Stogie’s Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, Jan 18, 2025

Stogies Horse Racing

Aqueduct Race 8 Busanda Stakes

  • 6 Ruth is a no brainer pick for me here. Gal is out of Uncle Mo, whose youngsters tend to move forward at a quick rate. Filly was a debut winner at a mile down in South Florida. The speed fiqure earned that day doesn’t contend with some of the runners in here, but the early pace in that race was at a crawl and this Filly still was able to close and get the victory. She is bred to relish this distance and I expect this Todd Pletcher trainee to move forward and mow them down in the stretch drive. Top Pick
  • 1 Sharp Smile makes her 2025 debut for trainer Brad Cox. Filly was last seen breaking her maiden here in the slop. Her work tab since has been dotted with bullets, including a 1/90 bullet on 1/4/25. Win Contender
  • 4 Bless the Broken was totally overmatched in the G2 Demoisel and finished a disappointing 7th. Filly has been training lights out for trainer William Warden. She should be a player with the drop in class today. Live Longshot

Selections 6-1-4-9-3

Fair Grounds Race 9 Silverbulletday Stakes

  • 2 Golden Gamble stepped up in company last out and finished a sharp second despite a pedestrian pace upfront. I expect this closer will get the perfect set up today , as there’s a few in here who like to race forwardly. Filly has some of the best late pace numbers of her competitors today. Win Contender
  • 5 California Sunset is another here who would benefit from a hot early pace. She exits the same race as the aforementioned, coming home for a fast closing third-place finish. Win Contender
  • 3 Simply Joking was an impressive debut winner when taking a local Stakes here at the Fair Grounds. This Gal was fast early and fast late in that 6-Furlong Sprint. She is a definite threat to take this group gate-to-wire if she can handle the stretch out today. Major Player

Selections 2-5-3-10-1

Fair Grounds Race 10 Colonel E.R.Bradley Stakes

  • 11 Wadsworth gets back on the turf after finishing a disappointing 4th as the odds on favorite in the Prairie Bayou over the synthetic surface at Turfway Park. This Brad Cox trainee makes his third start of the form cycle and sports a recent bullet. Jockey Florent Geroux, who has two Stakes victories aboard this Gelding is in the irons once again. Win Contender
  • 7 Gigante must be considered after his recent Stakes victory here at this distance. He’s a two-time winner over this turf in just 4 starts. Win Contender
  • 1 Northern Invader hasn’t seen race day in over 6 months but has looked sharp in the morning works for trainer Cherie DeVaux. Jockey Luis Saez chooses this horse over the 9 horse, who he has won on 4 times. Saez choosing this Gelding suggests DeVaux has this one ready to rock n roll today. Major Player

Selections 11-7-1-9

Fair Grounds Race 12 Lecomte Stakes Grade 3

  • 11 Disco Time is unbeaten in two career starts, including a dominating victory while taking on winners for the first time. Colts work tab has been sharp since. This son of Not this time could be sitting on huge effort. Win Contender
  • 13 Built was never challenged early in the Gun Runner Stakes and was able to slow the pace down , winning by over 6 lengths. There is plenty of speed to his inside, so I’m not confident he’ll get the lead from the 13 hole. Colt has shown he can rate off the pace as he did in his maiden victory. I anticipate this son of Hard Spun rates just off the front runners today. Win Contender
  • 3 Admiral Dennis stumble at the start of the Gun Runner Stakes and was rushed up early. Colt was used early and had nothing left in the tank. This Brad Cox Trainee is much better than he showed in the Gun Runner. Live Longshot

Selections 11-13-3-4