Chublicious on target for Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds
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Photo:
Maryland Jockey Club
Graded stakes-winning Chublicious has adapted nicely to his new surroundings, according to trainer Ron Faucheux, and is on target for Thursday’s $75,000 Thanksgiving Handicap said his new conditioner. Privately purchased recently by Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stables, the New Jersey-bred son of Hey Chub was an impressive winner last out of the Grade III DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park, defeating multiple graded stakes winner Whitmore by nearly two lengths in the process.
“He’s really blossomed since he got to the Fair Grounds,” Faucheux said. “I got him a couple weeks after the (Sept. 16) DeFrancis Dash. Right now his color is the best he’s been since I’ve had him and he seems to be feeling better than he has since I got him. He is peaking at the right time. He carries good energy and is race-ready, which is nice to see since he ran a big race last time.
“The timing of this race is perfect for him,” Faucheux continued. “We haven’t trained him too hard and he’s really fit right now. His two works over this track have been great. I know Yockey’s Warrior is a really nice horse and will be hard to beat, but I’m confident we’ll show up.”
Faucheux will attempt to win his third Thanksgiving, having taken the high-attendance holiday feature twice (2011 and 2013) with Brittlyn’s popular gelding Gantry, who remains a pony in the Faucheux barn.
Chublicious, a 10-time winner from 23 starts and nine-time winner at the Thanksgiving’s six-furlong trip, will break from post two under recent record-setting Arlington International Racecourse jockey title winner Jose Valdivia, Jr.
YOCKEY’S WARRIOR AFTER A SECOND HELPING IN THANKSGIVING
Defending champion Yockey’s Warrior appears set for a repeat performance in the Thanksgiving Handicap on Thursday if his Friday work was any indication. The son of Warrior’s Reward worked a sharp half-mile in 49.20, good for 14th-best of 68 drills at the distance. A week prior he worked the same distance 48.40.
“He really looks good right now,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “He really likes it here at the Fair Grounds. He’s on schedule, let’s put it that way, and came out great from his workout yesterday.”
Co-owned by Stall, the 5-year-old returned from a six-month layoff last out to win a Keeneland allowance by 1¾ lengths. Last year’s Thanksgiving was arguably his best performance when overpowering a field by 2¼ lengths that included subsequent Gulfstream Park track record setter and multiple graded stakes winner Clearly Now. Miguel Mena, who has won four of five with the six-time winner from 13 starts, returns to ride from post four.
Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
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