Beau’s Town One to Beat

Now owned by Churchill Downs Inc., Fair Grounds will open its 82-day meet today.

The main event on the 10-race program is the $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap, an ungraded race for older sprinters at six furlongs.

Beau’s Town, a winner of 12 of his 20 starts, will try to remain unbeaten in his third appearance at the Fair Grounds in a contest that drew six others, including Ole Rebel, Aloha Bold and Mountain General, all of whom are multiple winners at the New Orleans track.

Owned by David Hulkewicz and trained by Cole Norman, who is winning at a 28% clip in 2004, Beau’s Town will be ridden by Tracy Hebert as he aims for his third victory of the year.

The 6-year-old Beau’s Genius bounced back from a last-place finish in Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup Handicap on July 25 with a wire-to-wire score in the Total Rewards on the Louisiana Downs turf Oct. 31.

Artemus Sunrise, Wildcat Shoes and Premium Saltine also are scheduled to participate.

Race of the day: Noches De Rosa, who has raced in five consecutive graded stakes, drops in class and stretches to 1 1/2 miles in today’s $60,000 Hermosa Beach Handicap at Hollywood Park. The race is the main event on a card that has a special post time of 11 a.m.

Tyler Baze will ride Noches De Rosa for Gerald Ford’s Diamond A Racing Corporation and trainer Richard Mandella against Uraib, Nadeszhda, Daisyago, Test The Waters, Conspiring, Ponche de Leona and Leave To Appeal.

One for the road: In a race loaded with speed types, Dubai Sheikh can make the last run count in today’s $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct. A Grade III at six furlongs, the Fall Highweight drew 11 entrants and Dubai Sheikh will be ridden by Edgar Prado after being claimed for $75,000 by high-percentage trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. He should be a healthy price in the race, which is the eighth on the card.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Appealing Saint in the first, Virtuous Lady and She Will Get Away in the second and Cocktailchicattire and Alpenglow in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/44. Money: Previous day/meet total: $17.40/$247.80. Total money bet: $268.