Montador Proves Best as Stidham Scores Woodchopper Exacta

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Montador Proves Best as Stidham Scores Woodchopper Exacta

NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 27, 2025) — Godolphin’s Montador proved best for Mike Stidham on Saturday in the $100,000 Woodchopper at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, winning by 4 ¼ lengths over his stablemate Juris Doctor.

Piloted by Brian Hernandez Jr., Montador faced six 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles over the turf course, stopping the clock in 1:41.31.

“I was just a passenger today,” Hernandez said. “That performance was just a testament to Mike and his team. All I had to do was give him the cleanest trip possible. Montador did the rest for us.”

Coco Connect broke on top, speeding through the opening fraction in :23:00 and slowing the field up for a half mile call in :47.58. Montador set up shop tracking the leader on his outside while Juris Doctor settled in sixth along the rail. At the top of the stretch the stablemates were even and preparing to bid to the front. Montador sailed by in the clear while Juris Doctor found repeated trouble trying to split the fading early leaders. Faber finished willingly to win the photo for third.

“Big win,” Stidham said. “Montador ran a great race. He got in some trouble at Churchill (in the Grade 3 Commonwealth) last time, so we had some redemption here today. He’s got a lot of upside.”

Sent off at even money, Montador paid $4.20, $2.60, and $2.40.

Adding a first stakes title to his resume, the Nyquist colt’s lifetime record now stands at 7-3-2-0 with $279,309 in career earnings.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.