How to bet the Magic City Classic Stakes

A field of eight registered Alabama-bred runners will travel one-mile on the Fair Grounds main oval in Friday’s $85,000 Magic City Classic S. #3 Liken It (3-1) is the lone runner in the field with a local win, and the gelding is also the defending champ in the contest, so I will tab the eight-year-old for the tally on this occasion. 

Magic City Wagers

• $20 win #3 Liken It ($20)
• $5 exacta key box 3 with 4,8 ($20)

Trained by Rylee Magnon, the bay was the runner-up in this tilt in 2023 and comes into this year’s edition off the layoff since April. In his latest assignment, the son of Doc N Bubba G romped home to a facile stakes win at Evangeline Downs and is more than capable of firing off the shelf. The tactical sort will never be far back with Devon Magnon in the stirrups. 

#4 Wabash (4-1), also from the Magnon shedrow, has run a few big races since joining this outfit in the spring and has some appeal at a fair price that might float up at post time. The four-year-old gelding is relatively lightly raced compared to his foes and has trained well in advance of his first run since checking in fourth in the Sweet Home Alabama S. at Delta Downs in October. He has a solid turn of foot on his best day, and I expect the son of Jess’s Dream to be a factor late with Jareth Loveberry in the silks. He could have swift early fractions to rally into in the lane against this crew. 

#8 Jovie G (5-2) was a close second in the contest in 2024 and has compiled a strong 6-2-3-0 mark this campaign. The speedy filly will face the boys today, but has done so on numerous occasions in the past, and the outside post seems to be ideal for her running style. Three-time stakes queen from the Jonathan Wong shedrow tuned up for Friday with a 2 1/4-length stakes triumph at Delta Downs when leading throughout, and her recent fitness might play a big part in this race. Isaac Castillo retains the mount atop the win threat.