Horse Racing picks at Fair Grounds race track on Friday, December 31: Wrap up 2021 with Order Up

2:35 pm Fair Grounds (Race 2) – Order Up 7/2

The son of Iron Fist has shown plenty of ability in his three starts to date delivering an improved effort on each occasion culminating in a second place finish in a maiden special weight over six furlongs here just under three weeks ago. Raced close to the pace that day and having drawn the rail on this occasion the gelding looks capable of successfully employing similar tactics to break his maiden with Mitchell Murrill in the saddle.

3:35 pm Fair Grounds (Race 4) – Mannix 3/1

Mark Casse’s charge showed ability in his native Ireland placing on all three starts including when third in a maiden contest at Leopardstown back in August. Out of the Distorted Humor mare Many Hearts the selection delivered an impressive three-and-a-quarter-length success having raced from off the pace in a mile-and-seventy-yard maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park on his US debut at the end of October and he looks up to completing a double stepping up to an allowance optional claimer.

4:05 pm Fair Grounds (Race 5) – Bron And Brow 6/5

While still a maiden Mark Casse’s colt brings solid stakes form into this contest having delivered a second place finish in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes over six furlongs here earlier this month. The Gormley colt shaped as if still in need of the experience when racing from off the pace that day and he is taken to break his maiden at the third time of asking in this six runner stakes contest restricted to Louisiana-bred colts and geldings.

5:05 pm Fair Grounds (Race 7) – Curvette 4/5

Broke her maiden at the first time of asking when delivering a five-and-a-half-length triumph in a maiden special weight over six-and-one-half-furlongs at Santa Anita in April. Suffered a surprise defeat when ridden with more restraint to finish runner-up over seven furlongs at the same venue the following month. Sets the standard on form and looks up to resuming winning ways for trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Brian Hernandez having delivered a number of timed works here in recent months.

5:36 pm Fair Grounds (Race 8) – Malibu Marie 7/2

Switched to a maiden claimer Brad Cox’s filly looks capable of breaking her maiden at the third time of asking. The selection debuted with a promising third in a maiden special weight over six furlongs at Ellis Park at the end of August but she proved a disappointment upped to a mile at Churchill Downs next time. The two-year-old gets lasix for the first time here and with a good draw is taken to break her maiden switched to turf.