Bobby's Wicked One horse for the course in Thanksgiving Classic

Manny Wah comes out of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Nitrous and Landeskog come out of the Grade 3 De Francis Memorial. Thursday, they’re coming into Bobby’s Wicked One’s house, while Bobby’s Wicked One comes out of hibernation.

Bobby’s Wicked One has won five of his six Fair Grounds starts. He won the Thanksgiving Classic in 2019 and will try to win it again Thursday, but what Bobby’s Wicked One hasn’t done lately is race. After winning the Duncan Kenner last January, Bobby’s Wicked One was beaten almost 50 lengths in the Count Fleet at Oaklawn and lost by 20 in the Aristides on June 6 at Churchill. The Thanksgiving Classic, boosted $25,000 to offer a $125,000 purse this year, marks his first start since.

Al Stall Jr., who trains Bobby’s Wicked One, said the 5-year-old horse was diagnosed with cannon-bone bruising following the Aristides. He also never has liked hot weather – thus, the long layoff.

“He seems fine,” Stall said. “His gate work at Churchill was good and the work the other day at Fair Grounds was very good.”

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Bobby’s Wicked One, one of eight entrants, breaks from post 4 under Miguel Mena and knows only one way of going – to the front. The other primary speed in the six-furlong Thanksgiving, Landeskog and Mr Money Bags, are drawn outside. Bobby’s Wicked One’s best chance is proving the quickest horse through the first furlong.

“It’s all about breaking well,” said Stall. “He and his jock like to get over to the fence.”

Landeskog finished second in a highly rated renewal of the Gallant Bob at Parx ending his 2019 campaign in September for trainer Doug O’Neill, and didn’t start again until Aug. 8 at Ellis Park, where he won an allowance race for new trainer Brad Cox. Landeskog was the 4-5 favorite in the De Francis, where he faded to last of six after chasing 17-1 shot Krysto Sky on a quick pace. Krysto Sky finished fourth, about five lengths in front of Landeskog, but Cox attributed the longshot’s superior showing to a golden rail.

“We worked him a couple times since. He’s a fantastic work horse and he had a really good work the other day at CD,” Cox said, referring to a five-furlong move in 59.40 seconds Nov. 19.

Manny Wah finished fifth Nov. 7 in the BC Sprint, a career-best performance that yielded only a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, a somewhat standard performance from a sprinter who generally has graded out as a Grade 3-level performer.

Nitrous ran one of his best races finishing third, beaten a head, after stalking the pace in the De Francis and could get a good trip behind dueling leaders.

Texas-bred Mr Money Bags has won eight of 14 overall and five of six at six furlongs but looks a cut below the top contenders.