The local 2-year-old colts clashed at 5 1/2 furlongs in the 1st running of the $75,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes, and everyone who was not on Not On Herb tore up their tickets at the end as Ivery Sisters Racing and trainer Ron Faucheux’s newest star extended his perfect record.

Blackteca rocketed out far in front and kept the early lead, clocking early splits in at 22.06 and 45.76 seconds, but Not On Herb applied the pressure throughout before making his bid at the quarter pole before drawing clear to win by 1 ½ lengths. Calicoco darted to the rail and then back out before finally getting outside 1.90-1 favorite Late September and surging past that foe for second. Late September hung on for third. Not On Herb stopped the timer in 1:05.47 for 5 ½ sloppy panels.

“I love this horse,” trainer Ron Faucheux said. “I ran him short the first time and he showed he had the fitness to win. I told Jareth (Loveberry) to be confident in here and don’t let the 8 (Late September) get the jump on you. If you have to use him to do it, then use him. As long as we stay in front of the 8, you’ve got the race won.”

Faucheux reports he will enter the son of First Samurai in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Sprint on Dec 10 where he will aim to add to his 2-2-0-0 record and his $69,000 in earnings.