Fair Grounds Stakes Plays for Dec. 26

A trio of stakes races will highlight a solid 12-race card at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Find expert plays for the following races below:

• Pago Hop S.
• Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial S.
• Woodchopper S.

Pago Hop S. - Race 7 (4:54 p.m. ET)

Sophomore fillies will go one mile on the turf with 11 signed on. I am not sure if #7 Pass the Plate (8-1) is better on the turf or dirt, but the Paul McGee pupil is a stout late runner on both surfaces, and I will give her the slight edge. Temple City filly is stakes placed on the course, and she brings solid current form to the field as well. 

Joseph E. Spanky Broussard Memorial S. - Race 8 (5:23 p.m. ET)

A field of six fillies and mares will contest the main-track affair. I have backed #1 Whoa Nellie (8-5) in deeper fields in the recent past, so I have to give her the nod against this crew. Consistently good Orb 4-year-old will save ground to the top of the lane before unleashing her powerful stretch kick under Geroux.

Woodchopper S. - Race 9 (5:52 p.m. ET)

A huge field of 13 sophomores will go postward in the grassy contest. I believe that this is the most wide-open of the black-type events, and I am boxing three price horses in an exacta.

My top pick is the ultra-consistent #10 Telephone Talker (12-1) for Mike Maker. Wicked Strong colt has been first or second in all four outings since joining this outfit, and he seems poised for a positive result in his stakes debut under Beschizza.

#6 Dynadrive (12-1), also from the Maker barn, has won on the green at Saratoga, Belmont Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Monmouth Park to this stage of his development. Temple City gelding rises up from the claiming ranks off the re-claim, but he fits well in this spot with his best.

Two-time stakes victor #8 Doc Boy (12-1) has failed to impress in his last pair of assignments, but improvement is expected in his second try since May. Into Mischief colt will be running on late under turf ace Geroux.