Rick Francis
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

We end our work week back at Fair Grounds for the first on the Starlight Racing card, featuring older fillies and mares sprinting a very quick five and a half furlongs, on what hopefully will be a dry and firm turf course. A field of nine is scheduled to go to post for their share of a 51k purse, so let’s get started.

Race 1 – Fair Grounds – post time: 5 p.m. CST

DANDYA (1) starts for the first time in almost a year, and for trainer Neil Howard that’s just an average angle. Her last start was a convincing win going longer, but this girl needs one before considering for the win.

NOTASSHARPASUTHINK (2) and that was on full display last out, as this Tom Amoss trained filly by Sharp Humor had nothing as the even money favorite. Connections aren’t waiting around to see if something’s ailing her, they make a jockey switch to the meets leading rider Rosie Napravnik to get her straight now. Amoss is extremely tough in this spot, you can’t ignore.

PALAZZO BABE (3), since coming to the Eddie Johnston barn, this daughter of Rahy has won and placed here and at this distance. Though her speed numbers are a bit light to some of these, this girl knows how to get a check, and has done so with four of her seven starts here. I think she adds to that total tonight.

CHO CHO CAT (4), placed here back in December in a rained-off contest facing similar, and has been a tough customer on the lawns of the Chicago tracks, just against lesser. I believe connections are hoping for a rain-off, at which time I’ll consider.

BACKSIDE BLACKIE (5) hasn’t started on the turf in quite sometime or anywhere since November. Dirt maybe, turf, Nah.

SAKAKAWEA (6), Iowa-bred has been wearing out the competition on her home track at Prairie Meadows, and in her last two turf starts back in 2010 here and at Gulfstream she won and placed. This 6-year-old by Rossini owns 9 wins from her 16 starts, and trainer Ray Tracy goes with Ramsey Zimmerman in the irons, so I look for a solid effort, and at a price.

DOS LUNAS (7), Hennessy filly makes her initial start for trainer Neil Pessin, and he’s currently 50 percent money along with five wins this meet. This girl faced some beasts during her two-year-old campaign, and she’s due a break, which she may get here. Shaun Bridgmohan gets the call, and he takes 1 in 5 to the winners circle.

BLOEMER GIRL (8), daughter of Bertrando also starts for the first time with a new trainer, Mike Stidham. She also hasn’t seen the track in a longtime, as in a year, over the Santa Anita lawn, where she held on for a game win going 61/2 furlongs. Stidham’s a 20 percenter with these layoffs, and I can smell value here.

ELUSIVE JOZI (9), she had nothing in her last this past August against a Monmouth overnight field, and only shows one published work since. Trainer Ralph Nicks has but one win this meet, and today garner the services of Robby Albarado for the mount, and that’s a reason that concerns me. He’s working on a short price already; this has to be a race time call.

MAIN TRACK ONLY:

GRAND ILLUMINATION (10), has placed and won here since arriving from Churchill, and the Steve Margolis barn is extremely tough in these spots. Though this Speightstown filly has been playing to a lesser audience, should this show move to the main track, I’m listening to what she’s singing.

It’s been a while since wagering here at the Grounds, but at last count the bank stood at $1067, so let’s take a good shot tonight. I think Eddie Johnston’s Palazzo Babe can get a piece, and at a price, so I’m play a $5, $10, and $15 win, place, and show wager on #3, along with a $2 exacta box of her with Dos Lunas, Notassharpasuthink, and Sakakawea,(3-7-2-6), plus I’ll do those four in a $1 trifecta box. Total bet $78.