In addition to the Louisiana Derby Day races, Fair Grounds held six stakes for Accredited Louisiana-breds closing weekend, Saturday, March 25, and Sunday March 26.
Watch highlights and post race interviews below
Crescent City Derby
Allnight Moonlight
Ransom the Moon–Gingertini, by Medaglia d’Oro
O–Roger G. Smith, B–Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA), T–Ron Faucheux, J–Florent Geroux
Crescent City Oaks
Star Moment
Star Guitar–Moment of Majesty, by Saint Liam
O–Intrepid Thoroughbreds LLC, B–Brittlyn, Inc. (LA), T–Ron Faucheux, J–Corey J. Lanerie
Costa Rising Stakes
Big Chopper
Shackleford–Miss Well Molded, by Unusual Heat
O–Kendel D. Standlee, B–Kendel Standlee (LA), T–Scott Gelner, J–Corey J. Lanerie
Star Guitar Stakes
Touchuponastar
Star Guitar–Touch Magic, by Lion Heart
O–Set-Hut LLC, B–Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA), T–Jeff Delhomme, J–Timothy Thornton
Page Cortez Stakes
First I’ve Seen
Astrology–Correct Call, by Consolidator
O–Tom Curtis, B–Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson (LA), T–Victor Arceneaux, J– Casey Fusilier
Shantel Lanerie Memorial Stakes
Nosilverspoonshere
Connect–Grand Style, by Giant’s Causeway
O–Rocket Ship Racing, LLC, B–Gulf Coast Stables LLC (LA), T–Thomas M. Amoss, J–Corey J. Lanerie
New Orleans, La (Monday, March 27, 2023) – One odds-on and one at 17-1, Ron Faucheux saddled the winners of the Crescent City Derby and Oaks, both for $100,000 purses, on Louisiana Derby Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
“For me, it’s all about the Crescent City Oaks and Crescent City Derby,” Faucheux said. “So to sweep the Oaks and the Derby, wow, what a beautiful day.”
Florent Geroux pilots Allnight Moonlight to victory in the 51st running of the Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
First, it was the odds-on favorite AllNight Moonlight ridden by Florent Geroux. Faucheux set owner Roger Smith to Derby dreaming when he picked out this son of Ransom the Moon at the 2021 Texas Thoroughbred Yearling Sale.
“At the sale, I told Roger we got a Derby horse,” Faucheux said. “I said we’re talking Crescent City Derby, that’s how we like to do it down here.”
Allnight Moonlight broke sharpest but it was Calibrachoa Kid who pressured and took the lead through :23.60 and :47.81 opening fractions. But when Geroux asked, Allnight Moonlight responded, taking the commanding lead and crossing the finish line in 1:45.82. Two and a half lengths back was Late September who was grinding home after settling back to last early on. Calibrachoa Kid hung on for third.
“Once the horse passed me it really wasn’t a concern,” Geroux said. “I decided to save some horse for the end but kept close and saved ground. I’ve worked the horse and I know he’s a very straightforward horse. He’s matured since winning the Half Ours. Ron has done a beautiful job–he had this horse ready for me today.”
In realizing his connections’ plans and notching his third win to go with two seconds in six starts, Allnight Moonlight’s lifetime earnings now stand at $157,000.
Backing Faucheux in the first of the day paid $3.40, $2.60, and $2.20. Rounding out the order of finish was I Don’t Venmo, Mangum, Mor Big Lee, and Benoit.
Star Moment with Corey Lanerie aboard wins the 18th running of the Crescent City Oaks at the Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans, LA. Hodges Photography / Jamie Newell
Getting 17-1 backing Faucheux’s Crescent City Oaks-winning filly Star Moment was surely a pleasant surprise for this 3-year-old’s supporters. Her first run on the lead certainly surprised her jockey Corey Lanerie, who doubled down winning the Costa Rising Stakes in Race 4.
“I absolutely did not (expect to be on the lead),” Lanerie said. “I thought there was other speed in the race. (Star Moment) ran really well on the turf, so the plan was to just get her within herself and let her run. I really thought I’d be coming from behind and picking up whatever we could. But she broke phenomenally and so I just took what came easy and when I asked her she had some more.”
Breaking sharply and striding out to the lead, Star Moment never looked back and never was menaced while she led by open lengths making the early calls in :23.74 and :47.52. Odds-on favorite Free Drop Maddy sat in second early but couldn’t endure the bid through 1 mile 70 yards to finish in the money. Extending her lead in the stretch, Star Moment won by 4 1/2 lengths over Alpine Mist and Louisiana Liberty who were picking up the pieces.
“She has been doing so good, before the race I felt like if it was on the turf, she’d win,” Faucheux said. “How she’d handle the dirt was the question. Being a quicker surface today I think she took a hold of it. When she got to the front and they weren’t really going with her I thought ‘wow, she may just walk the dog and keep on going.’ What a great ride by Corey. She ran awesome.”
Registering her first stakes win, Star Moment is now sitting on $91,530 in lifetime earnings with a 4-2-0-0 record.
Free Drop Maddy, Guitar Woman, and Olivia G rounded out the order of finish.
New Orleans, La (Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023) – After breaking his maiden in January, Roger Smith’s Allnight Moonlight immediately stepped up to stakes company and stepped out in front to wire the inaugural $75,000 Louisiana Stallion of the Year Half Ours Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Going one mile 70 yards, Allnight Moonlight beat seven other statebred 3-year-olds by four lengths.
Allnight Moonlight. Hodges photography.
Piloted by Jareth Loveberry and trained by Ron Faucheux, Allnight Moonlight completed one mile and 70 yards in 1:43.94. He is now two-for-two since adding blinkers. The win in the Half Ours was Faucheux’s second on the day and sixth on the week. Sitting at 25 total wins to Bret Calhoun’s 30 and Brad Cox’s 28,Faucheuxis now in position to compete for his third straight trainer’s title.
“Ron (Faucheux) has really done a great job with this horse,” Loveberry said. “Stretching him out and putting the blinkers on, he got him going in the right direction. I made sure he got a good break and was able to take command after that. He’s a really nice horse and I want to thank the whole team.”
Breaking from the rail, Allnight Moonlight shot out to take control and set scintillating fractions of :23.50 and :46.29. After bobbling at the start, the 2-5 favorite Jack Hammer rushed to keep up and took a run at Allnight Moonlight in the second turn but came up empty. As Allnight Moonlight put more distance between himself and the field at every call, Benoit and Mangum ran well for second and third-place honors respectively. Never mustering a re-rally after being turned away, Jack Hammer held on for fourth.
“We’ve always been high on this horse,” Faucheux said. “The addition of blinkers helped him prove his talent in these last two races. I think the sky’s the limit with him. I love this horse, always have, even when he was running second or worse. We always thought he would be a true router, and he might even be best on the grass in the long run. He has the feet for it and the pedigree. I’m so happy for (owner) Roger Smith who is here with his grandson today. He’s been with me through and through, we’ve had a lot of fun. It’s a special (win).”
Stiff Drink, Gobot, Real Action, and My Lil Dude completed the order of finish.
Allnight Moonlight was sent off at 5-1 and returned $13.00, $7.40, and $3.80. He boosted his career record to 5-2-2-0 and earnings to $97,000.
*****
Mansfield Racing’s Free Drop Maddy wired the field to win the inaugural $75,000 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Buttercup’s Song Stakes, recording her third stakes victory during the 2022-2023 meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The sophomore beat seven 3-year-old statebred fillies by 2 1/4 lengths.
Piloted by Rey Gutierrez and trained by Bret Calhoun, Free Drop Maddy completed one mile in 1:39.47 for her first win going two turns. Her previous three efforts came at Delta Downs.
“Delta is a much different surface and (Free Drop Maddy) runs better here (at Fair Grounds),” Gutierrez said. “Bret (Calhoun) made some adjustments coming into this race, and she was extremely comfortable out there, very relaxed on the lead. Today was her first victory stretching out, and the credit goes to Bret and his team.”
Free Drop Maddy. Hodges photography.
Free Drop Maddy broke sharply and immediately took command, rolling through the early fractions in :24.57 and :48.22. New Destiny chased the leader early on before settling along the rail and biding her time for a late bid. Olivia G settled near the back early before making a bold, wide move to threaten in the stretch. Both of those two fillies ranged up behind Free Drop Maddy at the top of the stretch but neither could threaten as the winning filly kicked away. Olivia G beat New Destiny to the wire. Racing midpack throughout, Guitar Woman rounded out the superfecta.
“(Free Drop Maddy) is a small fast filly,” Calhoun said. “She’s like dynamite: little but powerful. Scheduling and hoping Delta’s track had tightened up had us back over there (in her last race), and I regret it. She doesn’t like that track at all.”
She Told You So, For Harper, Hopeitsmyluckyday, and Agami completed the order of finish.
Free Drop Maddy was sent off the 9-5 co-favorite and returned $5.00. $3.60, and $3.00. In joining the ranks of Surveillance and Oeuvre with her third stakes score of the meet, she boosted her career record to 8-4-1-2 and earnings to $272,800.
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