Hell of a card assembled for Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds - not just the stakes races, but 2yo maidens and a pair of key 2yo first-level, two-turn dirt allowance races. Quick look at the highlights.

Race 1: Ursula, 2yof by Tapit who's a half-sister to the very good Australian middle-distance horse Hartnell, is cross-entered here, in this first-level, two-turn allowance, and in the six-furlong Letellier. No idea which way connections plan to go. Choice between getting route experience or a chance at black-type win for third-time starter who opened eyes with sprint maiden win 11/30 at FG. 

Race 2: Just a friendly reminder that Keep Quiet had a ridiculously bad trip in his Nov. 30 start in a race just like this (N2X alw / $40K claiming / turf route).

Race 3: Aside from previously mentioned Ursula, highlight horse here is Taraz, who blitzed Churchill maiden filly sprinters making her career debut last month. Trainer Brad Cox believes she'll route but one more sprint before she'll have the chance to prove it.

Race 6: Has the look of a hot 2yof maiden sprint. Among the entrants is Street Missy, the full sister to Grade 1 winner Street Band (Istan X Street Minstrel) who finished a solid enough fourth behind Ursula in her career debut late last month at FG. 

Race 7: No stars in the Bonapaw Stakes (turf sprint for older horses) but very capable and competitive bunch. Five-year-old Made You Look was privately purchased by Rigney Racing and turned over to trainer Phil Bauer since his most recent start in late October.

Race 10: Trainer Keith Desormeaux rarely wins with first-time starters, so how good might Shashashakemeup be? Calumet-owned Shackleford colt fetched just $45K at auction but was an impressive debut winner Nov. 16 at Churchill breaking from the rail in a 7f maiden race. Home by 5 1/2 while not asked for much by jockey James Graham. Interestingly turns back to six furlongs for his second start. Steve Asmussen-trained Gold Street also obviously talented. Took four tries to win a maiden but home by seven last out at CD.

Race 13: Be surprised if this N1X / $50K claiming 2yo dirt route didn't produce at least two starters for the Lecomte Stakes next month at FG. Biggest name entered is Mr. Monomoy, the brother to Monomoy Girl who turned in a long and very encouraging run sprinting first out at Keeneland, where he got squeezed way back just after the start, then romped in a 6 1/2-furlong Churchill maiden race Nov. 16. Also very worthy of note is Sharecropper, who had a getting-to-know-racing sprint debut before winning an Oct. 27 1 1/16-mile CD maiden race over Sounion and Excession, both of whom returned to win their next start, both in CD maiden-specials. Sharecropper, a Pioneerof the Nile colt trained by Al Stall, won by a neck last out after completely slamming on the brakes once he hit the front at the sixteenth pole. Excession is entered here, as well, as is Lynn's Map, a Mark Casse-trained second-start maiden winner last out at CD, where he got an 80 Beyer Speed Figure running a one-turn mile.