Daily Racing Form handicapper Marcus Hersh provides his analysis and top picks for the February 17 racing card at Fair Grounds, highlighting his best bet in the third race: Canal Street. Hersh notes Canal Street’s strong dirt route performances and believes she will outperform stablemate Cool Lucky Lady and first-off-claim Sweet Alexis, despite Canal Street’s recent turf races. He also offers detailed insights on the other eight races, emphasizing horses like Musical Band in the first race, Mister Banderas in the second, and Sy B in the sixth, while discussing form, running styles, and potential improvements.

Throughout the card, Hersh evaluates each race’s key contenders, weighing factors such as recent performances, class levels, and race conditions. He identifies promising horses like Abilene in the seventh race and Shining Star in the eighth, while also taking a chance on first-time starter A Lotta Shance in the ninth. His commentary aims to give bettors an informed edge by combining past performance data with expert handicapping insights.