Category: Louisiana-Bred

GUITAR SOLO WITH SHARP GATE TO WIRE SCORE IN THE ACADIANA

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Guitar Solo wins the Acadiana Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Coady Photography.

 

Guitar Solo broke sharply to gain early control and led every step in the $60,000 Acadiana Stakes.  The race for 3-year-old fillies was contested over six furlongs.

Jockey Devin Magnon and Guitar Solo broke alertly and were quickly a length in front of the Acadiana field.  Fibber, showing a new dimension with some early speed, was on the chase from the outset.  Guitar Solo held a 2-1/2 length advantage through an opening quarter-mile in 22.46 seconds, but Fibber was able to cut the margin to just a half-length after the half-mile split in 45.76.

As the field turned for home, Guitar Solo dug in and would not be denied, holding on for a length victory in the end.  Fibber gave a valiant effort in defeat and was well clear of third-place finisher Nana’s Corn Muffin, with the margin another 2-3/4 lengths.  The winner stopped the timer in 1:11.92.

Owned by World War IV Racing (Warren McFatter and John Christmann), Guitar Solo wins for the third time in five career starts.  The winning purse of $36,000 increases her lifetime earnings to $133,800.

Trained by Allen Landry, the winner was sired by Star Guitar.  She is out of the Grand Appointment mare Tory’s Triumph.

Off as a slight favorite, Guitar Solo returns $4.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show.  Fibber pays $2.60 to place, $2.10 to show and Nana’s Corn Muffin was worth $3.40 to show.

Behemah Star Scores Second Star Guitar Stakes

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Behemah Star with J.A. Guerrero (pink cap) aboard turns for home and goes on to win the Star Guitar Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Jan Brubaker

With the 2022 edition already on his resume, Brittlyn Stable’s Behemah Star scored his second $100,000 Star Guitar Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Sunday. The son of Star Guitar beat four older Louisiana-bred males, putting 2 1/2 lengths between he and Budro Talking to complete the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.05.

Trained by Fair Grounds’ 2023 – 2024 leading trainer Shane Wilson, Behemah Star’s pilot was Jose Guerrero.

“I knew he was ready,” Guerrero said. “Last time he got tired but today I knew he was ready. I was really comfortable the way he did it. I really appreciate this opportunity from Mr. Shane and Ms. Benoit. It’s really nice to ride for these kinds of people.”

Breaking to the lead and setting an opening call in :26.17, soon Behemah star was taken over by Budro Talking who led the way from the rail through a second quarter of :50.17. Comfortable to stalk in second, Behemah Star saved his run for the end, bidding by Budro Talking who finished second. Blue Cheese came late for third.

Behemah Star completed the Star-Guitar-sired stakes Daily Double, as Ova Charged won the Page Cortez sprinting on the turf the race prior.

“These Star Guitars can do everything,” Wilson said. “He’s had stakes winners on the dirt, on the turf. Every week he’s producing another one. He’s the best sire in the state. We’re thankful Ms. Benoit has given us a chance this meet. It’s been a blast to run in these kinds of races and get the job done for her.”

The versatile 6-year-old has a career record of 23-7-7-4 with $435,421 in the bank.

Never a Doubt in Page Cortez as Ova Charged Crowned “Cajun Queen”

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Britlyn Stable’s Ova Charged with jockey J.A. Guerrero aboard pulls away to win the 3rd running of the $100,000 -+Page Cortez Stakes at Fair Grounds.  Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

 

For her fourth stakes win of the 152nd Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots meet, Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged shot out of the gates and never looked back, winning the $100,000 Page Cortez Stakes by 12 1/2 lengths. Stablemate Rue La La ran second to complete the Brittlyn Stable-homebred, Star Guitar-sired exacta in the 5 1/2-furlong turf contest. One race later in the Star Guitar Stakes, Behemah Star added to the sire’s flair to complete the Star Guitar-sired stakes Daily Double.

“She’s a special, special horse,” owner Evelyn Benoit said. “So sweet. So calm. She’s just a sweetheart and so is Rue La La. She is the gift from Star Guitar that keeps giving. Star Guitar is the gift that keeps on giving–Al Stall said that years ago and it’s true. Ova Charged’s sister, Manama Gold is the talk of Dubai, undefeated. It makes me feel so good to have (Ova Charged) known internationally.”

Trained by Fair Grounds’ 2023 – 2024 leading trainer Shane Wilson, Ova Charged took jockey Jose Guerrero along for the ride, clocking in at 1:01.90.

“She broke really fast this time,” Guerrero said. “I think she outbroke me. That is a nice, nice filly to ride. I want to thank Mr. Shane and Ms. Benoit. I looked back and didn’t see anyone coming and I thought we’ll get this one easy like the last time.”

Last out in the Mardi Gras Stakes, Ova Charged asserted her dominance, beating the field of eight open company fillies and mares by 5 1/4 lengths.

Brittlyn Stable won the owner’s title, the second in the last three years for Evelyn Benoit.

Ove Charged gifted the public $2.20, $2.20, and $2.10.

In 15 starts, the “Cajun Queen” has a 12-1-0 record and $608,780 in jewels and riches.

Brian’s Iron Mike Produces Resolutely to Win Costa Rising

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Brian’s Iron Mike with jockey Ben Curtis aboard captures the 14th running of the $100,000 Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lily Weir

 

Hat Racing’s Brain’s Iron Mike produced a resolute late move to leave no doubts about which older turf sprinter was best in the $100,000 Costa Rising Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Winning by 2 1/2 lengths Brian’s Iron Mike beat a field of five male rivals.

Trained by Allen Landry and piloted by Ben Curtis, the gray son of Iron Fist covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.71 to win his first across the sod. With the portable rails down, the Stall-Wilson turf course was rated “yielding.”

“He had a little time off and we’ve been getting him back right,” Landry said. “He loves the grass, it seems like that’s the spot for him.”

With the scratch of several pace presences, it was Unified Report who made the lead and set modest opening fractions of :22.57 and :46.12. Brain’s Iron Mike settled second to last, staying several paths off the rail. With a furlong to go, he kicked past Unified Report who held all other bids at bay to run second. Mangum rounded out the trifecta.

“I thought we’d be further back but he broke and got into stride very quickly today,” Curtis said. “I always say when riding on a short-priced favorite, one back and one out and no excuses up the stretch is the way to ride them. I got a lovely tow around, he traveled beautifully. When I asked him in the stretch, he put them to bed very well.”

Bet down to odds-on favoritism, Brian’s Iron Mike paid $3.20, $2.60, and $2.20.

Adding the Costa Rising to his stakes resume, Brian’s Iron Mike now sports a 18-5-5-2 career record, including the 2022 Monte Man, and stacks $281,500 in career earrings.

Platinum Minit’s Rally Stymied, but Kissed Up in the Crescent City Oaks

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Platinum Minit with jockey Reylu Gutierrez (black cap) aboard wins the 19th running of the Crescent City Oaks after the disqualification of Clearly A Test from first to second. Hodges Photography / Amanda Weir

 

Kicking into high gear to split foes near the $125,000 Crescent City Oaks wire, Platinum Minit’s bold move was stymied by Clearly a Test who crossed the finish line first on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Inquiry and objections quickly went up and the stewards ruled Clearly a Test interfered with Platinum Minit’s impressive surge, and the filly who walked over from Dallas Stewart’s barn was declared the statebred Oaks champion.

“She’s a tiny little thing but she has a big heart,” Stewart said. “I’m lucky that Mr. [Murray] Valene sends me these great fillies.”

Platinum Minit was guided by last year’s leading jockey Reylu Gutierrez.

Post-time favorite Lightofmaine pressed Sister Ella who set quick early fractions of :23.32 and :47.97. Platinum Minit broke sharply but relaxed to settle on the rail, letting a pocket form around her before tipping out to the center of track to begin her rally. Having tracked the forward fillies through the far turn, Clearly a Test emerged with promise at the top of the stretch but proved green drifting out and finally back in to interfere with Platinum Minit’s late surge. Disqualified from first, Clearly a Test was placed second. Late charger Emily’s Bullet got up for third.

“She settled nicely early on for me,” Gutierrez said. “At the end I wasn’t sure if she’d split the horses but when I asked she did. This filly has a ton of heart and all credit goes to Mr. Valene and Dallas Stewart.”

Though they had to sweat out a steward’s decision, Platinum Minit’s backers breathed a $8.60, $4.00, and $3.00 sigh of relief once the ruling came.

The daughter of Givemeaminit who broke her maiden in an allowance, now has 2 wins from 7 starts and $136,525 in the bank.

Payday for El Dinero in the Crescent City Derby

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El Dinero with James Graham aboard wins the 52nd running of the Cresent City Derby at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lily Weir

 

New Orleans, La (March 23, 2024) – John Tavormina’s El Dinero rallied up the rail to score the $125,000 Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday. One of eight stakes on Saturday’s “Louisiana Derby Day,” the Crescent City Derby concluded the three Louisiana-bred affairs, including the Crescent City Oaks and Costa Rising Stakes.

Trained by Pat Devereux Jr., El Dinero beat seven statebred 3-year-old males by 4 3/4 lengths. The son of El Deal completed the 1 1/16 miles across the fast main track in 1:45.08.

“It really never felt like he was going to lose all the way around there,” Devereux said. “That doesn’t happen very often. It’s come and gone with him. He’s not always as generous, but we moved back to Evangeline from Delta and he worked awesome two times, so it felt like he was coming into this race the right way.”

Sonofaship hustled hardest to beat the field to the front, clocking in honest opening fractions of :23.82 and :47.51. After positioning mid-pack in the two-path, El Dinero maneuvered far turn traffic with ease, then hugged the rail to quickly cut in line at the top of the stretch and extend his lead down the stretch. Sonofaship stayed on for second. Blue Eyed George finished third.

“He traveled super today,” Graham said. “He carried me the whole way. Whenever I needed an inch I got it. When I squeezed on him into the hole, he accelerated. And then it was over. I don’t think distance is going to be a problem for him.”

El Dinero returned $6.80, $3.20, $2.40.

Never running out of the money, El Dinero’s lifetime record of 9-4-3-2 has earned his connections $293,990.

Piloted by Corey Lanerie, Free Like a Girl Adds Shantel Lanerie Memorial to Impressive Stakes Resume

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Free Like A Girl with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard wins the 4th running of the Shantel Lanerie Memorial Stakes named in honor of his late wife. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

 

New Orleans, La (March 24, 2024) – Free Like a Girl racked up another big win, beating out 10 older Louisiana-bred fillies and mares by 1 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Trained by Chasey Pomier, Free Like a Girl’s third stakes win on the meet, along with the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Distaff and Doris Hebert, was the 14th added-money score of her career.

“She loves her job,” Pomier said. “I’ve tried giving her some time in between certain races but she doesn’t have any of it. Bucking and squealing in the shedrow, trying to tear down the stall, so I just give in and train her. Corey (jockey Lanerie) put on a perfect ride and we were  very excited to win this race.”

Jockey Corey Laneire guided her through the one mile 70 yards on the “fast” main track in 1:43.06. In the race named in memory of his departed wife who passed away from complications with breast cancer, Lanerie has now won back-to-back editions, having piloted Nosilverspoomshere in 2023.

Jockey Corey Lanerie aboard Free Like A Girl points skyward after winning the Shantel Lanerie Memorial Stakes, named after his late wife. Hodges Photography / Jan Brubaker

“I want to thank Chasey for letting me ride such a nice horse in such a special race,” Lanerie said. “In Shantel’s memory. It means a lot to me. I was on the best horse, but it got a little eventful at the 5/16ths pole. As I went to pass the 10 horse, he went to spread the turn a little bit, a little more than I wanted. I got a little nervous when Marcelino (Pedroza aboard A G’s Charlotte) cut the corner on me, but she (Free Like a Girl) was just the best horse and gave me the extra effort. She wasn’t going to let anybody by. All my family on both sides come here to support me. We will always be family.”

Thetruthisthetruth showed the way sharply, recording opening quarters of :23.55 and :46.60. Free Like a Girl stalked in the four path through the far turn, but when floated wide had to recover to offer a late rally. Passing Thetruthisthetruth in midstretch, Free Like a Girl finished professionally as Muchmorethanready closed from last to get up for second. A G’s Charlotte got up for third.

With yet another notch in her stakes win belt, Free Like a Girl bolstered her career mark to 37-17-10-5 with earnings of $1,305,978.

Free Like a Girl returned $3.20, $2.60 and $2.20. Muchmorethanready paid out $6.00 and $3.60 and A G’s Charlotte was worth $2.80 to show.

Free Like a Girl possible for Apple Blossom Handicap

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Mary Rampellini

Mar 10, 2024

 

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The millionaire Free Like a Girl could be making a return trip to Oaklawn Park next month for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap.

Trainer Chasey Deville-Pomier said the Louisiana-bred is under consideration for the race following her allowance win over the local track Friday. She liked how Free Like a Girl had emerged from the race as of Saturday morning and said she was to ship to Evangeline Downs on Sunday.

“She looked beautiful – ate up everything, playing in the stall – her normal self,” Deville-Pomier said. “I think we’re aiming for the Shantel Lanerie at Fair Grounds and possibly the Apple Blossom back at Oaklawn. It was kind of the talk after yesterday. We wanted to see how she handled the track first – and obviously, as long as she’s doing good and everything’s good with her.”

 

 

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A G’s Charlotte Toys with Red Camela Rivals

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A G’s Charlotte with Marcelino aboard wins the 48th running of the Red Camelia Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Tom Galvin’s homebred A G’s Charlotte toyed with her six statebred rivals before taking over in the homestretch to win the $100,000 Red Camela at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Saturday. Sensing her dominance over the field, the 6-5 favorite shifted from tracking the leader to a fierce stalk, making her run at the eighth pole and drawing away to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Patricia West, the daughter of Mo Tom received the services of Marcelino Pedroza Jr. With the day’s races taken off the turf, A G’s Charlotte went 1 mile 70 yards in 1:44.78 over a main track labeled “muddy.”

“I wasn’t disappointed that the race was taken off the turf,” West said. “I think she is better on the dirt. It seems like she just keeps getting better with age, so we’ll keep going with her.”

Speedy Dudette gained control of the lead out of the gate set :24.28 and :47:84 opening quarters. A G’s Charlotte dropped to the rail in tracking position as Vale Male stalked the leader. Looking to assert herself, A G’s Charlotte began moving up the rail to split those two forward foes and begin breathing down Speedy Dudette’s throatlatch. Keeping her measured up through the far turn, A G’s Charlotte set down a run and bid past Speedy Dudette at the eighth pole. The front runner was able to hold on for second as Spirited Beauty came charging up the rail late for third.

“Thank you to Patricia West for this mount,” Pedroza said. “It was a perfect trip. I was right where I wanted to be, behind the speed. She took me to the front earlier than I wanted to. I know how she is, she likes a little competition in the end, but it all worked out.”

Three of A G’s Charlotte’s four stakes wins have come at Fair Grounds and she boasts the proud title of having earned West her first career stakes victory in the 2022 Big World Stakes. With a career record of 25-9-8-3, the 5-year-old mare has $458,410 in the bank.

A G’s Charlotte paid $4.60, $3.00, and $2.20.

Louisiana-Bred Manama Gold Scores In Dubai, Earns 50 Kentucky Oaks Points

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Daughter of Star Guitar remains undefeated following front-running victory in UAE Oaks at Meydan

Manama Gold has been one of the stars of the Dubai season so far and Fawzi Nass’s filly took her unbeaten record to three with a 1 1/4-length victory in the UAE Oaks (G3) presented by Longines on Friday at Meydan.

Ridden by Adrie De Vries, the Louisiana-bred daughter of Star Guitar disputed the pace along the rail and went clear in the straight, but then had to be kept up to her work to see off the Justify filly Mizzyaan, who was closing again at the line. Lightning Paradise finished third, with Kobo Misaki, Fatinahy, and Sensatiable completing the order of finish.

Time of the race was 2:00.81 for 1 3/16 miles.

The Oaks is a qualifying points race for the Kentucky Oaks, with the winner receiving 50 points and the second through fifth-place finishers earning 25-15-10-5 points, respectively.

“I’m very pleased; I have a lot to do with her in the mornings and she’s a very special filly,” said De Vries. “At the moment, I think she’s not at her best – she’s growing a lot – but she has a lot of class.

“I didn’t really have a plan to make [the running] but no-one really wanted it. You can see when she gets in front she pricks her ears. I think she’ll be a better filly next year, but I’ll leave it to Fawzi and [owner] Sheikh Nasser to make a plan.”

Bred by Brittlyn, Inc., Manama Gold was produced from the stakes winning mare Charged Cotton, a daughter of Dehere. Sold by Taylor Made Sales Agency for $100,000 to Kevin Knuckley at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Manama Gold was pinhooked by Richardson Bloodstock at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, where she was purchased by Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock for $200,000.