The Thanksgiving Classic Stakes (Race 9) will be run at Fair Grounds Race Course and is a 6-furlong dirt sprint for 3-year-olds and up with a $175,000 purse.
Venue & Conditions
Location: Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, Louisiana
Post Time: 4:00 PM CT
Race: Thanksgiving Classic Stakes, 6 furlongs dirt
Purse: $175,000
Weather forecast: Mild, ~16 °C (60 °F), scattered clouds. Track expected fast.
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
Komorebino Omoide (Post 5, 3–1): Diodoro/Lopez combo is lethal in sprints. Strong win record, top choice.
The Wine Steward (Post 9, 7–2): Maker trainee with graded experience. Loveberry fits well. Major contender.
Baby Yoda (Post 6, 5–1): Veteran sprinter, still competitive. Gutierrez gives aggressive ride.
Surveillance (Post 7, 5–1): Durable gelding, Maker barn. Always in the mix.
Wendelssohn (Post 3, 8–1): Hartman trainee, consistent but needs peak effort.
Bear River (Post 4, 10–1): Desormeaux runner, versatile but inconsistent.
Goodlookinjustice (Post 2, 12–1): On a hot streak, but class rise is steep.
The Donegal Clan (Post 1, 12–1): Honest gelding, but faces tougher foes.
Mondogetsbuckets (Post 8, 6–1): Local horse, improving. Could surprise with trip.
Summary
The Thanksgiving Classic Stakes 2025 is a deep sprint field with Komorebino Omoide and The Wine Steward as the class standouts. Baby Yoda and Surveillance are live exotics players, while Mondogetsbuckets offers local upset potential. Expect a fast track, honest fractions, and a stretch duel between the top two.
