Classy Lagynos, Buchu Enter Deep Editions of Woodchopper and Pago Hop at Fair Grounds
Six stakes scheduled between Dec. 26 and Dec. 30
New Orleans, La (Dec. 23, 2024) – Saturday’s action at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots features a pair of stacked stakes, as both the $100,000 Woodchopper and the $100,000 Pago Hop attracted deep, classy fields of 3-year-old turf runners. Including also eligibles, the average field size for Saturday’s 10-race program is 11.3 runners, and the 1 1/16 miles Woodchopper, attracted 16, led by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Commonwealth Turf (G3) winner Lagynos. Ten will go in the filly counterpart Pago Hop, led by Rigney Racing’s multiple graded stakes winner Buchu.
Graded stakes placed in three turf races heading into the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs in November, Lagynos finally broke through for trainer Steve Asmussen. Rallying through tight quarters down the stretch, Lagynos split foes, made the lead and confidently held sway over late-kickers Evade and Ak Sar Ben Derby. With a 10-race campaign this year alone, the sophomore has amassed $700,553 in career earnings. Edgar Morales has the call aboard the Kantharos colt, who was made the 7-2 morning line favorite.
Resolute Racing and Qatar Racing Limited’s Evade will look to turn the tables on Lagynos. Set to make his fourth start in North America, the French-bred son of Wooten Bassett came to Mike Maker’s barn with a pair of stakes victories sprinting in England and France. The colt ran third to Howard Wolowitz in his stateside debut, the Franklin Simpson (G1), followed up the by Bryan Station (G2), where he finished two lengths shy in fourth. Maker will give a leg up to the current meet leading rider Jose Ortiz.
Four runners from the Hawthorne Derby have the potential to make some noise in the Woodchopper, including the second and third place finishers, Higgins Boat and Oscar Season.
Ensemble Racing’s Higgins Boat scored impressively last out in a local second-level allowance on Thanksgiving for Tom Amoss, his first run with the blinkers off since moving to the turf in August. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pocket Aces Racing and The Estate’s Oscar Season overcame early trouble to run down an older group of allowance foes at Gulfstream Park earlier in December.
Previously trained by John Shirreffs, C R K Stable’s McVay entered the Woodchopper, in what will be his first start for Cherie DeVaux. It will also be the $1.25 million Constitution colt’s first go on the grass.
With the portable rail set at nine feet, 14 will run. The Woodchopper is slated as Race 9.
Tabbed as the 7-2 second choice of 10 fillies entered in the Pago Hop, Buchu boasts wins in the Jessamin (G2) and the Appalachian (G2). The Justify filly’s sensational turn of foot took centerstage in the Jessamine (G2), as the Phil Bauer trainee was able to rally from last to first and clear the field of ten by over 3 lengths. Homebred by Richard Rigney, Buchu added the Appalachian to her resume in the first start of her sophomore campaign, but in six graded stakes tries since, has not returned to the winner’s circle. The class of the field will look to add to her $640,270 career earnings in the Pago Hop.
Robert V LaPenta and Madaket Stables’ Way to Be Marie broke her maiden and beat winners locally before classing up in the Edgewood (G3) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, where the Rob Atras trainee finished second. After pushing pause over the summer, the Not This Time filly finished third in the Pebbles (G3) at Aqueduct on Nov. 8. Tabbed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Pago Hop, Way to Be Marie drew the rail and will be reunited with Florent Geroux, who was up for both her local scores.
Upset-minded Austere enters the Pago Hop after an impressive prep, winning a second-level allowance by multiple lengths over opening weekend. The Mendelssohn filly owned by Belmar Racing and Breeding, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Cambron Equine, Tucci Stables, and Gary Finder has serious back class, losing by two lengths or less in both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Florida Oaks (G3). Declan Cannon will climb back aboard for trainer Brendan Walsh.
The Pago Hop is scheduled to go as Race 7.
The fields for both the Woodchopper and the Pago Hop can be found on Equibase here: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG122824USA-EQB.html. First post on Saturday is 12:45 p.m. CT.
From Dec. 26 through Dec. 30, Fair Grounds’ 4-day racing week features plenty of stakes action to usher in the New Year. On Thursday, Dec. 26 older fillies and mares will battle in both the $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard, 1 mile 70 yards on the main track, and the 5 1/2 furlong turf $100,000 Nelson J. Menard. The focus shifts to juvenile Louisiana-breds on Sunday, Dec. 30 with two editions of the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity, one for the colts and one for the fillies.
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
