Ideal Spot for Peace Rules

The last time Peace Rules visited the Fair Grounds nearly a year ago, the son of Jules scored a 9-1 surprise in the Louisiana Derby.

Owner Ed Gann and trainer Bobby Frankel hope for a similar outcome when the 4-year-old takes on Ten Most Wanted, Funny Cide and five others in the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap.

A Grade II at 1 1/8 miles, the New Orleans Handicap looks like a favorable spot for Peace Rules.

Basically a one-dimensional type who does his best running when he’s in the lead, Peace Rules could find himself in front today under jockey Jerry Bailey. He’ll be looking for his seventh win in 15 starts.

Idle since finishing a troubled eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct. 25, Ten Most Wanted will break from the outside under jockey Pat Day and will be making his first appearance at the Fair Grounds.

Race of the day: Aspen Gal, a winner of four of five starts while racing in Minnesota, Iowa and Oklahoma, will make her first start for Frankel and Gann in today’s $100,000 La Habra Stakes at Santa Anita. Ten 3-year-old fillies are scheduled to go in the ungraded race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

The race is part of a pick six that has a two-day carry-over of $413,313.38.

One for the road: Big Booster adds the blinkers and switches to the grass, two changes that could make all the difference, in today’s eighth at Gulfstream Park. Joe Bravo will ride the 3-year-old son of Accelerator for trainer John Kimmel in the $34,000 allowance race at about 1 1/8 miles.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Standard Setter, Bust Your Bubble and Power Boy in the third, Delizia in the fourth and Tiger Slew, Water Czar, Balenos, Relative Strength and Color Prospector in the fifth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/142. Money: Previous day/meet total: $3.80/$764. Total money bet: $804.