Thanksgiving Spot Plays for Fair Grounds Nov. 27

In addition to a hearty meal with family and friends, one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is tuning in to a typically competitive and attractive card assembled by Fair Grounds.

Although no longer the opening day of its winter meet, Fair Grounds' holiday program is often one of its best of the season, and is made more appealing by the abundance of turf action.

Here are some horses of interest at Thursday's table: 

Race 2: Allowance, 1:30 p.m. ET

It might be asking a lot for the morning line price to hold on #5 Pisciotta (9-2), but this N2X allowance appears a winnable spot for the four-year-old.

Granted, with only six career starts, it's been tough keeping this filly active over the past two seasons. But trainer Cherie DeVaux got this filly to deliver twice at last year's Fair Grounds meet after adding blinkers. Presumably something went amiss with her last April after a poor showing at Keeneland, but she's back now and with prior success of firing fresh off the bench.

Race 4: Maiden, 2:30 p.m. ET

In a seemingly wide-open two-year-old maiden over a mile on the turf, #9 Final War (12-1) might offer some value.

A Divisidero half-brother to Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Antiquarian and Delaware Oaks (G3) winner Fondly, Final Way turned in a fair debut in an auction maiden at Kentucky Downs in early September. Although not quite good enough to capitalize when rallying wide into a scorching pace, he finished fourth and wasn't far off a slightly better placing.

His next start at Keeneland was rained off the turf, and I can cut him slack for throwing in the towel late over a sloppy track. Back on what should be his preferred surface, I envision him progressing on that debut and over a more conventional course.

Race 8: Allowance, 4:30 p.m. ET

Trainer Mike Maker and jockey Jareth Loveberry have terrific stats and a positive ROI when teaming up at Fair Grounds and elsewhere, one of the several reasons I'm leaning toward #4 Enlighten (4-1).

Enlighten is also a recent claim for Maker, and though the horse is eligible for the N2X allowance condition here, the trainer sees fit to run him for the $50,000 tag. Regardless, he's a strong fit off his New York form this summer, and the fact that he came close at this level at Gulfstream last winter. A typical performance from the City of Light colt puts him right there.