Two stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses took place on the opening day at Fairground Racetrack & Slots. Rising Inflation took the lead in the John Valen Memorial, while the longshot Mr. Mo Money stunned spectators by winning the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial.
Rising Inflation, owned by Mark Rose, Slam Dunk Racing, and Dennis Bailey, made a powerful move from fifth place, then pulled ahead to win by four and a half lengths against five older fillies. The horse, trained by Jonathan Wong and ridden by Isaac Castillo, completed the mile and 70 yards in 1:44.03. Nora G finished second, followed by Clearly A Test in third.
As the favorite, Rising Inflation paid out $3.60, $2.20, and $2.10. Since transferring from Chad Brown’s stable in New York to Wong’s in Louisiana, the 4-year-old daughter of Mitole has now earned $223,550 with a record of 10 starts, 5 wins, and 2 third-place finishes.
In the Peluso Memorial, 2-year-old colt Mr. Mo Money, owned by jockey Walter Horton, led the Mr. Money-bred horses, with Our Moneyman placing second just 1 1/2 lengths behind. Trained by Bret Brinkman and ridden by Tommy Pompel, the 21-1 longshot ran six furlongs in 1:11.70, paying $45.40, $11.40, and $5.40. Mr. Mo Money’s career record stands at 6 starts, 2 wins, and 2 third-place finishes, with earnings of $124,850.
Louisiana’s state-bred racing action continues with the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial on Friday, followed by three stakes on Saturday’s nine-race program.
Fan Take: This exciting start to the Louisiana stakes season highlights the depth of local talent and the potential for thrilling upsets, showcasing the vibrant spirit of regional racing. For horse racing fans, it underscores the importance of following state-bred circuits as breeding programs continue to cultivate strong and competitive horses, promising great future races.
