Fair Grounds Picks- Woodchopper Stakes Analysis: Saturday, December 30

Fair Grounds features a pair of stakes on Saturday. The Woodchopper and the Pago Hop Stakes are both carded for the event. Check out our Fair Grounds picks and analysis.

Full Card Analysis

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Fair Grounds Picks- Race 1

$20k Starter Optional Claiming going 6 f on dirt; Post: 12:45 PM CT; Entries: 7

• #6 OPTIMAL COURAGE (3-1): Gets the top selection. A dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. Makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 BREAKING NEWS (5-1): A major player in this race. Will run for the combination of Rodriguez and Morales.
• #3 MOTION TO STRIKE (7-2): Will be competitive in this spot. Has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. A dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #4 MAGIC CASTLE (9-2): Feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. Makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 3 – 4

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 2

$24k Starter Optional Claiming going 1 m 70 y on dirt; Post: 1:15 PM CT; Entries: 9

• #6 THETRUTHISTHETRUTH (7-2): Gets the top selection. Has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #3 MISS TULSA (8-1): A major player in this race. Will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #9 CARRY ON (5-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #4 HOT DAME (12-1): A price horse and will be competitive in this spot. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 9 – 4

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 3

$54k Allowance Optional Claiming going about 1 m on turf; Post: 1:45 PM CT; Entries: 12

• #12 HIGHLY WICKED (8-1): Gets the top selection. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts. Bet the longshot of the card at BetOnline.
• #5 MONEY WELL SPENT (7-2): Will be competitive in this spot. Goes out for the Ducoing barn and gets Curtis in the irons. Has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 SIXTH ANNIVERSARY (6-1): Has a shot in this race. Projects to sit mid-pack and come with one run.
• #1 SHE TOLD YOU SO (9-2): Isn’t without hope. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 12 – 5 – 7 – 1

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 4

$15k Claiming going 6 f on dirt; Post: 2:15 PM CT; Entries: 10

• #4 FOOLISH STEVE (7-2): Gets the top selection. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #5 TWO WORLDS (5-2): Will be competitive in this spot. Will run for the combination of Rivelli and Loveberry.
• #3 GLENN’S JUMPER (9-2): Feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 PESO IN MY POCKET (6-1): Isn’t without hope. Will likely be part of the early pace. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 3 – 1

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 5

$52k Maiden Special Weight going about 1 1/16 m on turf; Post: 2:45 PM CT; Entries: 12

• #2 INVOLVEDNTERACTION (15-1): A price horse and gets the top selection. The class of the field. Will likely be part of the early pace.
• #5 BACK BAYOU (8-1): A major player in this race. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #11 BRADFIELD BABY (12-1): A price horse and will be competitive in this spot. Should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well-timed run at the leaders.
• #9 HOUSE BOURBON (10-1): A price horse and will be competitive in this spot. Makes sense on speed figures. Has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front-running speed.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 11 – 9

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 6

$53k Allowance going 1 1/16 m on dirt; Post: 3:15 PM CT; Entries: 9

• #3 FROMANOTHAMUTHA (3-1): Gets the top selection. Has the top overall power rating in the group. Runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #8 MASTER GAME (7-2): Seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest. Will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. Has proven to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #6 REDEMPTION TIME (10-1): A price horse and seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Runs evenly and will get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #7 KOLOMIO (10-1): A price horse and seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest. Will run for the combination of Desormeaux and Cohen.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 6 – 7

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 7

$100k Woodchopper S. going about 1 m on turf; Post: 3:45 PM CT; Entries: 12

• #7 NORTHERN INVADER (7-2): Gets the Best Bet for the card. Will run for the combination of Devaux and Hernandez. Hernandez is lights out on the turf and the horse has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. Bet today’s best Best Bet at BetUS.
• #4 GIGANTE (3-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. Runs races good enough to beat this group.
• #10 POINT PROVEN (12-1): A price horse and isn’t without hope. Projects to sit mid-pack and come with one run. The class of the field.
• #5 DESERT DUKE (5-1): Probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Likely to be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. Will likely get the right setup in this race.

Selections: 7 – 4 – 10 – 5

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 8

$52k Maiden Special Weight going 6 f on dirt; Post: 4:15 PM CT; Entries: 11

• #4 EVAN ON EARTH (3-1): Should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well-timed run at the leaders.
• #8 HERO WORSHIP (7-2): Should improve off the first start and has a shot in this race. Will run for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #5 LOUIS THE CHAMP (6-1): Debuts here and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets.
• #2 MIDNIGHT AVENGER (6-1): Debuts here and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets.

Selections: 4 – 8 – 5 – 2

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 9

$100k Pago Hop S. going about 1 m on turf; Post: 4:45 PM CT; Entries: 15

• #4 WATCH THIS BIRDIE (7-2): Gets the top selection. Has the top overall power rating in the group. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance.
• #12 FREE LOOK (5-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well-timed run at the leaders. Will run for the combination of Cox and Geroux.
• #3 TUFANI (4-1): Feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Has been running against decent company. Has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #7 CALLIE’S GRIT (12-1): A price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. Runs races good enough to beat this group. Has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 4 – 12 – 3 – 7

Fair Grounds Picks- Race 10

$53k Allowance going 6 f on dirt; Post: 5:15 PM CT; Entries: 11

• #6 ANGELIC KNIGHT (3-1): Gets the top selection. Runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. Will run for the combination of Desormeaux and Riquelme.
• #4 LIKE THIS (4-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 FAMILY CREED (10-1): A price horse and will be competitive in this spot. Runs really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race. Makes sense on speed figures.
• #5 KING’S LUTE (6-1): Will be competitive in this spot. Shouldn’t have trouble with the distance. Projects to sit mid-pack and come with one run.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 1 – 5

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Betting News provides AI generated handicapping tools for all of the major tracks around the country each and every day.

In addition, Betting News will continue to provide in depth analysis of select racing cards throughout the week.

Tuesday

• Santa Anita Picks featuring the Grade 1 American Oaks, Malibu, and La Brea Stakes.

Saturday

• Gulfstream Park Picks featuring a trio of Graded Stakes.
• Oaklawn Park Picks featuring the Poinsettia Stakes.
• Santa Anita Picks featuring a pair of graded stakes races.
• Fair Grounds Picks featuring the Woodchopper Stakes.

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