HORSE RACING

The Blushing K.D. Handicap

Fair Grounds, Race 3 - Post 2:57

$75,000, 3 y.o. & up, fillies & mares, about 1-1/16 miles (turf)

1. Daisy Devine. . . Brian Hernandez Jr.. . . 4-5

2. Necessary Luxury. . . C. J. McMahon. . . 30-1

3. Aquapazza. . . Colby Hernandez. . . 20-1

4. Artemus Kitten. . . Rosie Napravnik. . . 3-1

5. Forgotten People. . . John Jacinto. . . 20-1

6. Forest Uproar. . . Miguel Mena. . . 4-1

7. Francisca. . . Mark Guidry. . . 8-1

Daisy Devine is now 5-for-7 on grass after going all the way in Grade III stake and nearly all the way in a Grade I. And it is not as if she can't win without a clear lead. She can. Her price won't be appetizing, but she looks like the winner again. Artemus Kitten ran pretty well in her first race off a long layoff and should run even better now that she is back on grass. Aquapazza also makes her second start off a long layoff and should go much better than her first.

* D.J.'s picks

1. Daisy Devine

2. Artemus Kitten

3. Aquapazza

The Thirty Eight Go Go

Laurel Park, Race 8 - Post 3:55

$125,000, 3 y.o. & up, fillies & mares, 1 mile

1. Plum. . . Sheldon Russell. . . 6-1

2. Bold Affair. . . Abel Castellano Jr.. . . 4-5

3. Access to Charlie. . . Julian Pimentel. . . 8-1

4. Narita. . . Carlos Marquez Jr.. . . 20-1

5. All About Hope. . . Xavier Perez. . . 30-1

6. Whatabootie. . . Horacio Karamanos. . . 15-1

7. Withgreatpleasure. . . No rider. . . 10-1

8. Ms. Tiptaptoe. . . No rider. . . 20-1

9. Onepointhreekarats. . . Jeremy Rose. . . 4-1

Bold Affair is 9-for-14 on dirt, with consecutive wins by more than 17 lengths. She has won five of the last six dirt races and loves Laurel Park. Onepointhreekarats just ran the two best races of her life, but she has a long way to go make up for her $1.3 million price tag. Whatabootie runs pretty well on either grass or dirt.

* D.J.'s picks:

1. Bold Affair

2. Onepointhreekarats

3. Whatabootie

The Letellier Memorial

Fair Grounds, Race 9 - Post 5:55

$60,000, 2 y.o. fillies, 6 furlongs

1. Irish Lute. . . Brian Hernandez Jr.. . . 4-1

2. Coastal Sunrise. . . Rosie Napravnik. . . 5-2

3. Assets of War. . . Miguel Mena. . . 6-1

4. Finding More. . . John Jacinto. . . 9-2

5. My Daughter's Song. . . Richard Eramia. . . 15-1

6. Prettyhotprincess. . . Colby Hernandez. . . 20-1

7. Franks Officer Gal. . . Leandro Goncalves. . . 10-1

8. Brotherhood Singer. . . Shaun Bridgmohan. . . 2-1

Brotherhood Singer just ran the best race of her young career. A repeat of that effort should put her in the winner's circle. Irish Lute has showed big speed in her both her starts. Coastal Sunrise was very impressive when she won a late October stake at Laurel Park.

* D.J.'s picks

1. Brotherhood Singer

2. Irish Lute

3. Coastal Sunrise

- Dick Jerardi