Thanksgiving Racing Picks 11/28: Fair Grounds
Happy Thanksgiving to all and may all of your blessings and wishes continue to come true, including cashing tickets!
On this holiday, we head down south to New Orleans where Fair Grounds Race Course opens its traditional winter meet through Sunday, March 29. We focus today on the $100,000 Thanksgiving Classic Stakes for 3-year-olds and up over six furlongs on the dirt.
The short field of 5 will go to gate for race 7 of the 9-race card with an approximate post time of 4:08 p.m. ET.
#1, Whereshetoldmetogo, Shaun Bridgmohan, 5-2
A solid performer over her 18 career starts (7-4-0) with just three starts this year (1-1-0), including a dominant 5 ¾ length victory in his last start, an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7. He has finished in the money in six of his last seven starts, including four victories, with this being his first start at Fair Grounds. Shaun Bridgmohan gets the mount for trainer Brad Cox. Coming off a win and coming off a string of good starts, Whereshetoldmetogo is to the finish line. The pick.
#5, Bobby’s Wicked One, Miguel Mena, 8-5
After three straight wins, including two at Fair Grounds from February-April of this year, Bobby’s Wicked One is trying to find the finish line for the first time in his last three starts (8th-8th-2nd). The runner-up finish by 3 ½ lengths to Mitole was in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on May 4. This will be his fifth start at Fair Grounds (3-0-0) and Miguel Mena’s seventh straight start in the irons for trainer Albert Stall, Jr. Mena was aboard in his last two wins here, so maybe the home cookin’ will do him so good. Runner-up.
#4, Wilbo, Ty Kennedy, 5-2
An in-the-money finisher in his last five starts (2-2-1), Wilbo comes into today in solid form, coming off a third-place finish in the Bet on Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2. Prior to that, he won back-to-back races, also at Churchill, highlighted by a neck finish in the $125,000 Aristides Stakes on June 1. Wilbo has the most experience in the race, as today will mark his 36th career start (11-6-9) an 1st at FG. Ty Kennedy gets the call in the irons for trainer Chris Hartman. His last few performances and his deep experience make him a contender and should have something to say in the end. Contender.
#3, Sonic Mule, Adam Beschizza, 9-2
This will be Sonic Mule’s first start this season and 17th of his career (5-1-5). He comes into today off a head victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park on March 9, 2018. Last year’s leading Fair Grounds rider, Adam Beschizza, is in the saddle for trainer Jack Sisterson. We know he is fresh, but the lengthy layoff is an obvious concern. We shall see. In the mix.
PICKS: 1-5-4-3
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By Lou Monaco