Beverly Park to Close Out 2022 in Race at Fair Grounds

Beverly Park , the winningest horse in North America this year with 14 victories, pursues victory number 15 in the $22,000 starter optional claiming race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Dec. 31.

The 5-year-old Munnings   horse drew post 1 in Saturday's third race at the New Orleans oval, facing likely challenges from Cryptozonic  and Optimal Courage , winners of local starter allowances in late 2022. Marcelino Pedroza Jr. will be aboard the well-traveled Beverly Park, who has raced at 14 different tracks in 29 starts this year—also most in North America—everywhere from Arkansas to Kentucky to Ohio and at various stops in the Mid-Atlantic.

Watch: Beverly Park Exceeds Expectations With 14-Win Season

Central Kentucky-based owner/trainer Norman "Lynn" Cash, who races as Built Wright Stables, said he recently spotted the race in the Fair Grounds condition book.

"I said to my wife, 'Hey, you want to go down to New Orleans for New Year's?" he noted. "So, yeah, her and I are going to haul."

Saturday's race will mark the first at Fair Grounds for Beverly Park and comes after two determined victories in six-furlong races at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course Nov. 28 and Dec. 12. 

Saturday's race at 5 1/2 furlongs has lured numerous speed horses among its field of nine, including Beverly Park and Optimal Courage, who is 7-for-14 this year. 

Late-running Cryptozonic will try to catch them over the long Fair Grounds stretch, which extends over a quarter-mile.