saddle.

SAMPSON’S SON (Lil’s Lad) rallied from near the back of an optional-claiming
event last out over the course to be second while earning a 111 Late Pace
rating. Prior to that one, the Steve Hobby-conditioned five-year-old posted a
win in the same type of event on Louisiana Downs’ sloppy main track after the
race was moved from the turf. He earned a 102 Speed rating for that game
front-running victory and has been working well of late. Sampson’s Son could
threaten in the exotics with Roman Chapa holding the reins.

Chinese Dragon could take this one if he runs back to the form that saw him
winning the nine-furlong La Puente S. last spring. That was his only start past
a mile and he’ll need a quick turn of hoof to catch up at the end of this one if
our top pick gets away with an uncontested lead. OLE FAUNTY (Quiet American)
made his turf debut three back in an optional claimer at Arlington Park, winning
on the lead by four lengths. He returned to finish third in his next two races,
both on the grass, just missing in the John Henry S. by a half-length two back.
The seven-year-old gelding could show up in the top three if he continues to
improve.

Fort Prado owns some nice numbers but started tailing off at the end of last
year. We can’t back with any confidence until he returns to his late summer form
and will let him beat us. GALLO DEL BAR (Chi) (Barkerville) is either close at
the wire or up the track at the finish. We can’t recommend.