Fair Grounds horses to watch: Week of Dec. 7

CITY STEEL
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Last race: Dec. 1, 1st
Finish: 1st by 5 1/2
Beyer: 69
Second-time starter in first dirt and two-turn try humbled a group of low-level maidens with an above-par Beyer. He was claimed out of race, and new barn might try him on at least a mini-class hike that could produce playable odds.

MARINE PATROL
Trainer: Wayne Catalano
Last race: Nov. 30, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 2 3/4
Beyer: 84
Stakes-debuting, improving grass route horse had no shot to catch winner Marchman, who got the easiest of leads and spurted away at the top of the homestretch. But this horse was gaining steadily with another solid performance and probably has not yet hit his ceiling.

BLACKWELL FIVE
Trainer: Danny Pish
Last race: Nov. 28, 2nd
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 40
Shut off at the three-eighths by the eventual winner, trouble that almost certainly cost him victory in this low-level maiden claimer. Was coming off a DNF and so should remain a relatively fresh horse for next try.