Fair Grounds: Horse racing pick of the day for Dec. 17

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Thursday, Dec. 17

Fair Grounds, Race 7: Allowance/optional claiming (1 mile and 70 yards, 4:54 p.m. ET)

#3 O Seraphina (4-1 on the morning line) showed plenty of speed and potential last winter, when she finished second in the Martha Washington S., then wired a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Oaklawn Park by 7 1/4 lengths.

O Seraphina hasn’t been quite so sharp since she returned from a 10-month layoff in October, as she has finished eighth and seventh in a pair of high-class allowance races on the Kentucky circuit. But she flashed speed on both occasions and will drop down the class ladder for Thursday’s test, which sets the stage for a rebound performance.

The 92 Brisnet Speed rating she posted in the Martha Washington stamps her as a contender on her best day, and dropping blinkers is a winning move 27% of the time for trainer Joe Sharp.

Let’s bank on O Seraphina’s tactical speed to win the day and favor the chestnut filly with a win bet.

$25 to win on #3 O Seraphina

Good luck!