Fair Grounds: Betting Coin Miner in Race 3 at Fair Grounds on Saturday

An overflow field of contenders is entered for Race 3 at Fair Grounds on Saturday and it looks like a really good betting opportunity. The first-level allowance tilt on the lawn for the boys lacks a standout and value can be had with multiple runners in the one-mile tilt. I’ll structure a play focused on a pair of horses that intrigue me most in the well-matched field. 

Fair Grounds Race 3 Wagers:

$10 win and place #12 Coin Miner ($20)
$.50-cent trifecta 2,12 with 1,2,3,10,12 with 1,2,3,10,12 ($12)

Fair Grounds Analysis for Race 3 on December 21, 2024

#12 Coin Miner (12-1) is drawn widest in the race, will face his elders for the initial time, and also makes his first appearance since April, but I still like the Keith Desormeaux pupil at a nice price. The bay son of Cloud Computing made a fine late run to miss by a neck at Ellis Park in his debut in 2023, prior to graduating second time out over subsequent stakes winner Aspenite at Kentucky Downs. He concluded his two-year-old season in the Bourbon S. (G2) at Keeneland when falling 3 1/4 lengths short under the line. 

The Kentucky-bred is unplaced from two races this season but has excuses for both. Coin Miner didn’t show much in an off-the-turf try at Fair Grounds in March, and he was a bit overmatched in the deep Palisades S. at Keeneland on April 7. I think the bay colt will thrive with more distance with which to work with on Saturday for a capable layoff conditioner, and he isn’t facing an especially overwhelming field, either. Regular pilot James Graham will have the sophomore stalking the tempo while in the clear every step of the way. 

#2 First Player (10-1) is a two-time turf winner with improving Speed figures for conditioner Paul McGee, and I feel that he is worth a long look with the turf-to-dirt move. The chestnut gelding has put in some solid runs in 2024, with two wins and a second from six tries, including a nice runner-up effort behind a smart winner on the dirt at Churchill most recently. He ran evenly on the Keeneland lawn in his latest grassy outing at 1 3/16 miles and will surely appreciate the move to eight panels today. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old has a good slot to flaunt his tactical speed and be well-placed as the group turns for home under the guidance of Edgar Morales. 

Brad Cox’s #1 American Hope (6-1), local allowance runner-up #3 Sand Pipes (9-2), and morning-line choice #10 My Boy Tony (7-2) will be used for the exotics.