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Fairmount Park presents an eight-race card today featuring a strong mix of maiden claiming events, allowance contests, and competitive claiming races with purses ranging from $8,000 to $28,000. The Collinsville, Illinois facility continues its fall meet with favorable racing conditions expected.
Weather and Track Conditions
Current weather conditions at Fairmount Park show fair skies with temperatures around 73°F, SSW winds at 6 mph, and humidity at 38% with a cloudy forecast. The track surface is expected to remain fast with no precipitation in the immediate forecast for the Collinsville area. These conditions favor speed horses and should provide consistent footing throughout the afternoon.
Race 1 – Maiden Claiming ($9,000, 6 Furlongs)
Key Contenders
Lucky Destiny (#3) enters with jockey Alexander Bendezu for trainer Scott Becker, representing a stable with multiple entries throughout the card. The three-year-old gelding offers potential value in this maiden claiming event at the $6,250 level.
Yorkton Wheat (#4) also represents the Becker barn with Julio Felix aboard, providing trainer representation in this competitive maiden field.
Secondary Choices
My Secret (#2) brings experience as a four-year-old gelding under Reynier Arrieta for trainer Clay Laux, while Odin the Accident (#1) represents potential early speed with Harold Joseph Ortega riding.
Pace Analysis
The sprint distance favors horses with early tactical speed. The field appears evenly matched with no clear speed dominance, suggesting a competitive pace setup.
Selection
Win: Lucky Destiny (#3)
Place: Yorkton Wheat (#4)
Show: My Secret (#2)
Race 2 – Claiming ($8,000, 1 Mile 70Y)
Key Contenders
Shady McGee (IRE) (#6) stands out as the morning line favorite at 6-5 odds. The seven-year-old Irish-bred gelding brings international pedigree to this claiming event with Alexander Bendezu aboard for trainer Eduardo Rodriguez.
Safe (#1) offers value potential with Reynier Arrieta riding for trainer J. Kevin Wilborn in this competitive field of non-winners in 2025.
Secondary Choices
Keen Response (#2) and Maasai Warrior (#3) provide depth to the wagering options, with both carrying 126 pounds in this claiming contest.
Selection
Win: Shady McGee (IRE) (#6)
Place: Safe (#1)
Show: Keen Response (#2)
Race 3 – Maiden Special Weight ($25,000, 6 Furlongs)
Key Contenders
Don’ttapthetill (#3) enters as the 2-1 morning line favorite with Alexander Bendezu continuing his strong day for the Scott Becker stable. This Illinois-bred maiden special weight event offers the day’s highest purse for state-bred maidens.
K J’s Ransom (#1) represents potential value with Israel Hernandez aboard for trainer John Rednour Jr., while Senor Ruben (#2) provides depth with Carlos Herrera riding.
Pace Analysis
The six-furlong distance should produce an honest pace with multiple horses capable of pressing early. The Illinois-bred restriction limits the field quality but increases competitiveness.
Selection
Win: Don’ttapthetill (#3)
Place: K J’s Ransom (#1)
Show: Playground Warrior (#4)
Race 4 – Allowance Optional Claiming ($28,000, 6 Furlongs)
The fourth race at Fairmount Park represents the day’s richest contest, featuring Illinois-bred horses in an allowance optional claiming event with a $20,000 claiming tag. This six-horse field combines competitive allowance-quality runners with horses eligible to be claimed, creating an intriguing betting opportunity.
Morning Line Odds and Field Analysis
Good Apple enters as the 2-1 morning line favorite, with Grayhop listed at 3-1 and Hand Over My Heart at 4-1. God Guns N Guts sits at 5-1, Weslan at 6-1, and Lonesome Dream completes the field at 10-1 odds.
Individual Horse Analysis
Good Apple (#1) – 2-1 ML Favorite
The five-year-old Shackleford gelding carries top weight at 126 pounds with Santiago Gonzalez aboard for trainer Shane Childers. Good Apple shows a career record of 13 starts with 3-4-2 earnings distribution and recent form figures of 8x7x12. As a son of Shackleford out of Missalaney, this gelding brings solid breeding credentials to the allowance level.
Analysis: The morning line favoritism suggests recent improvement, and the connection of Gonzalez-Childers has shown competence at Fairmount Park. The top weight assignment indicates class respect from the handicapper.
Grayhop (#2) – 3-1 Second Choice
This five-year-old Tapizar gelding carries 126 pounds with Alex Gonzalez riding for trainer Lori Plasters. Grayhop shows strong recent form with figures of 512321 over his last six starts and a career record of 23 starts with 4-5-6 earnings. The son of Tapizar out of Old Blue Jeans brings proven stamina at the six-furlong distance.
Analysis: The recent form pattern shows consistency and improvement, with the 1-2-3 finish sequence indicating current sharpness. Plasters has multiple runners on the day, suggesting stable confidence.
Hand Over My Heart (#3) – 4-1 Third Choice
The four-year-old Heart To Heart gelding gets a two-pound weight break at 124 pounds with Reynier Arrieta aboard for trainer Eddie Essenpreis. This younger runner benefits from the “Non-winners Of A Race Since July 11 Allowed 2 lbs” condition, indicating some recent struggles but potential for improvement.
Analysis: The weight allowance provides a tactical advantage, and Arrieta brings veteran experience to the mount. Essenpreis has shown consistent results at Fairmount Park throughout the meet.
God Guns N Guts (#4) – 5-1 Fourth Choice
SCRATCH ALERT: This six-year-old Competitive Edge gelding appears on the scratch watch for veterinarian reasons from a previous race on September 19 [scratch watch notation]. If running, he carries 126 pounds with Israel Hernandez for trainer Jose Rodriguez.
Analysis: Monitor scratches closely as this horse has been pulled for veterinary reasons previously. If declared fit to run, the odds suggest some betting support despite recent concerns.
Weslan (#5) – 6-1 Fifth Choice
The five-year-old Mor Spirit gelding benefits from a weight allowance, carrying 124 pounds with Julio Felix riding for trainer John Wainwright. The son of Mor Spirit out of Julmae brings proven pedigree to this allowance event.
Analysis: The weight break provides value potential, and Felix has shown consistent form throughout the Fairmount Park meet. Trainer Wainwright has experience with these class levels.
Lonesome Dream (#6) – 10-1 Longshot
The eight-year-old King’s Empire gelding completes the field at generous morning line odds, carrying 124 pounds with Emmanuel Giles for trainer Dennis Higgins. At eight years old, this veteran brings experience but must overcome age concerns.
Analysis: The longest shot on the board offers potential value in exotic wagers, but the age factor and trainer pattern suggest limited win chances.
Pace Analysis
The six-furlong sprint distance should produce honest early fractions with Good Apple and Grayhop likely to contest the early pace. Hand Over My Heart appears positioned to stalk the leaders, while Weslan could provide late kick from slightly off the pace. The race shape favors horses with tactical speed who can maintain their position through the stretch.
Key Angles and Wagering Strategy
The Illinois-bred restriction limits the overall class level while maintaining competitive balance. The optional claiming feature at $20,000 suggests these horses compete regularly at this level. The two-pound weight allowance for non-winners since July 11 provides value for Hand Over My Heart and Weslan.
Recommended Wagers:
- Win: Grayhop (#2) – Strong recent form and proven consistency
- Place: Good Apple (#1) – Respect the morning line favoritism
- Show: Hand Over My Heart (#3) – Weight allowance provides edge
- Exacta Box: 1-2-3 ($6 investment)
- Trifecta: 2/1,3/1,3,5 ($6 investment)
Race Outlook
This allowance optional claiming event presents solid betting value with a competitive six-horse field. Grayhop’s recent form pattern suggests current sharpness, while Good Apple’s favoritism commands respect. Hand Over My Heart offers value at 4-1 odds with the weight allowance advantage. Monitor any late scratches, particularly God Guns N Guts given previous veterinary concerns.
The race should develop with honest early pace and provide opportunities for both favorites and value plays in the competitive allowance ranks at Fairmount Park.
Race 5 – Maiden Claiming ($11,000, 6 Furlongs)
Key Contenders
Unified Usyk (#3) attracts attention as the 2-1 morning line favorite with Travis Wales riding for Scott Becker. The higher claiming price of $12,500 suggests better quality maidens.
Parayko (#2) offers value potential with Alexander Bendezu continuing his strong association with the Becker stable throughout the card.
Selection
Win: Unified Usyk (#3)
Place: Parayko (#2)
Show: Young Mischief (#4)
Race 6 – Claiming ($16,000, 6 Furlongs)
Key Contenders
The claiming field presents competitive wagering opportunities with Danza Taxi listed at 5-2 odds and Fever Nation at 7-2. St. Louie Louie (#3) offers 9-2 value with Alexander Bendezu aboard.
Pace Analysis
Seven horses provide excellent betting depth, with multiple speed figures clustered closely together based on recent form patterns.
Selection
Win: Danza Taxi (#4)
Place: Fever Nation (#6)
Show: St. Louie Louie (#3)
Race 7 – Allowance Optional Claiming ($16,500, 1 1/16 Miles)
Key Contenders
The route race offers eight-horse wagering opportunities with Strope (#1) and What a Country (#2) providing early wagering interest. The distance change favors horses with proven stamina.
Selection
Win: Gold Smoke (#4)
Place: Mister Sharpie (#5)
Show: Strope (#1)
Race 8 – Claiming ($9,000, 5 1/2 Furlongs)
Key Contenders
Tapicita (#1) leads the fillies and mares field with Alex Gonzalez riding for Mike Durham. The sprint distance suits the claiming level competition.
Delta Lady (#2) and Miss Tena Marie (#3) provide competitive depth in this eight-horse finale.
Selection
Win: Tapicita (#1)
Place: Delta Lady (#2)
Show: Fancy Hill (#4)
Jockey Notes and Insights
Alexander Bendezu carries multiple mounts for Scott Becker throughout the card, indicating stable confidence and providing consistent jockey-trainer combinations. Reynier Arrieta brings veteran experience to several key assignments, while Alex Gonzalez and Julio Felix offer strong local knowledge.
Trainer Notes and Insights
Scott Becker dominates the trainer standings with multiple entries across the card, suggesting a strong day from this barn. Eddie Essenpreis also sends out several runners with consistent recent form patterns. The trainer distribution favors established local connections with proven Fairmount Park success.
Wagering Strategies
Consider exacta boxes in the smaller fields of races 1-6, where value can be maximized with careful horse selection. The claiming races offer longshot opportunities, particularly in the later races with larger fields. Daily double connections between races 3-4 and 7-8 present value plays given the quality differences.
Focus on win betting in races with clear favorites, then expand to exacta and trifecta plays in competitive fields where odds provide adequate value returns.
