Fair Grounds: Exotics for Race 7 on Sunday December 22, 2024

An overflow field of 14 two-year-olds is entered to contest a 1 1/16-mile endeavor on the lawn in Race 7 at Fair Grounds on Sunday. It’s difficult for me to be super creative in the maiden special weight race as the four most fancied runners on the morning line seem most likely to me, so the structure of my ticket will be the key to my success. 

Fair Grounds Race 7 Wagers for Sunday:

$4 exacta key box 3 with 5,8,12 ($24)
$1 trifecta 3,8 with 3,5,8,12 with 3,5,8,12 ($12) 

Fair Grounds Race 7 Analysis for Sunday, December 22, 2024

I’ll give top billing to second-time starter #3 Tom’s Magic (9-2) for conditioner Michael Stidham. By Justify, the chestnut colt gave a nice impression of himself on the course at first asking when rallying for a clear runner-up performance in a similar type of contest on November 28. The $200,000 yearling purchase earned a solid 94 Brisnet Late Pace figure in the tilt and will be quite dangerous if he has less to do turning for home on Sunday. 

Tom’s Magic has three siblings who were prominent stakes performers on the lawn as juveniles in Canada, including 2018 Woodbine Oaks vixen Dixie Moon who was second best in the 2017 Natalma S. (G1). The family is full of runners, the barn is good with second-time starters, and the top pick also retains pilot Jeiron Rendon, as well. 

Steve Asmussen’s #8 Lebowski (6-1) took a nice step forward in his second appearance with the move to the lawn when a solid fourth at Churchill Downs. The $200,000 son of Caravaggio is bred top and bottom to thrive on the green, and the gray colt will be a major factor with another step in the right direction against this cast. Jareth Loveberry inherits the mount and is expected to put the juvenile in striking range from the early stages of the endeavor. 

First timer #5 Kayaan (5-1) is a half-brother to Jockey Club Derby (G3) third El Rezeen and will be a factor if he runs like his sibling on debut. Conditioned by Brad Cox, the homebred has not missed a morning drill since October, and the chestnut races for a trainer who is very capable with youngsters running on the green at first asking. His go-to pilot Florent Geroux riding is a plus, too. 

Trainer Cherie DeVaux is off to a flying start at the current meeting and will saddle the $850,000 #12 Susan’s Boy (7-2) with Jose Ortiz in the irons. By excellent turf influence Candy Ride, the chestnut has been working like a runner and it’s hard to discount anything from this barn currently. The March foal faces a tall task, but he must be tossed into the plays.