Fair Grounds Opens With Thanksgiving Stakes

Like turkey and cranberries, Mardi Gras and masks—some things traditionally just go best together. This couldn't be more true than at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where for many of the 150 years, opening day has combined horse racing with Thanksgiving.

Now, after a year of no spectators, the season kicks off Nov. 25 with a lot of buzz around full barns, new jockeys, returning champion connections, and the addition of seven new stakes races. 

Ron Faucheux, who earned his first local crown last season, and three-time champion jockey James Graham return to defend their titles over the 80 days of racing, continuing through March 27. They'll have competition aplenty, including from some newcomers to the track—at least one on the jockey front. Jareth Loveberry and Reylu Gutierrez are additions to the riding colony.

Ninety horses and five also eligibles were entered in nine races Thursday, though only seven in the traditional opening-day fixture, the $150,000 Thanksgiving Classic, set for its 97th running. Also on the card is the $75,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes, named for the longtime racing official who passed away last year.

The Thanksgiving Classic drew the streaking Greeley and Ben , with Necker Island , Went West , Strike Power , and Just Might  other leading contenders. Both Necker Island and Just Might notched stakes wins on dirt this fall at Churchill Downs.

Necker Island's Churchill victory came earlier this month in the Bet on Sunshine Stakes.

"We're a little bit short on time with this guy but he's in pretty good form right now," said trainer Chris Hartman. "His energy level is good, he's carrying a lot of flesh, and he's doing really good. We thought best to strike while the iron is hot. I think he'll love that race track." 

Both Strike Power and Just Might drop from graded stakes. Courtlandt Farms' Strike Power finished sixth in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course last out, while Griffon Farms and Michelle Lovell's Just Might was sixth last month in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.

"He just grabbed his quarter," Lovell said of Just Might. "He was very tender walking home. In the end, he hit the meaty part of the heel and tore the protective cover. It has healed up nicely. He had a really nice breeze last week, and he shipped down (to Fair Grounds) and he's ready to roll. He better be because it is not an easy spot."

From the Phoenix, victorious Special Reserve  ran fourth in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar, a race that Phoenix runner-up Aloha West  captured by a nose with a late rally.

Before losing last out, Just Might won four consecutive stakes—the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Chesapeake Stakes and Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs, and the Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes at Churchill. The 5-year-old Justin Phillip  gelding also took the Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds in February.

Regular post time will be 1:05 p.m. CT, though there will be an earlier noon first post on Thanksgiving Day, Louisiana Champions Day (Dec. 11), Road to the Derby Kickoff Day (Dec. 26), Road to the Derby Day (Jan. 22), Louisiana Derby Preview Day (Feb. 19), and Louisiana Derby Day (March 26). There will be more than $7 million in stakes races, highlighted by the March 26, $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). A complete list of the stakes schedule can be found online.

Entries: Thanksgiving Classic S.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Thursday, November 25, 2021, Race 7

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 3:12 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Necker Island (KY)	Mitchell Murrill	124	Chris A. Hartman	3/1
2	2Pyron (KY)	Declan Carroll	118	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	6/1
3	3Went West (KY)	Jareth Loveberry	118	Louie J. Roussel, III	8/1
4	4Greeley and Ben (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	124	Karl Broberg	7/2
5	5Emerald Forest (KY)	Angel Suarez	116	Shane Wilson	8/1
6	6Strike Power (KY)	Deshawn L. Parker	118	Steven M. Asmussen	4/1
7	7Just Might (KY)	Colby J. Hernandez	124	Michelle Lovell	7/2