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Contact: Grant LaGrange

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THANKSGIVING CLASSIC FIELD SET TO KICK OFF WINTER MEET AT FAIR GROUNDS

New Orleans (November 23, 2019) – The field is set for the 2019 edition of the Thanksgiving Classic as a field of 5 will be sent to post to go six furlongs over the main track at Fair Grounds.

Trainer Jack Sisterson and owner Calumet Farm will send out Sonic Mule off an eight month layoff as he prepares for his winter campaign at Fair Grounds,

“His weekly works he has been well within himself and has shown us that there is still a lot of racehorse in him,” said trainer Jack Sisterson. 

“I haven’t trained him to be 100% to win off of a layoff, he is going to improve a lot from this race. We wanted to get him down to Fair Grounds early and have some works in him. He’ll have another work tomorrow and that should put him spot on for next Thursday,” explained Sisterson.

Sonic Mule, who has finished on the board in 11 of his 15 starts, will be ridden by last year’s leading Fair Grounds rider Adam Beschizza, who will be making the call on how to place the five-year-old son of Distorted Humor,

“I’m going to leave the race riding decision to Adam ,” said Sisterson. “If he breaks running we’ll be right there on the lead but he can also sit just off it and in a 5 horse field we’ll need to stay close.”

“He’s coming in here fresh and has shown a lot of energy in the mornings so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pop out of there and be on the lead, but it will be up to Adam.”

Sonic Mule will break from post three, and is listed at 9-2 on the morning line.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. will send out graded stakes winning Bobby’s Wicked One who has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite. In May, Bobby’s Wicked One was a game runner up in the Grade I Churchill Downs Stakes running second behind Breeders Cup Sprint winner Mitole. 

Since then, Autumn Hill Farm Racing Stable Inc’s Bobby’s Wicked One has put in two disappointing efforts, but looks to get back on track in Saturdays feature race. The four-year-old son of Speightstown has put together a career record of 13-4-4-1 thus far with career earnings over $400,000 dollars. 

Bobby’s Wicked One will be ridden by Miguel Mena, and will break from post five.

Fresh off his Breeders Cup success, trainer Brad Cox will send out Whereshetoldmetogo, who last out won a competitive allowance race at Churchill Downs opening up to win by 5 3/4th lengths. 

Madaket Stables LLC & Ten Strike Racing’s Whereshetoldmetogo has won two of his five tries at the 6 furlong distance, including a second place finish last September in the Grade III Galant Bob at Parx Racecourse in Philadelphia. 

The four year old son of El Padrino posts a career record of 18-7-4-0 with career earnings of $379,666 thus far in his career. Whereshetoldmetogo will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, break from post 1 and is listed as the co-second choice at 5-2 morning line.

Rounding out the Thanksgiving field is Tringale (post 2, Mitchell Murill, 12-1 ML,) and Wilbo (post 4, Ty Kennedy, 5-2 ML)

The Thanksgiving Classic is set to run as Race 7 on the opening day card, with approximate post time of 3:08 pm CST. 

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 is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global

Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 107 th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

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