Fair Grounds Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, January 17, 2026

Below is a table for each race of the day. The table is ordered by our algorythmically calculated expected order of finish. Our program takes into account past performances, workout times, speed ratings, recency, and breeder/jockey data amoung other data points.

Using the “Expected” column, the lower number is better. When there is a clear lowest value, we like that horse best to win. In situations where many horses share low numbers, we like those horses equally well. If no horse is under 3, the results are less clear to us and bettors should examine the race more closely.

Using the “Value” column, we present the minimum payout we would recommend betting the particular horse. Look for higher-paying odds than those listed if you like that horse.

Scratches are notated and will be updated as available.

RACE NUMBER 1 (Starter Allowance) – Starter Allowance

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Sabi 5.00 1 2-1
4 4 Calibrate 3.50 1.4 3-1
8 8 Liar’s Poker 8.00 2.5 5-1
6 6 Protonic Power 4.50 3.3 6-1
9 9 Write Off Jerry 4.00 3.3 6-1
5 5 Next Level 5.00 3.3 6-1
10 10 Devil’s Harvest 12.00 3.9 7-1
1 1 National Eclipse 12.00 4.7 9-1
7 7 Solid Left 12.00 5.2 10-1
2 2 Now and Later 20.00 5.8 11-1
11 11 Curahee 6.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 2 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Miss Super Mo 3.50 1 2-1
1 1 Paradise Ridge 8.00 1.9 4-1
3 3 Miss Shane 12.00 3.1 6-1
6 6 Running Faith 6.00 3.2 6-1
4 4 Tied the Knot 5.00 3.6 7-1
8 8 Love Getaway 6.00 4.5 8-1
2 2 Seamus’s Girl 12.00 5.2 10-1
7 7 Wicked Emily 8.00 5.6 11-1
9 9 Mighty Hankerin 3.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 3 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Jackson Hole 3.50 1 2-1
5 5 Herbs Bolt 3.50 1.7 3-1
6 6 Arabia Wild 3.50 2 4-1
4 4 Colt Forty Seven 12.00 2.5 5-1
7 7 Different Gravy 6.00 2.7 5-1
2 2 Vamos Ya 15.00 3.2 6-1
3 3 Thunder Buck 1.80 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 4 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Clear as a Bele 3.00 1 2-1
4 4 Classic Time 4.00 1.6 3-1
2 2 Dapper Moon 3.50 2.8 5-1
9 9 F T W Slam 4.50 4.6 9-1
7 7 Max Got Excited 8.00 5 9-1
1 1 Louisiana Jess 8.00 5.4 10-1
3 3 House Bourbon 20.00 6.2 12-1
6 6 Craken Jax 12.00 7.9 15-1
8 8 Majority Opinion 12.00 9 17-1

RACE NUMBER 5 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
11 11 Kayla’s Komet 8.00 1 2-1
5 5 Winning Matters 8.00 1.1 2-1
7 7 Feeling Groovy 4.50 1.9 4-1
8 8 Constructively 30.00 3.3 6-1
4 4 Funny Bunny 20.00 5.2 10-1
1 1 Thesewallshaveears 8.00 5.4 10-1
2 2 Tap to Open 5.00 5.7 11-1
13 13 Goodall 5.00 6.2 12-1
3 3 Isabelle’s Music 15.00 6.6 12-1
9 9 Callmeyourmajesty 15.00 7 13-1
12 12 Love and Trust 3.50 7 13-1
10 10 Just Bluffing 6.00 7.4 14-1
6 6 Zsa Zsa 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 6 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Cowboy Roy 8.00 1 2-1
12 12 Trouble Calling 8.00 2.1 4-1
9 9 Hot Days Ahead 20.00 4.3 8-1
2 2 Guns Allowed 5.00 6.1 11-1
5 5 Mojacar 3.50 7 13-1
4 4 Bearister 15.00 7.2 14-1
3 3 Get Them Roses 15.00 7.3 14-1
10 10 Double Entendre 6.00 7.4 14-1
6 6 Knock It Off 5.00 7.6 14-1
7 7 Classic Tap 10.00 7.6 14-1
11 11 McBridge 15.00 8 15-1
8 8 Special Ops 15.00 SCRATCH
13 13 Tapit’s Gunner 20.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 7 (Duncan F. Kenner S.) – Duncan F. Kenner S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
2 2 Heart Headed 3.50 1 2-1
4 4 Usually Wrong 3.00 1.1 2-1
3 3 Bear River 8.00 2.1 4-1
1 1 Wendelssohn 6.00 2.7 5-1
6 6 Schwarzmeier 20.00 3.9 7-1
9 9 Can’t Deny It 8.00 4.2 8-1
8 8 Mondogetsbuckets 12.00 4.8 9-1
5 5 Petcoff 8.00 5.2 10-1
12 12 High Front 10.00 5.3 10-1
7 7 Step Forward 12.00 SCRATCH
11 11 Frost Free 20.00 SCRATCH
10 10 Monsieur Candy 20.00 SCRATCH
13 13 Tough Catch 12.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 8 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Liberty Valance 3.50 1 2-1
12 12 Ocelli 4.00 2.2 4-1
1 1 El Capo 15.00 3.2 6-1
6 6 Roguishness 5.00 3.4 6-1
11 11 Market Runner 5.00 3.5 7-1
4 4 La Norme de Jour 20.00 3.6 7-1
5 5 Silver Shot 10.00 4 8-1
10 10 He’s a Charmer 12.00 4.3 8-1
2 2 Gethsemane 10.00 5.6 11-1
7 7 Reagan’s Honor 8.00 5.8 11-1
9 9 Kelz 20.00 6.5 12-1
8 8 Sunset Skip 50.00 12 23-1

RACE NUMBER 9 (Marie G. Krantz Memorial S.) – Marie G. Krantz Memorial S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Medoro 2.00 1 2-1
8 8 Nanda Dea (ARG) 4.50 1.4 3-1
6 6 Sweet Treasure 3.00 2.4 4-1
9 9 Stylish Sue 8.00 3.5 7-1
2 2 Epic Style 12.00 4.5 9-1
4 4 Lucky Speech 15.00 4.9 9-1
1 1 Cupids Crush 20.00 5 9-1
7 7 Strikingly Spun 12.00 5.2 10-1
11 11 Triumphant Spirit 12.00 5.8 11-1
10 10 Lakota Spirit 50.00 7.9 15-1
3 3 Wild Bout Hilary 20.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 10 (Fasig-tipton Silverbulletday S.) – Fasig-tipton Silverbulletday S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Taken by the Wind 2.50 1 2-1
1 1 Atropa 2.00 1.7 3-1
3 3 White Smoke 4.50 4.4 8-1
6 6 Pashmina 5.00 5.5 10-1
2 2 Dancin in Old Town 10.00 6 11-1
5 5 Luv Your Neighbor 4.00 6 11-1

RACE NUMBER 11 (Colonel E. R. Bradley S.) – Colonel E. R. Bradley S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Lagynos 3.50 1 2-1
1 1 Kupuna 3.00 4.4 8-1
5 5 Cameo Performance 6.00 5.7 11-1
7 7 Theismann 10.00 5.7 11-1
10 10 Gigante 10.00 5.8 11-1
3 3 Idratherbeblessed 6.00 7 13-1
8 8 Point Proven 12.00 7.4 14-1
6 6 Vote No 12.00 9.7 18-1
9 9 Reagan’s Wit 10.00 10.2 19-1
2 2 Sand Pipes 12.00 10.4 20-1
11 11 Otago 20.00 11 21-1

RACE NUMBER 12 (Louisiana S. Presented By Hagyard) – Louisiana S. Presented By Hagyard

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Just a Touch 1.60 1 2-1
5 5 Sir Greylind 5.00 3.9 7-1
7 7 Willy D’s 4.00 4.5 9-1
1 1 Moonlight 4.50 4.7 9-1
4 4 Accelerize 8.00 5.6 10-1
3 3 Cadet Corps 8.00 5.6 11-1
2 2 Henro 20.00 7.3 14-1
6 6 Tarantino 12.00 8 15-1

RACE NUMBER 13 (Lecomte S.) – Lecomte S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Crown the Buckeye 4.00 1 2-1
10 10 Stop the Car 8.00 1 2-1
11 11 Chip Honcho 4.50 1.5 3-1
8 8 White Tiger 8.00 2.9 6-1
2 2 Carson Street 8.00 4.1 8-1
1 1 Quality Mischief 10.00 4.1 8-1
5 5 Golden Tempo 8.00 4.6 9-1
6 6 Thunder Buck 6.00 4.7 9-1
7 7 Mesquite 8.00 5 9-1
4 4 Exosome 20.00 8.3 16-1
9 9 Ocelli 12.00 SCRATCH

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Keep up to date on late scratches and other changes – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk.