Category: Fair Grounds

Louisiana’s Best Enter to Add Next Chapters, New Battles on Champions Day

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  • Tumbarumba’s Class Clashes with Touchuponastar’s Commanding Speed in Classic
  • West’s Band of “G” Siblings Return To Find Wilson’s Barn Targeting Fillies and Mares Features
  • Advances for Saturday’s Nine Louisiana Champions Day Stakes Totaling $850,000 in Purses 

New Orleans, La (Dec. 7, 2023) – Saturday, Dec. 9 marks the 33rd edition of Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and all six stakes winners from Louisiana Championships Preview Weekend are entered. They’ll face familiar foes looking to avenge opening weekend’s loss and fresh runners from across “The Boot.” The intrastate rivals will line up in the gates of one of the nine stakes, all racing for a share of the $850,000 combined purse total.

Louisiana Champions Day will pick up on several storylines which began over opening weekend’s six stakes. But the most anticipated race introduces a new showdown into the mix: Touchuponastar versus Tumbarumba. Both bred by Coteau Grove Farm, both graded-stakes placed, the two will battle for the first time in Saturday’s $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, as Set-Hut’s Touchuponastar looks to run it back after his dominant performance in the 2022 edition.

The $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Starter kicks off Saturday’s 13-race card with a revised noon CT post time. Three 50-cent Pick 5s with 15% takeout will be offered beginning in Race 1, Race 4, and Race 9. The non-jackpot, $1 Pick 6 with 15% takeout will begin in Race 8 with the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf.

Tumbarumba’s Class Clashes with Touchuponastar’s Commanding Speed in Louisiana Champions Day Classic

A field of six 3-year-olds and up entered the 33rd running of the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic. Two of them are prize fighters who have thrown their La-bred weight around across the stateline, as Touchuponastar and Tumbarumba will rumble in the Bayou on Saturday–their first-ever meeting and only the second time each racehorse has attempted the Classic distance of 1 1/18 miles.

For the past eighteen months, no Thoroughbred in Louisiana has been able to keep up with the commanding speed of Set-Hut’s Touchuponastar. Trained by Jeff Delhomme, the 3-5 morning line favorite has nine wins from 12 starts, including the 2022 Classic, and has never finished out of the money. Facing open company for the first time last May at Lone Star in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3), Frosted Grace proved too much, but last out on Nov. 3, the 4-year-old son of Star Guitar defeated out-of-state rivals including Miles D and Five Star General in the $100,000 Delta Mile.

Touchuponastar’s main rival Tumbarumba has done nothing but face open company throughout his sophomore campaign. In the care of conditioner Brian Lynch, Amerman Racing’s son of Oscar Performance has proven his class across Kentucky. Beating the likes of Scotland, Damon’s Mound, and Denington when winning allowance races at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and the Ellis Park Derby, Tumbarumba also proved he has a champion’s heart, dueling victoriously time and again through the final stages of those races.

“He loves to get engaged,” Lynch said. “He seems to always find more.”

In September’s Oklahoma Derby (G3), Tumbarumba stretched out to 1 1/8 miles and finished third, in front of Raise Cain, Cagliostro, and Hit Show, but a head shy of How Did He Do That.

“He can get the mile and one-eighth,” Lynch said. “He showed that there in the Oklahoma Derby. He fought hard to the wire there. He can duplicate something like that at least. We’re hoping for no rain. (Tumbarumba) wasn’t a big fan of the off track at Ellis this summer and I see they’re calling for some on Saturday.”

Scheduled as Race 5 with a 2:00 p.m. post time, here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Classic from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Touchuponastar (Tim Thornton, Jeff Delhomme, 3-5); 2. Behemah Star (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 8-1); 3. Bayou Jam (CJ McMahon, Jonah Fuselier, 30-1); 4. Tumbarumba (Florent Geroux, Brian Lynch, 2-1); 5. Cosmic Train (Gerard Melancon, Jerry Delhomme, 20-1); 6. Mangum (Corey Lanerie, Jeff Delhomme, 6-1).

West’s Band of “G” Siblings Return To Find Wilson’s Barn Targeting Fillies and Mares Features

After finishing a game second in each of the three opening day stakes, Patricia West’s band of half-sibling fillies have unfinished business, as A G’s Charlotte, Olivia G, and Tommie G are entered on Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds. But Shane Wilson’s barn is locked in, stocked up, and ready to barrel past Saturday’s statebred foes.

It was almost déjà vu on opening day of the 2023-2024 meet at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Saddling the second-place finisher in each of the three filly stakes, Patricia West nearly repeated the success which came a year prior. Opening day 2022 she took the $75,000 Big World (renamed the John Valene for 2023) with A G’s Charlotte, then scored the natural double when Norah G won on debut. But tough racing luck spelled out troubled or pace-compromised trips for each of Thomas Galvin’s homebred stakes fillies out of the Indygo Shiner mare Adrianne G.

“It was good. It could’ve been great,” West said. “If we could have had just a touch better luck, it could’ve been different.”

On Saturday, West’s band of fillies will have a chance to top her impressive 2022 opening day double, as the Louisiana Champions Day races they’re entered in line up for a shot at the natural triple. Each with a purse of $100,000, the Distaff is carded as Race 9, the Ladies Sprint as Race 10, and the Lassie as Race 11.

Besides the newly-minted millionaire Free Like a Girl, who is cross-entered in the Distaff and the Ladies Sprint, West’s trio will be challenged by the formidable Brittlyn Stable homebreds in the latter two contests as trainer Shane Wilson entered both Ova Charged and Spirited Beauty in the Ladies Sprint and Clearly a Test in the Lassie.

A G’s Charlotte Distaff Repeat Hinges on Revenge

Looking to reign victorious on a second Louisiana Champions Day, Thomas Galvin’s A G’s Charlotte will defend her $100,000 Distaff title against seven 3-year-old and up fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. But the Mo Tom 4-year-old will have to get the better of D and S Stables’ Vale Male who seized the day when no other runner was sent to the front in opening day’s Valene Memorial.

“Maybe we should’ve gone to the lead last time,” West said. “There will be a little more speed in this race. But more distance will help her out.”

Since removing blinkers earlier in the year, A G’s Charlotte has two wins and three seconds from six races.

“I think she is the same with or without blinkers,” West said. “She runs the way she runs.”

Scheduled as Race 9 with a 4:00 p.m. post time, here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Distaff from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Wholelottamo (Florent Geroux, Jayde Gelner, 10-1); 2. Free Like a Girl (Vicente Del-Cid, Chasey Pomier, 3-1); 3. Star Moment (Corey Lanerie, Bret Calhoun, 4-1); 4. Cheapskate Diva (Carlos L. Marquez, Joseph Felks, 15-1); 5. A G’s Charlotte (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Patricia West, 5-2); 6. Fort Polk (Emanuel Nieves, Pat Mouton, 12-1); 7. Vale Male (James Graham, James Hodges, 6-1); 8. Sabra Tuff (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 9-2).

Second to Many, Olivia G Tasked with Outsprinting Ova Charged

Galvin and West will have a chance at another natural double, but this time with siblings, as Olivia G enters the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint looking to turn the tables on the newly-minted millionaire Free Like a Girl.

“Free Like a Girl only beat us by 3/4-length,” West said. “We couldn’t get out of traffic until the quarter pole. If she could’ve gotten through, that would’ve been interesting.”

A talented and honest filly, the 3-year-old Oliva G racked up five place-finishes before breaking her maiden in October at Delta Downs. Four of her eight career starts were in stakes, including the Doris Hebert on opening day, her first time racing with the confidence of a win under her belt.

“I’ve always had confidence in Olivia G, since last year,” West said. “Both in Norah G (3-year-old stablemate) and her, but the question was always who was better between the two. Now I’m back to my original confidence (in Olivia G).”

Fellow Ladies Sprint foes Beleout, Free Drop Maddy, and Miss Priority exit the Hebert where they finished third, fourth, and sixth, respectively.

To be the Ladies Sprint champion you’ve got to beat the Ladies Sprint champion, and that title decidedly belongs to Ova Charged. Brittlyn Stable’s star filly has won the last two editions of this race, and she enters for a third alongside her stablemate Spirited Beauty. Both trained by the current meet-leader Shane Wilson, and both working lights out.

“The rain last week messed up our schedule just a bit,” Wilson said. “I wanted to work her on Sunday, come back the following Sunday, and then race 6 days later. It rained and rained so we skipped that one and came back with one solid work last Wednesday. She went (5 furlongs) in a minute and some change, galloped out in 1:12.”

Ova Charged will be making her first start from Wilson’s barn. Having mopped the floor over the past two years with any statebred filly who would face her, the 5-year-old Star Guitar mare tried La-bred males at Fair Grounds last March only to finish fourth. She headed to Keeneland in April for her subsequent race, but failed to pass the open company acid-test, finishing seven lengths back in sixth.

“(Ova Charged) came out of the race at Keeneland with some small issues so they kicked her out and gave her a little break,” Wilson said. “She’s been bulletproof since she’s been back.”

In her one prior start with Wilson, the 5-year-old Star Guitar mare Spirited Beauty tried blinkers for the first time and failed to factor in August’s Louisiana’s Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Louisiana Downs.

“Spirited Beauty is a beautiful horse. She’s tall, wide, long, a gorgeous filly,” Wilson said. “She didn’t break well from the gates the last couple of times she raced, so we just stopped, let her get away from the track and get her mind straight. She’s come back with two bullet workouts. She should compliment Ova Charged very well because she’ll be coming with her run at the end where Ova will be pressing the pace.”

Scheduled as Race 10 with a 4:30 p.m. post time, here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Free Drop Maddy (CJ McMahon, Bret Calhoun, 12-1); 2. Olivia G (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Patricia West, 6-1); 3. Basalt Street (Jareth Loveberry, Gary Scherer, 8-1); 4. Ova Charged (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 3-1); 5. Free Like a Girl (Vicente Del-Cid, Chasey Pomier, 5-2); 6. Snowball (Brian Hernandez Jr., Samuel Breaux, 10-1); 7. Spirited Beauty (Corey Lanerie, Shane Wilson, 8-1); 8. Beleout (Rey Gutierrez, Courtney Dandridge Jr., 6-1); 9. Miss Priority (Gerard Melancon, Paul Duhon, 20-1); 10. Speedy Dudette (Aubrie Green, Joe Duhon, 20-1).

Wilson Grades Clearly A Test 100% Ahead of Lassie

In the finale of the three Louisiana Champions Day fillies and mares affairs, trainers Shane Wilson and Patricia West’s fillies will have more than just each to worry about, as 13 juveniles are signed on to six dirt furlongs in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie.

Having broken her maiden even though not fully cranked last out in the Donovan L. Ferguson, the 7-2 morning line favorite Clearly a Test will lay it all on the line this time and likely benefit from her outside draw in post No. 11.  Compromised by her rail draw after breaking towards the back in the Ferguson, Jose Guerrero guided Clearly a Test through a full field of traffic to have her positioned at the top of the stretch for a clear run to the wire.

“I wasn’t sure she was fit enough for (the Ferguson),” Wilson said. “I got one 3/8ths and two halves in her ahead of that one. It worked out when she didn’t break well and Jose had to sit behind horses and wait, he just swung her out and made one 3/8ths run with her. She’s a big strong filly and now that she has one race in her, we have to lead her to the track, lead her back. She went to the gates this morning and boy she was mad when she came out of the gates and didn’t get to run.”

Though entering her third stake, Thomas Galvin’s Tommie G is still a maiden. Overcoming a tough break from the gates herself, the last piece of Patricia West’s “G” puzzle ran well to finish second in the Ferguson. The half-sibling of A G’s Charlotte and Olivia G also showed her talent when finishing third in the Louisiana Jewel in her race prior.

Scheduled as Race 11 with a 5:00 p.m. post time, here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Ready for Thunder (Edgar Morales, Chasey Pomier, 30-1); 2. Sarah’s Court (Gerard Melancon, Allan Kanfer, 15-1); 3. Emily’s Bullet (Vicente Del-Cid, Chasey Pomier, 10-1); 4. Tommie G (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Patricia West, 10-1); 5. Tap Galore (Jareth Loveberry, Jayde Gelner, 8-1); 6. Accommodate Eva (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 8-1); 7. Undercover Girl (Corey Lanerie, Brad Cox, 4-1); 8. Guitar Solo (Joel Dominguez, Allen Landry, 9-2); 9. Lightofmaine (CJ McMahon, Bret Calhoun, 20-1); 10. She Smiled At Me (Thomas Pompell, Brett Brinkman, 12-1); 11. Clearly a Test (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 7-2); 12. One Line Ruler (Tim Thornton, Carrol Castille, 15-1); 13. Astrology Girl (Aubrie Green, Andrea Ali, 30-1).

Classic Cross-entered Behemah Star Likely to Opt for Turf, Who Took the Money

Whether it be in the Classic over the $100,000 Turf, cross-entered Behemah Star will have to take on the Pelican State’s foremost surface specialist on Louisiana Champions Day. Touchuponastar is ready and waiting to defend his Classic title. Allied Racing Stables Who Took the Money gives his best late kick across the sod, and he has back-to-back Turf titles to prove it. Winless as a 5-year-old, what does Behemah Star have? A new pilot in Jose Guerrero, a hot barn with Shane Wilson, and an excellent turf effort to build from.

“I’m leaning towards the Turf,” Wilson said. “He ran a big number at Evangeline on the turf. We’re in this to win, and you can’t beat Touchuponastar. Tumbarumba looks tough, too.”

This will be Behemah Star’s fourth start since Brittlyn Stable began transferring horses to Wilson’s barn. Since last year’s Classic, Behemah has lost to Touchuponastar four times, but since joining Wilson it has been Set-Hut’s other standout, Mangum who has got the best of Behemah twice. Last out in the Jacob V. Morreale, Mangum scored the upset with an up-close stalking trip more in line with what Wilson was hoping for his entry, who lagged behind and then ran into trouble trying to close in the homestretch.

Whichever race his connections choose, on Saturday Behemah Star will receive the services of a new rider, Jose Guerrero. Already with six wins, Guerrero came to Fair Grounds this year to be first call for Wilson, who currently leads all trainers with the same six wins.

“Jose won over 100 races with us the last two summers between Evangeline and Louisiana Downs,” Wilson said. “Just out of our barn. Me and him, we come back and watch replays of the horses who are riding today. We study the program and make a plan and go out there and win races.”

Winless from two turf attempts, both at the Turf’s 1 1/16 miles distance, Behemah Star drew post No. 7 and was assessed with 8-1 odds in the morning line.

Scheduled as Race 8 with a 3:30 p.m. post time, here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Turf from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Silver Galaxy (Gerard Melancon, Paul Duhon, 10-1); 2. Budro Talking (Corey Lanerie, Sturgis Ducoing, 9-2); 3. Sonya Knows Better (CJ McMahon, Jonah Fuselier, 30-1); 4. Real City Speed (Ben Curtis, Jayde Gelner, 6-1); 5. Woods N Water (Thomas Pompell, Lee Thomas, 3-1); 6. Regal Kingdom (Jareth Loveberry, Graham Motion, 8-1); 7. Behemah Star (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 8-1); 8. Who Took the Money (Deshawn Parker, Bret Calhoun, 9-5).

Thomas’ Dynamic Duo Return In Contentious, Full-field Sprint 

Trainer Lee Thomas’s dynamic sprinting duo Mike J and Langs Day will look to run a high low offensive attack against Bron and Brow as a full field of fourteen clash in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint.

Piloted by James Graham in the Larry D. Robideaux, Keith Plaisance’s deep closer Langs Day attempted to make an out-of-the-clouds move to be first across the wire after falling more than 15 lengths back. He missed by a thin lip.

“I love watching him run,” Thomas said. “He almost had it last time. James said he’ll get the timing worked out.”

Sent off as the top choice in the same race, Robin Lane Thoroughbreds’ Mike J took the opposite route. An all-out, guns-blazing speedster, suited well by his regular rider Aubrie Green, Mike J scorched the earth on the lead in the Robideaux, while dueling with Scooteria, and was able to hang on for fourth. The Sky Mesa 4-year-old always runs his race and never quits, evidenced by his eight in the money finishes at the Sprint’s 6-furlong distance.

“We loved having the rail with him last time but Scooteria came after him and applied the pressure,” Thomas said. “But we don’t mind the 11-hole for Saturday. He doesn’t need to run straight out of the gate. He’ll be able to cut across from there to find his spot and save ground.”

Drawn to the far outside of the contentious field of 14, Gary Barber’s forward yet tactical Bron and Brow was made the 7-2 morning line favorite. Not having raced since finishing seventh in an open company allowance in July at Ellis Park, the 5-time winner trained by Mark Casse will have to overcome the post with the services of Rey Gutierrez.

“He had a nice summer, finishing five lengths back from Hoist the Gold at Ellis,” David Carroll said, Casse’s assistant trainer on the grounds. “They didn’t do us any favors with the post draw. It’s a tough assignment.”

The 32-1 winner of the Robideaux, Autumns Strong Man enters the Sprint in top form for trainer and owner Gary Husak. With his winning pilot Angel Suarez at home healing his dislocated elbow, the 4-year-old will be piloted by Jose Riquelme. Another major contender is Set-Hut’s Jacob V. Morreale winner, Mangum. Cross-entered in both the Sprint and the Classic, after winning routing in the Morreale his trainer Jeff Delhomme said they wanted to see how he measured against Who Took the Money and Behemah Star, but he was leaning towards the sprint for his star 3-year-old on Championship Day.

Scheduled as race 12 with a 5:30 p.m. post time, here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Hooray Austin (David Cohen, Sean Alfortish, 12-1); 2. Langs Day (James Graham, Lee Thomas, 6-1); 3. Allnight Moonlight (Ben Curtis, David Terre, 12-1); 4. Unified Report (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 20-1); 5. Helaire (Emanuel Nieves, Pat Mouton, 20-1); 6. Scooteria (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 15-1); 7. Autumns Strong Man (Jose Riquelme, Gary Husak, 12-1); 8. Highland Creek (CJ McMahon, Bret Calhoun, 6-1); 9. Brian’s Iron Mike (Tim Thornton, Allen Landry, 15-1); 10. Fiesty Fist (Gerard Melancon, Carrol Castille, 30-1); 11. Mike J (Aubrie Green, Lee Thomas, 8-1); 12. Jax Man (Jaime Torres, Sam David Jr., 12-1); 13. Mangum (Corey Lanerie, Jeff Delhomme, 5-1); 14. Bron and Brow (Rey Gutierrez, Mark Casse, 7-2).

El Dinero Looks for Clean Trip Facing Spinning Aces in Juvenile

After taking blows from his foes out of the gates in the Joseph R. Peluso, Tav Enterprises’ El Dinero produced a last to first rail rally to win the second stake of his young career by a length. Three of El Dinero’s Peluso rivals enter the looking to find the upper hand. Of his eight foes in Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, there’s only one the Patrick Devereux Jr’ trainee has not faced, and that’s Mike Diliberto’s 5-2 morning line favorite, Spinning Aces. owned by  Lynne Boutte and trained by Allen Landry, the gelded son of Hard Aces has two wins in three lifetime starts, including his last-out Jean Lafitte score by a neck. That was going 7 furlongs in the slop at Delta Downs. Nine juveniles will go 6 furlongs on Saturday in Race 7, hoping to assert themselves atop the division.

Scheduled to go off at 3:00 p.m., here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Good and Stout (CJ McMahon, Carrol Castille, 4-1); 2. Prodigy Paradise (Corey Lanerie, Bret Calhoun, 12-1); 3. Sounds Like Power (Deshawn Parker, Jayde Gelner, 12-1); 4. Rising Koto Star (Aubrie Green, Gary Husak, 20-1); 5. Hymn for Carlos (Vicente Del-Cid, Chasey Pomier, 20-1); 6. El Dinero (James Graham, Patrick Devereux Jr., 5-1); 7. Stovall (Rey Gutierrez, Samuel Breaux, 8-1); 8. Strong Promise (Florent Geroux, Jayde Gelner, 3-1); 9. Spinning Aces (Joel Dominguez, Allen Landry, 5-2).

Five Ladies Starters Look to Deny Thetruthisthetruth

Greg Hunter’s Thetruthisthetruth enters the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Starter having won eight of her last nine races. Five older fillies and mares signed on to face the 2-1 morning line favorite, as they try to put an end to the Orrin Cogburn trainee’s four-race win streak.

Written for 5 1/2 furlongs across the main track, post time is noon for the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Starter. Here is the complete field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Track Smart (Joel Dominguez. Isai Gonzalez, 3-1); 2. For Real Alice  (Vicente Del-Cid, Floyd Pitzer, 9-2); 3. Serape (Thomas Pompell, Brett Brinkman, 5-1); 4. Myfriendsawinner (Marcelino Pedroza Jr. Jonas Gibson, 4-1); 5. Thetruthisthetruth (Jansen Melancon, Orrin Cogburn, 2-1); 6. Blessed Anna (Jaime Torres, Jonas Gibson, 6-1).

Broberg Enters Blockade In Dixie Street’s Starter Encore 

Karl Broberg entered two in the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Starter, including the 5-2 morning line favorite, Bootsie’s Galaxy. Together with stablemate Hail State, the End Zone Athletics-owned duo make up one-third of the field of six older males who will go 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt track.

Vanessa Motta’s Dixie Street entered looking to win this race for the second year in a row. Though the 6-year-old has not been able to run back to the 93 Brisnet Speed figure he earned when winning the 2022 edition, the Sean Alfortish trainee has won five of his eight races since that effort.

Slated as Race 3, post time is 1:00 p.m. Here is the complete field for the Louisiana Champions Day Starter from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds): 1. Charli Michael (Ben Curtis, David Terre, 8-1); 2. Bootsie’s Galaxy (Rey Gutierrez, Karl Broberg, 5-2); 3. Dixie Street (Jaime Torres, Sean Alfortish, 7-2); 4. Sharp Charlie (Joel Dominguez, Jorge Lara, 3-1); 5. Hail State (Tim Thornton, Karl Broberg, 8-1); 6. Izzy’s Baby Boy (Vicente Del-Cid, Juan Larrosa, 7-2).

 

James Graham Scores 3,000th Career Win on Sunday at Fair Grounds

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James Graham celebrates 3000th win.

New Orleans, La (Dec. 3, 2023) – On Sunday in Race 2, jockey James Graham won his 3,000th career victory, piloting Big Chief Racing and Rocker O Ranch’s Vortex for trainer Keith Desormeaux at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Coming into the 2023-2024 meet, Graham was ten away from the milestone. He wasted no time closing the gap, winning ten races over 9 cards, including stakes victories in the Claiming Crown Tiara and Iron horse, as well as the John Valene and Joseph Peluso over opening weekend.

“It’s quite emotional actually,” Graham said. “I came here in 2002 and all I ever wanted was a shot. I wish my mom was still alive to see this. Thank you to everybody who has ever put me on a winner throughout my whole career. This is all because of you guys. Thank you to my wife. If it wasn’t for her,  I wouldn’t be where I am. Fair Grounds has been good to me over the years. I’ve made a lot of friends and lost a lot of friends. Racing is a life and we are all a big family. Thank you to everybody.”

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Graham attended jockey’s school and worked for four years as an apprentice, recording one win in his native Ireland before launching his career in the U.S. His first victory came at River Downs on July 1, 2003 aboard B.J. Star for trainer Allan Shapoff in just his 12th mount. Later that year his first Fair Grounds victory came aboard High Octave for trainer Ronny Werner. Graham has gone on to win 1,340 local races and stands tall as the third winningest rider at Fair Grounds since 1986, behind Ronald Ardoin and Robby Albarado.

“This is special for me doing it (at Fair Grounds),” Graham said. “My career took off here. When I first got here in 2003 and started riding, this is the meet that got the ball rolling for me. Look at the guys I started riding with here. Gerard (Melancon), Robby (Albarado), Shane Sellars, E.J. Perrodin–I got educated here. I’ve got a couple more goals at this track that I want to accomplish, so I’m banging on the door and I’m young, fit and healthy.”

Over his career, the 44-year-old has four local riding titles, and won many of the track’s most prominent stakes. Graham has won over 47 graded stakes, and 13 of those have come at Fair Grounds, including victories aboard 135-1 shot Ive Struck a Nerve in the 2013 Risen Star (G2), 28-1 shot Call Me Midnight in the 2022 Lecomte (G3), and 7-1 shot Ron the Greek in the 2010 Lecomte (G3). Ive Struck a Nerve and Call Me Midnight were both trained by Desormeaux.

“Keith has been very good to me since I started my career,” Graham said. “We’ve had a lot of luck. He’s always been a big supporter. I think he’s a brilliant horseman. Thank you to all the horsemen. All I ever wanted was a chance. To have a chance. And these guys gave me a chance.”

Having had three mounts in the Kentucky Derby, Graham’s best finish was aboard Lone Sailor in 2018 when he crossed the line in eighth for trainer Tom Amoss. One of Arlington Park’s all-time winningest jockeys, Graham earned his first graded stakes victory in the 2004 Arlington Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G3). With five grade ones to his name, Graham’s most recent came aboard 27-1 longshot Two Emmys in the 2021 Mr. D., affectionately known as “the last Arlington Million.”

Upon winning his 3,000th race, Graham has amassed $111,328,888 in career earnings from 22,095 mounts. In Graham’s 19th season at Fair Grounds, it is his first year being represented by agent Doug Bredar.

 

Ninety Entered in Saturday’s 25th Claiming Crown Championship at Fair Grounds, Representing 25 States and Canada

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  • One of six on the card from trainer Joe Sharp, Money Supply granted favoritism in the $200,000 Jewel
  • Maker and Diodoro barns arrive in droves, enter seven each looking to continue Claiming Crown success
2/18/2023 – Two Emmys with James Graham aboard pulls away from the field to win the Grade III Fair Grounds Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

 

 

New Orleans, La (Nov. 28, 2023) – Thoroughbred racehorses from all over the country will be arriving at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this week, as 90 horses who have raced in 25 different states and Canada in 2023 have been entered in the Dec. 2 Claiming Crown. The breeding programs of 11 different states will be represented, including Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, Washington, New Jersey, Arkansas, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the eight-race championship pits the nation’s top claiming-level horses against each other as they battle for their share of $1 million in purses. The Claiming Crown races are conducted under starter-allowance conditions, meaning they are restricted to horses that have competed at least once for a certain claiming level or cheaper during a designated time frame.

At seven entries apiece, trainers Mike Maker and Robertino Diodoro lead all barns. Maker’s cadre is led by the United Nations (G1) winner Therapist, one of four stablemates entered in the 12-horse $150,000 Claiming Crown Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Steve Sexton Mile winner Frosted Grace (G3) is the highlight of Diodoro’s trio in the 1 1/8-miles $200,000 Jewel. Stabled at Fair Grounds, Joe Sharp means business with six entries, including Money Supply, the favorite of nine entered in the Jewel.

First post for Saturday’s 11-race program is scheduled for 12:45 p.m (all times Central). The Claiming Crown races begin in Race 3 with the $75,000 Ready’s Rocket Express (1:45 p.m.) and conclude with the $200,000 Jewel (Race 10, 5:15 p.m.).

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In Sharp’s Care, Money Supplies’ Form Earns Jewel Favoritism

The star of Joe Sharp’s six entries on the day, Money Supply has been given top billing in Saturday’s marquee event, the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up.

Saturday’s 25th annual Claiming Crown Day will feature eight races for hard-knocking horses from across the nation. Returning to Fair Grounds for the first time since 2011, it is the second straight year that the series will be hosted by a Churchill Downs Inc. property, as the 2022 races were held at the company’s flagship track in Louisville.  First post is 12:45 p.m. and the featured Jewel will go as Race 10 of 11 at 5:15 p.m.

As the 5-2 favorite, Jordan Wycoff’s 4-year-old colt by Practical Joke was claimed from Chad Brown last August at Saratoga. In Sharp’s care, Money Supply finished second going the Jewel-distance at Saratoga, then won his next two races, both coming at Churchill Downs. Facing first-level allowance competition in his most recent victory, Money Supply finished open lengths ahead of next-out winner Arro Smash and the ever-promising 3-year-old Banishing.

Entering three of the nine entries, trainer Robertino Diodoro looms over the field with the second, third, and fourth choices in the morning line. At 3-1, Flying P Stable’s Saqeel leads the Diodoro trio. Over the 5-year-old’s 2023 campaign, he is six-for-eight in the money with three wins, most recently scoring in a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs.

Of the nine entries, only JD Thoroughbreds and Joey Keith Davis’ All West has won at the Jewel-distance of 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Chris Hartman, the 7-year-old’s last win came going 9 panels in a first-level allowance level on April 30 at Oaklawn Park earlier this year. All West is cross-entered in the 6-furlong Rapid Transit Starter.

Here is the complete field for the Claiming Crown Jewel in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. All West (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 8-1)
  2. Money Supply (Jareth Loveberry, Joe Sharp, 5-2)
  3. Saqeel (Francisco Arrieta, Robertino Diodoro, 3-1)
  4. King’s Ovation (Ricardo Santana Jr., Robertino Diodoro, 4-1)
  5. Frosted Grace (Rey Gutierrez, Robertino Diodoro, 7-2)
  6. Biloxi (Alex Castillo, Ronnie Ward, 20-1)
  7. First Glimpse (David Cohen, Jose Camejo, 20-1)
  8. Bright Spark (James Graham, George Leonard III, 30-1)
  9. Luigi’s Spirit (Corey Lanerie, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, 15-1)

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Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Therapist Leads Maker’s Four Emerald Entries

The Claiming Crown “couch” awaits eleven turf routers as multiple graded stakes winner Therapist enters the $150,000 Emerald.

Run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, the Emerald will go as Race 9 of 11 with a post time of 4:45 p.m. First post Saturday is 12.45 p.m.

Before Michael Dubb’s 8-year-old son of Freud won the Pan American (G2) and the United Nations (G1), he was dropped in for a tag on three different occasions between September and December of 2022. Each time he was claimed. Dubb and trainer Mike Maker saw Therapist’s latent abilities to run longer distances and pulled the trigger on Dec. 30 for $50,000.

However traumatic it could be for other connections to see the New York-bred millionaire in a race reserved for “blue collar” Thoroughbreds, solace can be found in the fact that Therapist struggles to get 1 1/16 miles, having only two wins in 15 tries. Florent Geroux will bring the 9-5 morning line favorite out of gate 11.

Déjà vu awaits anyone who peruses the field, as Mike Maker has three other entries besides Therapist. The four-headed monster includes Tiberius Mercurius, who has fired blanks at the Emerald distance but has established form which rivals the field; the 5-year-old synthetic specialist Race Craft who has one win on grass; and the front-runner Tatanka, who will make his first start from Maker’s barn after September’s claim.

Here is the complete field for the Claiming Crown Emerald in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Firewater Jake (Marcelino Pedroza Jr. George Leonard III, 20-1)
  2. Race Craft (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mike Maker, 5-1)
  3. More Ice (Emanuel Nieves, Joey Foster, 20-1)
  4. Bizzee Channel (Jareth Loveberry, Joe Sharp, 10-1)
  5. Sonny Smack (Leandro Goncalves, Valorie Lund, 20-1)
  6. Tatanka (James Graham, Mike Maker, 10-1)
  7. Runway Magic (Jaime Torres, Joe Sharp, 20-1)
  8. Tiberius Mercurius (Rey Gutierrez, Mike Maker, 6-1)
  9. Ocelot (Corey Lanerie, Karl Broberg, 9-2)
  10. Leave It to Kitten (Luan Machado, Kathy Jarvis, 12-1)
  11. Therapist (Florent Geroux, Mike Maker, 9-5)
  12. Duke of Carthania (Mitchell Murrill, Yovani Munoz, 30-1)

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Emboldened Like a Saltshaker Streaks into $100,000 Rapid Transit

After battling every step of the way when victorious going 3/4 mile at Churchill Downs in his most recent start, Like a Saltshaker looks to continue his dominance in the $100,000 Rapid Transit Starter.

The 6-furlong Rapid Transit will go as Race 8 of 11 with a post time of 4:15 p.m. First post on Saturday is 12:45 p.m.

Claimed in May by trainer Brittany Vanden Berg, the 5-year-old owned by Marisco Brothers Racing has taken a new step forward in each of his last three races. Tabbed at 9-5 in the morning line, the 9-time winner at the Rapid Transit distance will reunite with Chris Emigh and make his initial move from post 9.

With eight of the eleven entered projected to be prompting the pace, the 7-year-old Solidify could be picking up the pieces late. Owned and trained by Juan Cano, the late-kicking sprinter tried stakes company to no avail in July at Ellis Park. More recently he defeated starter-allowance ranks going 6 furlongs in October at Keeneland and followed that up with two in the money finishes at Churchill, solidifying his position as the 9-2 morning line second choice.

Here is the complete field for the Rapid Transit Starter in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Peso in My Pocket (Olaf Hernandez, Yovani Munoz, 20-1)
  2. Pure Panic (Luan Machado, Eric Foster, 6-1)
  3. All West (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 6-1)
  4. Faithful Ruler (Jareth Loveberry, James Watkins, 10-1)
  5. Startdfromdabottom (Edgar Morales, John Ennis, 8-1)
  6. Big Rowdy Dan (Ricardo Santana Jr., Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, 15-1)
  7. Desert Ruler (Rey Gutierrez, Enrique Amado, 15-1)
  8. Solidify (Yoel Navas, Juan Cano, 9-2)
  9. Like a Saltshaker (Chris Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg, 9-5)
  10. Twirling Roses (James Graham, Eduardo Rodriguez, 20-1)
  11. Richiesonaroll (Emmanuel Giles, Jose G. Rodriguez, 10-1)

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Overdrawn Field Ensures Metzen Memorial to Be a Mad Dash for Cash

Overdrawn with 14, the $150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial will see 12 sprinters make a mad dash for cash over the Stall-Wilson turf course.

Carded as Race 7 of 11, the Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial is scheduled to run at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. First post for Saturday’s Claiming Crown Day is 12:45 p.m. and the Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial will go to post at 3:45 p.m.

Several of the 3-year-old and up entrants made a sizable move forward when recently switching to grass, maybe none more so than the 3-1 morning line favorite Mischievous Rogue. Southern Comfort Stables’ 5-year-old ended 2022 facing claiming ranks on dirt and synthetic, but around that time he was gelded and with that equipment change, came new form. In 2023 trainer William Cowans began running Mischievous Rogue through his allowance conditions, and in all seven races he has finished in the money, including winning two turf sprints in Kentucky running the fastest speed figures of his career. Aboard for four of his five lifetime wins, Luan Machado comes to New Orleans with Mischievous Rogue.

Last June, Michael Sorrels’ Atta Party made his first start on the sod a winning one. Since then he has not lost, most recently scoring the upset at Remington Park in September to seal the deal on 2-for-2 turf sprint perfection. Up for his unveiling on the lawn, Angel Suarez will take the reins of the Arkansas-bred, aiming for his fourth score piloting the 4-year-old Martin Villafranco trainee.

Sent off at 44-1 at Keeneland when debuting on grass in his last start, Zoombie shot to the lead and never looked back. The second win of Shagbark Farm’s 4-year-old campaign, Zoombie’s turf heroics produced his fastest speed figure by double-digits. Trainer Ryan Walsh looks to keep the good thing going in the Metzen. Drawn on the rail and made 12-1 in the morning line, Zoombie will receive the services of Corey Lanerie.

Here is the complete field for the Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Zoombie (Corey Lanerie, Ryan Walsh, 12-1)
  2. Mischievous Rogue (Luan Machado, William Cowans, 3-1)
  3. Shimmer Me Timbers (Francisco Arrieta, Robertino Diodoro, 5-1)
  4. Tilted Towers (Chris Emigh, Brittany Vanden Berg, 8-1)
  5. Rebel Posse (Rey Gutierrez, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, 15-1)
  6. Smithwick’s Spice (Florent Geroux, Douglas Nunn, 20-1)
  7. Bring Me a Check (Jareth Loveberry, Patrick Reynolds, 9-2)
  8. Atta Party (Angel Suarez, Martin Villafranco, 8-1)
  9. Mister Chairman (Ben Curtis, Gilbert Ecoffey, 30-1)
  10. Counterstrike (Edgar Morales, John Ennis, 10-1)
  11. Cotton (Ricardo Santana Jr., Joseph Saffie Jr., 8-1)
  12. Bodenheimer (Leandro Goncalves, Valorie Lund, 12-1)
  13. AE: Tough Charlie (Aubrie Green, Lee Thomas, 12-1)
  14. AE: Ship It Red (Leandro Goncalves, Valorie Lund, 20-1)

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Time for Trouble Aims for Iron Horse Repeat

Sporting his Claiming Crown champion’s belt, Time for Trouble travels to New Orleans as 7-2 logical choice of thirteen entered in the $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial.

The 1 1/16-mile Iron Horse will go as Race 6 of 11 with a post time of 3:15 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

After Time for Trouble won the 2022 Iron Horse, trainer Jeff Hiles entered him in four marathon-distance stakes, including three graded turf contests. But it was the lone dirt stakes which produced the 6-year-old gelded son of English Channel’s best performance, finishing second to Next. Three for five at the 1 1/16 miles Iron Horse distance, Thorndale Stable and Jeff Hiles’ reigning champion will be piloted by James Graham.

Drawing to the far outside, Clay Sides’ Proverb enters fresh for trainer Joseph Saffie Jr. Ricardo Santana Jr. is named to ride and after winning four of five races since being claimed by Saffie, including three 7-furlong sprints, the break will be crucial for a horse who has done his best running on or near the lead.

Here is the complete field for the Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Casey’s Memory (Alex Birzer, Lane Johnston, 15-1)
  2. Moment (Mitchell Murrill, Elias Lopez, 15-1)
  3. Nordic Light (Corey Lanerie, Brad Cox, 12-1)
  4. Time for Trouble (James Graham, Jeff Hiles, 7-2)
  5. Scooter’s Boy (Tyler Bacon, Gilbert Ecoffey, 30-1)
  6. Knight’s Cross (Florent Geroux, Thomas Van Berg, 8-1)
  7. Toma Toda (Brian Hernandez Jr., Steve Asmussen, 12-1)
  8. On a Spree (Rey Gutierrez, Robertino Diodoro, 9-2)
  9. Missed the Boat (Jose Luis Rodriguez, Niccolo Troiani, 20-1)
  10. Mau Mau (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 20-1)
  11. Coach Adams (Nik Juarez, Dan Ward, 6-1)
  12. Willy the Cobbler (Francisco Arrieta, Robertino Diodoro, 15-1)
  13. Proverb (Ricardo Santana Jr., Joseph Saffie Jr., 4-1)

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Wrapping Up Sensational 2023 Perhaps Tonight Tabbed atop Tiara Nine

The 2023 campaign for TEC Racing’s Perhaps Tonight (Ire) is bookended by 6th-place finishes, but it’s what happened in between that earned her 3-1 morning line favoritism against eight older fillies and mares in the $150,000 Claiming Crown Tiara.

Carded for 1 1/16 miles on turf, the Tiara will go as Race 5 of 11 with a post time of 2:45 p.m. First post Saturday is 12:45 p.m.

With five wins and one second-place finish in eight races, the Sir Prancelot mare will seek to carry that form into the 1 1/16 miles Tiara when making her first start walking over from Tom Amoss’ barn. With two local works and one previous second-place try across the Stall-Wilson turf course, perhaps the 5-year-old will feel at home enough to tackle what appears to be a very evenly-matched group of turf females.

With recent wins at Saratoga and Kentucky Downs, Freddy Lewis Jr.’s Strong Odor has come into her own as a 6-year-old for trainer Mike Maker. Last out she finished sixth against allowance ranks at Keeneland. She entered the 2021 Claiming Crown Distaff Dash with similar form and finished ninth. Tabbed at 4-1 and drawing just outside the favorite in post 8, Strong Odor will be joined in the gates by her stablemate Anatolian, a surface-versatile 4-year-old by Not This Time.

Douglas Self’s 4-year-old Swoonatra returns to her home state after being claimed for $20,0000 at Gulfstream Park in October. Trainer Joey Foster will saddle the front-running Louisiana-bred for the first time and give a leg up to Emanuel “The Sensation” Nieves.

Here is the complete field for the Claiming Crown Tiara in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Dana’s Beauty (Jaime Torres, Joe Sharp, 8-1)
  2. Yankee Dollar (Jareth Loveberry, Marcus Vitali, 9-2)
  3. Anatolian (James Graham, Mike Maker, 8-1)
  4. Enchanted Nile (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 12-1)
  5. Annie’s Song (Francisco Arrieta, Shawn Davis, 8-1)
  6. Indicia (Reynier Arrieta, Heather Irion, 12-1)
  7. Perhaps Tonight (Ire) (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss, 3-1)
  8. Strong Odor (Rey Gutierrez, Mike Maker, 4-1)
  9. Swoonatra (Emanuel Nieves, Joey Foster, 6-1)

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Samarita Stands in the Way of a Second Glass Slipper for Invaluable

Having won the 2022 Glass Slipper at Churchill Downs, Invaluable will need to turn the tables on the scorching hot Samarita to defend her crown.

Run at one-mile, the Glass Slipper will go as Race 4 of 11 with a post time of 2:15 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Forgotten Man Racing and Dominic Damiano’s Invaluable will be making only her second start for trainer Joe Sharp, who claimed her for $25,000 from Mike Maker in September. Jareth Loveberry gets the call and will look to maneuver the 4-1 morning line 6-year-old from the two hole against a field of ten females going Fair Grounds’ two-turn, short-stretch dirt mile.

Finishing a dozen lengths behind Samarita last out going 7 furlongs at Keeneland, the equalizer for Invaluable could be the distance. Made the 9-5 top choice by Mike Diliberto, Samarita enters the Glass Slipper on a 6-race winning streak but the sprint-specialist is unproven going one mile.  The 4-year-old filly is owned and trained by Jose G. Rodriguez. Emmanuel Giles comes to town to ride.

Here is the complete field for the Glass Slipper in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Xylophone (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman, 10-1)
  2. Invaluable (Jareth Loveberry, Joe Sharp, 4-1)
  3. Hot Dame (Jose Luis Rodriguez, Irene Alba-Hernandez, 12-1)
  4. Samarita (Emmanuel Giles, Jose G. Rodriguez, 9-5)
  5. Girl Thirsty (Alex Castillo, Ronnie Ward, 30-1)
  6. Choctaw Bingo (Florent Geroux, Mike Maker, 10-1)
  7. Hashtag Lucky (Rey Gutierrez, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, 10-1)
  8. Northern Diamond (Edgar Morales, Thomas Van Berg, 10-1)
  9. My Good Fortune (Corey Lanerie, Chris Hartman, 8-1)
  10. Pens Street (Francisco Arrieta, Robertino Diodoro, 5-1)

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Concrete Glory Looks for Revenge on Caramel Chip in Rapid Transit

Many of the twelve older males entered in the $75,000 Ready’s Rocket Express have faced each other before and have a score to settle in Saturday’s 6-furlong dirt sprint.

The Ready’s Rocket Express was carded as Race 3, the first Claiming Crown event on the 11-race program. Post time for the six-furlong dash is 1:45 p.m. with the first race scheduled at 12:45 p.m.

Big Frank Stable’s Concrete Glory has been a revelation as a 4-year-old. Including the $6,250 affair where he was claimed by trainer Joseph Saffie Jr., the gelded son of Bodemeister has five wins in six races by over 20 lengths in total. The one blemish came at the hands of his Express foe, Caramel Chip.

As a 5-year-old, Bianco Stable’s Caramel Chip has made the most of his $10,000 starter allowance, winning six of thirteen races after being blanked the year prior. Morning line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto saw this rematch coming, making these two rivals the top choices in the morning line with Concrete Glory getting the nod at 5-2 over the Jose D’Angelo trainee.

Built Wright Stables’ Elle’sbigseacret and Beverly Park, the third and fourth-place finishers from the 2022 Claiming Crown Express are entered looking for another paycheck. Last year’s poster child of the claiming ranks, Beverly Park’s history-making 15th win of 2022 came on Dec. 31, 2022 at Fair Grounds. Both are trained by Raymond Glinter Jr.

It wouldn’t be a true Louisiana Claiming Crown without an entry from trainer Shane Wilson. In 226 starts over the past five years, Wilson has won with 22% of horses making their first and second start with the barn after a claim. Dawn and Scotty Robin transferred High Cruise into Wilson’s barn over the summer, and if Wilson can return the 11-time winner to top form, then the 8-1 morning line would be a gift. Wilson will leg-up Jose Guerrero who will look to get the jump on the field from post 6.

Here is the complete field for the Ready’s Rocket Express in order of post positions (with jockey, trainer, and morning line):

  1. Optimal Courage (Deshawn Parker, Angel Miguel Silva, 8-1)
  2. Classic Bet (Jose Riquelme, Isai Gonzales, 10-1)
  3. Caramel Chip (Florent Geroux, Jose D’Angelo, 4-1)
  4. Motion to Strike (Rey Gutierrez, Robert Falcone Jr. 15-1)
  5. Concrete Glory (Ricardo Santana Jr., Joseph Saffie Jr., 5-2)
  6. High Cruise (Jose Guerrero, Shane Wilson, 8-1)
  7. Elle’sbigseacret (Jaime Torres, Raymond Glinter Jr., 15-1)
  8. Junior Bug (Francisco Arrieta, Thomas Van Berg, 9-2)
  9. Wrath (Serafin Carmona, Gilbert Ecoffey, 50-1)
  10. Breaking News (Mitchell Murrill, Hugo Rodriguez, 15-1)
  11. Beverley Park (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., 12-1)
  12. Magic Castle (Jareth Loveberry, Joe Sharp, 15-1)

 

Six Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Champions Day

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Six Scholarships to be Awarded at Louisiana Champions Day

Registration On Site at the Fair Grounds on December 9

(NEW ORLEANS, La.) – The Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots will host Louisiana Champions Day Saturday, December 9, with a post time of 12:45 p.m., CT. Plenty of activities are planned for the date that is one of the biggest days of championship racing for Louisiana breds. Nine races will be contested including six stakes.

Louisiana Champions Day will be held on Dec. 9. With the races run in various divisions over a variety of distances on both dirt and turf, the program features nine stakes restricted to Louisiana breds. Each Louisiana Champions Day stake is worth $100,000 with the exception of the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Starter, and $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Starter.

 

The stakes are as follows:

Champions Day Starter: $50,000 Guaranteed

Champions Day Ladies Starter: $50,000 Guaranteed

Champions Day Distaff: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Juvenile: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Sprint: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Ladies Sprint: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Lassie: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Classic: $150,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

Champions Day Turf: $100,000 Guaranteed – Grade BT

In addition, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association (LTBA) will award four scholarships and The Fair Grounds will award two scholarships, each valued at $1,000, to college students for a total of $6,000.

“It’s the biggest day of Louisiana bred Championship racing with some of the most exciting thoroughbred racing of the year,” said Roger Heitzmann, secretary/treasurer for the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. “These championship races often help decide our Horse of the Year standings by our members. The entries are top Louisiana bred racehorses and there is sure to be some thrilling finishes.”

Requirements for the scholarship are as follows:

  • Must be a college student enrolled full-time in an Accredited College, University or Community College for Spring 2024
  • Scholarships will be awarded by random draw.
  • Must be in good standing with the college or university.
  • Must be present to win at the Winner’s Circle when the announcement is made.
  • Must have college ID and government-issued ID.
  • Must have University ID number or Social Security number.

For Louisiana Champions Day:

  • Registration: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the designated booth
  • Races begin: 12:00 p.m.
  • Drawing Time: The scholarships will be awarded after the fifth race. The scholarship will be deposited directly into the student’s account at the college or university. The student is asked to know the name and address of the college that they are attending.

Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association manages the best incentive program for breeding thoroughbreds in the United States. Since the organization formed, this has led to increased purses, better quality horses, and increased interest in racing and breeding horses. The thoroughbred racing and breeding industry generates over $1 billion and employs over 60,000 people in the state of Louisiana.

For more information about Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association visit louisianabred.com or call (504) 947-4676.
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Be Our Guest at the Louisiana Champions Day Gala

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Back by popular demand!

The LTBA is bringing back the Gala

the night before Louisiana Champions Day!

Please join us as our guest, Friday, December 8th from 7-10 pm. at the Jefferson Orleans South, as we get the Louisiana Champions Day festivities started with an evening of dining and dancing. Live music will be provided by Rick Mocklin and the Southern Voice Band.

Saturday, December 9th, you won’t want to miss the Louisiana Champions Day races at Fair Grounds. This event has become the highlight of Louisiana Bred racing as the best runners in the state compete for nearly $1 million in purse money.

 

Friday, December 8th – Louisiana Champions Day Gala

Saturday, December 9th – Louisiana Champions Day Races

 
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Three Thrilling Louisiana Bred Stakes at Fair Grounds Saturday; Mangum Takes Jacob V. Morreale Mem. Stakes; El Dinero Snags Joseph R. Peluso Mem.; and Autumn’s Strong Man Holds on for Larry D. Robideaux Mem. Victory

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Magnum with Corey Lanerie aboard wins the 2nd running of the Jacob V. Morreale Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Set-Hut’s Mangum Battles Back Who Took the Money in the Morreale

New Orleans, La (Nov. 18, 2023) – Three thrilling Louisiana-bred stakes rounded out opening weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, but the most heroic performance came from Set-Hut’s Mangum. Winner of the $75,000 Jacob V. Morreale Memorial, the 3-year-old had his hooves full late as the 6-time stakes-winner Who Took the Money came flying from behind. The two went eyeball-to-eyeball in the final stages before Mangum put his older foe away, surging through the wire to win by a neck.

Getting the call from trainer Jeff Delhomme, veteran pilot Corey Lanerie guided Mangum the 1 mile 70 yards over the fast main track in 1:43.60. With four-wins in a row, the gelded son of Mo Tom is now 11:6-1-3 with $255,360 in the coffers. The public priced him at 4.50-1.

 

 

El Dinero Rallies to Win Joseph R. Peluso Memorial. Hodges photo

Overcoming Early Trouble, El Dinero Snags Peluso Purse with Late Rally

It would take a rail rally for the ages for Tav Enterprises’ El Dinero to win the $75,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial on Saturday at Fair Grounds. As the juveniles fought for early position, the son of El Deal took the worst of several bumps and struggled for footing. Soon trailing the field of nine males, in the far turn of the 5 1/2-furlong sprint the colt began to find his stride. By the 1/8th pole, jockey James Graham had El Dinero flying up the rail and with half the field still to pass, the Patrick Devereux trainee kept finding to be the first to cross the finish line. One length was the margin of defeat for Pop’s Peppysteper, who finished full of run himself. The final time of El Dinero’s phenomenal comeback clocked in at 1:05.56 and he rewarded his faithful at 2.70-1.

El Dinero’s two career wins have both been stakes and he has never finished out of the money, tallying a 5:2-1-2 record with $118,990 in earnings. Devereux reported after the race that the end goal is the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile on December 9 at Fair Grounds.

 

 

Autumns Strong Man with Angel Suarez aboard wins the 2nd running of the Larry D. Robideaux Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.  Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Autumns Strong Man Flexes at a Price to win the Robideaux

As the front runners began to tire, Autumns Strong Man began to flex the best run of his 21-race career to steal the $75,000 Larry D. Robideaux Memorial at odds of 32-1. Owner and trainer Gary Husak called upon jockey Angel Suarez to guide the gelded son of Strong Mandate, and he couldn’t have asked for a better trip. After saving ground, Suarez waited until the 1/8th pole to tip Autumns Strong Man out into the clear, and the 4-year-old responded in kind by kicking home with just enough to hold off the late-flying Langs Day by a diminishing head.

Making his third stakes attempt count, Autumns Strong Man’s bank bulged to $164,275. The new face on the Louisiana-bred stakes sprinting scene sports a 21: 4-3-2 career record.

Racing at Fair Grounds resumes on Thursday, Nov. 23. With ten races slated kicking off at noon central, the centerpiece 99th running of the $200,000 Thanksgiving Classic will go as Race 9.

Follow this link for the full results and payouts of Saturday’s three stakes:
https://www.equibase.com/static/chart/summary/RaceCardIndexFG111823USA-EQB.html

 

Fair Grounds Opening Day Stakes Win for Newest Louisiana Bred Millionaire, Free Like A Girl; First Stakes Win for Vale Male; and First Clearly Now Stakes Winner, Clearly A Test

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Free Like A Girl becomes the latest Louisiana Bred Millionaire with her win in the Doris Hebert Memorial Stakes. Hodges Photo

“Back in the Big Easy to Become a Millionaire,” Free Like a Girl Bags the Hebert

New Orleans, La (Nov. 17, 2023) – Opening day of the 152nd racing season at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will forever be remembered as the day Free Like a Girl surpassed $1 million in career earnings. Overcoming a claustrophobic trip, the Louisiana Champion filly as both a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old spurted away from the field of 11 to win the $75,000 Doris Hebert Memorial by 3/4 length over a persistent Olivia G.  

Gerald Bruno, Jr., Chasey Pomier, and Jerry Caroom’s daughter of El Deal covered the 6 furlongs in 1:12.12 across a main track rated “good.” Even money was the reward for her backers in the win pool

Trained by Chasey Pomier, Free Like a Girl was piloted by Vicente Del Cid. Sticking her nose across the milestone threshold, the 4-year-old out the Flashy Bull mare Flashy Prize now boasts $1,006,578 in lifetime earnings and a career record of 31: 14-8-4. Free Like a Girl was bred by Kim Renee Stover & Lisa Osborne.

 

Vale Male is victorious in the John Valene Memorial Stakes. Hodges photo

Wire to Wire Was the Way for Vale Male in the Valene Memorial

Though never having led the pack at any opening call in her first 13 races, D & S Stables’ Vale Male did just that and more to win the $75,000 John Valene Memorial wire-to-wire on Friday. Breaking sharply outside of seven older fillies and mares, the daughter of Bodemeister out of the Kantharos dam Wildwood Kantharos dropped down to occupy the vacancy and never looked back through the 1 mile 70 yards. Beating A G’s Charlotte by 3/4 lengths,  the 4-year-old stopped the clock at 1:45.20 to pay 9.50 – 1.

Trained by James “Sweets” Hodges, Vale Male received the heads-up services of jockey James Graham, who with this victory sits nine back from career win 3,000.  Bred by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall, Vale Male now tallies a career record of 14: 5-3-2 adding up to $172,440 in lifetime earnings.

 

Jockey J.A. Guerrero pilots Clearly A Test to victory in the 2nd running of the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

Home From Saratoga, Louisiana’s Own Clearly a Test Breaks Maiden in the Ferguson Stakes

Louisiana-bred through and through, Brittlyn Stables’ homebred Clearly a Test returned home from her summer racing at Saratoga to break her maiden in the $75,000 Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial. Drawn inside against a field of 14 juvenile fillies, the daughter of Clearly Now hit the gate and had to fight her way from near the back in the 5 1/2-furlong dirt sprint under jockey Jose Guerrero. Advancing along the rail, it wasn’t until the far turn that she boldly maneuvered to the outside, but once she did her talented kick moved her to the front of the 2021 class. Sealing the deal in 1:06.95, Clearly a Test beat out Tommie G by 1 1/2 lengths, paying 1.60 as the post-time favorite.

Trained by Shane Wilson, the daughter of Clearly Now out of the Star Guitar dam Testing One Two is now 4:1-0-0 with $63,900 in earnings. 

Follow this link for the full results and payouts of the three opening day stakes: https://www.equibase.com/static/chart/summary/RaceCardIndexFG111723USA-EQB.html

Eying $1 Million, Free Like a Girl Returns to Fair Grounds for Opening Day

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  • Louisiana Champions Preview Weekend features six stakes 
  • The La-bred deck is stacked in favor of a big weekend for Dallas Stewart 
  • Cross-entered Free Like A Girl’s connection must decide sprint or route
  • Brittlyn Stables’ familiar faces enter multiple stakes but will walk over from a new barn

New Orleans, La (Nov. 16, 2023) – The table is set for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ 152nd season, and there’s an extra helping of Louisiana-bred stakes to feast upon one week ahead of the 99th running of Thanksgiving Classic. Three of the nine races carded for opening day on Friday, Nov. 17, are statebred stakes for females: The Doris Hebert, The John Valene, and The Donovan L. Ferguson. With 10 races slated for Saturday, the males will take centerstage in the three feature stakes: The Joseph R. Peluso, The Jacob V. Morreale, and the Larry D. Robideaux. Run in memory of departed members of Fair Grounds racing community, each carries a $75,000 purse and serve as the perfect springboard for Louisiana Champions Day on Dec 9. First post on both Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. (all times Central).

Friday’s spotlight will be on Louisiana-bred fillies and mares

Cross-entered in the Doris Hebert Memorial 6-furlong sprint (Race 6) and the 1 mile and 70 yards John Valene Memorial (Race 8), Gerald Bruno Jr., Chasey Pomier, and Jerry Caroom’s Free Like a Girl will look to return to form on Friday. Made the morning line favorite in both, 9-5 in the Hebert and 2-1 in the Valene, the sensational filly trained by Chasey Pomier is winless since taking the Distaff and Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle Sprint in early summer, both at Evangeline Downs. Vicente Del-Cid gets the call to help reverse the three-race slide, which will be his first race aboard the 13-time winner who would surpass $1 million in earnings if she were able to be victorious in whichever stakes her connections settle on.

It would be fitting if Sabra Tuff was able to seize the day in the John Valene. Owned by Valene Farms’ Murray Valene, Sabra Tuff’s first race against fellow statebreds is in a stakes named for Murray’s father, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 100. The daughter of Cross Traffic beat her odds finishing fourth in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and more recently finished fourth to Randomized in the Alabama (G1). The 3-year-old’s stablemate Accommodate Eva runs in Race 9, the Donovan L. Ferguson, a 5 1/2 furlong sprint for juvenile fillies, and she has followed a similarly ambitious path, entering fresh off a 10th-place finish in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Post time for Hebert is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. (all times CT) and the Valene will go at 4:15 p.m. followed by the Ferguson at 4:45 p.m. Follow this link for a list of each stakes field: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG111723USA-EQB.html#RACE6

On Saturday, Nov 19 the focus shifts to Louisiana-bred colts and geldings

A field of nine La-bred juvenile males will line up in the starting gates for the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes, a 5 1/2 furlong sprint across the main track. In a wide-open affair of well-bred but lightly-raced juveniles, the DS Young Futurity winner, Tav Enterprises’ El Dinero, was tabbed as the morning line favorite at 7-2. The son of El Deal traveled wide when finishing third last out in the Louisiana Legacy at Delta Downs in October. Scheduled as Race 5, the Ferguson is the first leg of the 15% takeout $1 Pick 6.  Post time is 2:45 p.m.

The confidence of Brittlyn Stable’s Behemah Star might be on the rise as soon as he scans the paddock ahead of the Jacob V. Morreale to find Touchuponastar, his brother by another mother,  is not there. That foe has kept him out of the winner’s circle four times in the past year. In the field of nine, there are two others who have proven difficult for the 5-year-old, as Who Took the Money and Mangum both enter to take on Brittlyn Stables’ beloved son of Star Guitar. With two third-place finishes since Brittlyn Stables moved Behemah and the rest of their stars into the care of Shane Wilson, the 4-time winner will reunite with last year’s leading rider Rey Gutierrez, who triumphantly piloted Behemah in the 2022 Star Guitar Stakes.  Written at 1 mile 70 yards across the main track, a distance at which Behemah has never finished out of the money, the Morreale will go as Race 7. Post time is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

The Larry D. Robideaux Memorial promises to be a thriller as 13 statebred, male 3-years-old and up will rip through 6 dirt furlongs trying to assert their supremacy atop the division ahead of Louisiana Champions Day. In last year’s edition the pace boiled over setting up for a late rail run from Brian’s Iron Mike, and though new faces join the cast of familiar characters, the second running of the Robideaux could unfold in a similar fashion.

Cross-entered in the Morreale, Set-Hut’s Mangum gets the lukewarm 4-1 nod by morning line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto. Having carried low weight of 111 pounds in two of his last three stakes victories, if the Jeff Delhomme trainee were to run in the Robideaux, he would travel with 122 pounds and Treylon Albert on his back.

The penultimate affair of the 10-race card, the Robideaux is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Follow this link for a list of each stakes field: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG111823USA-EQB.html#RACE5

Fresh Faces and Perennial Powerhouses Line Up for Fair Grounds Rich Purses and Storied Traditions

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  • The 152nd racing season sees stakes purses rise to $9.7 million, the richest in Louisiana’s history
  • Trainer Larry Rivelli and jockey Ben Curtis are just the tip of the intriguing iceberg of new connections ready to compete for the 2023 – 2024 titles

New Orleans, La (Nov. 10, 2023) – While many famed connections look to continue their tradition of remarkable success at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, a litany of intriguing new players prepare for their first winter in New Orleans. Opening day is scheduled for Friday Nov. 17, 2023 and with 73 stakes on the docket worth a combined $9.7 million, the table is set to be one of the most competitive in the track’s 152-year history.

The 76-day meet features all the traditions that horsemen, horseplayers, and fans look forward to: The Road to the Derby series kicks off on Dec. 23 with the Gun Runner Stakes. Low takeout returns as the 50-cent Pick 5 and $1 Pick 6 both remain at 15%. On Saturday, Dec. 2, the Claiming Crown will be held at Fair Grounds, the first time since 2011. Stakes purses are up $1.2 million from last year, including an increase for the 99th running of the $200,000 Thanksgiving Classic. Marking the centennial of Black Gold’s derby successes, a celebration will be held on March 2 coinciding with the 66th running of the Black Gold Stakes.

Fair Grounds is fortunate to be the winter home of many of the top trainers in the nation, including Steve Asmussen, Brad Cox, Cherie DeVaux, Tom Amoss, Brendan Walsh, Michelle Lovell, Bret Calhoun, Michael Stidham, Greg Foley, and Ken McPeek.

A new addition to the backside for 2023 – 2024 is Larry Rivelli. “The Riv,” as he was known at Arlington Park where he won nine trainer’s titles, shipped in Two Phil’s to last year’s Derby preps ahead of that colt’s second-place finish in Kentucky Derby 149. One of Rivelli’s 41 stalls is reserved for his Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Champion, Nobals.

Beyond Rivelli, new barns include three young and hungry trainers from the NYRA circuit. Raymond Handal, Rob Atras, and Robert Falcone Jr. each have just shy of a dozen stalls which they will fill with classy turf runners and if plans hold true, a revolving door of claimers.

Two more fresh faces, Whitworth Beckman and Carlo Vaccarezza will also have a string at Fair Grounds.

The sport’s biggest names jump off the page of the 2023 – 2024 barn list, but next to them are horsemen who look to be the new lifeblood of the sport. Of the 19 trainers who are moving into Fair Grounds backside for the first time, six are in their first year of training: Jervon Broussard, Kelly Avant, Juan Sanchez, Yovani Munoz, Lane Johnston, and Igor Presniak.

The most intriguing new addition to the jockey colony is Ben Curtis. With over 1,000 wins to his name, Curtis has been one of the top riders in England for the past decade and was crowned the All-Weather Champion jockey in 2021. Curtis will be represented by agent Ron Faucheux, who after winning three trainer’s titles in a row stepped into a new role after the 2022 – 2023 meet.

Another new pilot is Jaime Torres, who in a little over a year’s time has already won 100 races, mostly across the NYRA circuit.

Last year’s top jockey, Rey Gutierrez, will return for his third year to defend his title. Gutierrez is joined in the jock’s room by the likes of Florent Geroux, Brian Hernandez, Jr. James Graham, Deshawn Parker, and Corey Lanerie, who in October won his 5,000th race.

Jockeys Aubrey Green, Erica Murray, and Sofia Barandela all plan to return after successful 2022-2023 meets, and these three women riders will be joined by apprentice jockey Kylie Wellington.

But Wellington won’t be the only apprentice hustling for mounts. She is one of five “bugs” who will receive a weight allowance, including Carlos Barbosa, Serafin Carmona, Yoel Navas, and Valentin Esquivel.

In 2023, the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve was yet again dominated by the talent traveling Fair Grounds’ “Road to the Derby” prep races, which produced three of the top four finishers in the Run for the Roses. With its signature progression, the series begins at 1 1/16 miles for the $100,000 Gun Runner (Dec. 23) and the Grade 3 $200,000 Lecomte (Jan. 20). The Grade 2 $400,000 Risen Star (Feb. 17) extends to 1 1/8 miles, while the Grade 2 $1,000,000 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (March 23) is a 1 3/16-mile test for the 3-year-olds.

Since 2019, three of the last five Kentucky Derby winners have run in at least one of these races (Rich Strike, Mandaloun, and Country House). Beyond that, the 2022 Kentucky Derby trifecta and four of the top six finishers of 2021 all traveled through Fair Grounds’ Derby preps.

The 2023 – 2024 racing season marks the 100-year anniversary of Black Gold’s Louisiana Derby victory. He was the first local champion to go on and win the Kentucky Derby. The 66th running of the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes (3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf) will take place on March 2, 2024 and will include a proper celebration with his connections’ family in attendance. Rosa Hoots became the first woman to have bred and owned a Kentucky Derby winner. The first horse ever to win the derbies of four different states, Black Gold was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1989.

In the offseason, Fair Grounds erected two new barns to replace those wrecked in 2021 by Hurricane Ida. Last year, Fair Grounds installed a new, state-of-the-art toteboard in the infield. The Stall-Wilson turf course is full grown and looking beautiful, ready for everyday use as well as the many stakes scheduled to be run across it, including the Fair Grounds (G3) and Muniz (G2) both presented by Horse Racing Nation.

Fasig-Tipton has again been named the title sponsor of Fair Grounds’ 2023 series for 3-year-old fillies. The Fasig-Tipton Tremé Triple consists of the Silverbulletday Stakes (ran on Jan. 20), the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra (Feb. 17), and the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 23. The name of the race series is a tribute to the historic Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans that borders Fair Grounds Race Course. Last year, the series produced the winner of Kentucky Oaks 149, Pretty Mischievous, the first from Godolphin to be crowned in Lilies.

Relyne GI By Hagyard presents three graded stakes for older, open company going a route of ground: The Grade 3 Louisiana (Jan. 20), the Grade 3 Mineshaft (Feb. 17), and the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic (March 23). Hotel Monteleone is the official hotel of Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, and Molson Coors is the official beer partner.

Celebrating its 25th year, the Claiming Crown returns to Fair Grounds on Dec. 2. Purses will range from $75,000 to $200,000. Another $25,000 in each race will be available in purse supplements for accredited Louisiana-bred horses. The eight 2023 Claiming Crown races all are for horses 3-years-old and up, with two of those restricted to fillies and mares. Headlining the card is the $200,000 Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for horses that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2022-23. It is the second straight year that the series has gone to a Churchill Downs Inc. property.

Six $75,000 Louisiana-bred stakes are slated for opening weekend, Nov. 17 and 18. Fillies and mares take center stage on Friday in the Doris Hebert Memorial (6 furlongs), the John Valene Memorial (1 mile & 70 yards), both for 3-year-olds and up, and the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial, a 5 1/2 furlong event for 2-year-old fillies. Saturday’s trio of stakes are a mirror-image in terms of age, distance and surface, including the Larry D. Robideaux Memorial, the Jacob V. Morreale Memorial, and the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial, respectively. Each is in its second year of running, but four are renamed from last year to honor departed members of Louisiana’s racing community.

The 76-day, 2023-2024 Fair Grounds racing season runs through Sunday, March 24. Regular post time will be 12:45 p.m. CT. There will be an earlier noon CT first post on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23), Road to the Derby Kickoff Day (Dec. 23), Road to the Derby Day (Jan. 20) Louisiana Derby Preview Day (Feb. 17), and Louisiana Derby Day (March 23).

The full calendar and 2023-2024 Stakes Schedule can be found here: https://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FGNOThoroughbredRacingSched.pdf.

CLAIMING SEMINAR TO BE HELD DECEMBER 2 AT FAIR GROUNDS

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CLAIMING SEMINAR TO BE HELD DECEMBER 2 AT FAIR GROUNDS
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a Claiming Seminar on Saturday, December 2 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana. The morning seminar is strategically positioned on the day of the 25th Claiming Crown, an event that will feature eight races totaling $1 million in base purses, headlined by the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel.

Conceived to be a Breeders’ Cup-style event for claiming horses, the Claiming Crown was created in 1999 by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). The program gives Thoroughbred racing’s workhorses, their owners and trainers a day in the spotlight in recognition of their importance to filling out race cards across the nation. Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of claiming Thoroughbreds, pedigree, past performance and conformation analysis, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoying a day at the races.

The topics and speakers at the seminar include:

• Understanding Racing Office Policy & Procedures, presented by Jason M. Boulet (Fair Grounds, Senior Director of Racing) and Scott L. Jones (Fair Grounds, Racing Secretary)

• Understanding Claiming Strategy & Process, presented by Brett A. Brinkman (Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer) and W. Bret Calhoun (Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer)

The TOBA Claiming Seminar is aimed towards all levels of experience – from beginners to knowledgeable owners looking to continue their education. The clinic is open to the general public, with a special discount for TOBA members. Meals, educational materials, and a TOBA gift bag are included in registration.

Registration is available online, until Tuesday, November 28, at: toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics. Questions about the clinics and seminars may be directed to Barkley N. Porter at barkley@toba.org or (859) 276-6793.
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