The 153rd Fair Grounds racing season opening Friday is sure to feature one of the most star-studded meets in its storied history.
Top-flight trainers Steve Asmussen and Brad Cox have been regulars at the New Orleans track, but Kenny McPeek, Brendan Walsh, and Cherie DeVaux lead a bunch of others with larger stables and fresh faces on the scene include Linda Rice, Brittany Russell, and Ignacio Correas.
Challenges and Highlights of the Fair Grounds Racing Season
Look for Fair Grounds’ core of trainers – Tom Amoss, Al Stall, Jr., Dallas Stewart, Bret Calhoun, Joe Sharp, and last year’s leading conditioner, Shane Wilson, to make their presence felt.
A pair of Eclipse Award-winning jockeys, Jose Ortiz (2017 champion rider) and Axel Concepcion (2023 champion apprentice) will make the Fair Grounds their home base for the first time. And Louisiana native
Fair Grounds Racecourse (photo via www.myneworleans.com).
Brian Hernandez, Jr., will have a stronger presence as he’s the go-to rider for McPeek. The duo teamed to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Mystik Dan and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with Thorpedo Anna.
Ortiz, who relocated to Kentucky after a long run based in New York, could have a huge impact at the meet. He has more than 3,000 victories and usually finishes among the nation’s top 10 riders. Last year’s leading rider was Jose Guerrero, who edged Jareth Loveberry 52-51. For those who bet horse racing, can Ortiz give the regulars a run for their money?
For horse players, this meet will be as tough as it gets. There’s sure to be stronger fields than usual and the competition will be fierce with the increased presence of leading trainers and top riders from around the country. Plus, handicappers will have to closely check when turf races are moved to the dirt, which happens more often than at many tracks.
McPeek’s Derby Mystic Dan on grounds, Thorpedo Anna due soon
Speaking of horses, the Derby winner is already at the Fair Grounds, having posted two timed workouts as he remains in training for a 2025 debut at some point. Thorpedo Anna, the strong favorite to be voted Horse of the Year, is expected to arrive at McPeek’s stable following a 60-day break at the trainer’s Magdalena Farm following her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Ortiz looks for strong start
The meet opens with a weekend full of Louisiana-bred stakes – two on Friday and four on Saturday. Naturally, Asmussen-trained Voila Magic (with Ortiz aboard) is the 9-5 favorite in the $100,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes for 2-year-olds and DeVaux’s Manama Gold (Ortiz aboard) is the 5-2 favorite in the $100,000 Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial Stakes for 3-and-up fillies and mares. Both are Friday.
Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks preps
Total purses for the 63 stakes races over 76 racing days through March 23 were boosted to $8.875 million and features the Louisiana road to the Derby – and the Oaks.
The Derby preps are the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes on Dec. 21, the $250,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) on Jan. 18, the $500,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) on Feb. 15, and the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 22. Derby qualifying points are 10-5-3-2-1 for the Lecomte, 20-10-6-4-2 for the Lecomte, 50-25-15-10-5 for the Risen Star, and 100-50-25-15-10 for the Louisiana Derby.
The Oaks preps are the $100,000 Untapable Stakes on Dec. 21 (10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points), the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) (20-10-64-2) on Jan. 18, the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) (50-25-15-10-5) on Feb. 15, and the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) (100-50-25-15-10) on March 22.
Derby success for Fair Grounds runners
Derby contenders taking the Louisiana route to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May have had success in recent years.
Sierra Leone won the Risen Star and finished second by a nose to Mystic Dan in the Kentucky Derby. Other than Japan-based Forever Young and T O Password, four of the top six Derby finishers either raced or trained at the Fair Grounds.
In 2023, the 2-3-4 finishers behind Mage were Two Phil’s, Angel of Empire, and Disarm. All raced at the Fair Grounds. Angel of Empire won the Risen Star, Two Phil’s ran second in the Lecomte and third in the Risen Star and Disarm was second in the Louisiana Derby.