Two accomplished graded stakes winners are set to make their seasonal debuts on the undercard of Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fairgrounds Racetrack & Slots, with Millionaire Hit Show and Brilliant Bertie headlining two Grade 3 races for older horses.
The 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes has attracted a field of seven, led by the fan-favorite Hit Show. This 6-year-old, trained by Brad Cox for Wasnan Racing, kicks off his campaign where he previously found success, having won the 2025 Louisiana Stakes (G3). A Kentucky Derby alumnus, Hit Show’s career highlights include a thrilling victory in the 2025 Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan, where he closed powerfully from behind to edge out Mixt.
Hit Show, a multiple graded stakes winner in the U.S., boasts wins in the 2024 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2), the 2025 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G3), the 2024 Lucas Classic (G2), and the 2024 West Virginia Governors Stakes (G3). With 11 wins from 23 starts and earnings surpassing $8.9 million, Florent Geroux will be aboard for this outing.
Known for his strong late runs, Hit Show faces competition from Accelerise, the reigning Louisiana Stakes champion returning under trainer Todd Pletcher. Accelerise is a promising 4-year-old colt owned by Spendthrift Farm and Lepore Stables, with three wins in four career starts. In the Louisiana Stakes, he set a swift early pace before battling back to defeat the favorite Just a Touch by a neck. John Velasquez will ride the 4-1 morning line choice.
The Mineshaft Stakes is the ninth race in a 12-race card that includes a late pick four wager and concludes with the Grade 2 $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes.
The $175,000 Grade 3 Fairgrounds Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf contest presented by Racing Nation, attracted 10 runners, highlighted by Brilliant Bertie. This 5-year-old, with lifetime earnings over $2.4 million and trained by Shelley Devaux of Cline Racing, seeks to build on a notable résumé that includes a win in the 2025 Wise Dan Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs—her fifth stakes success. Brilliant Bertie, out of Noble Mission and Believe in Bertie, captured her first stakes victory in the 2024 Bryan Station Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. Her graded stakes performances also feature a third-place finish in the 2025 Turf Mile (G1), and runner-up spots in both the 2024 Secretariat Stakes (G2) and the 2025 Arlington Stakes (G3). Brian Hernandez Jr., who has ridden Brilliant Bertie to all seven of her wins, will be aboard.
Seven older horses who ran in the local Kernel ER Bradley Stakes qualified for the Fairgrounds Stakes, including the top four finishers led by Kupuna. This 7-year-old gelding, trained by Norm Casse and owned by Flying P Stables, has successfully transitioned from dirt to turf, winning two of his three turf starts and placing second in the third, before finishing out of the money in the Diliberto Memorial.
The Fairgrounds Stakes is scheduled as Race 10, immediately following the Mineshaft Stakes. First post on Saturday is at noon Central Time.
Complete Mineshaft Stakes (G3) field, rail to out, including jockey, trainer, and morning line odds:
- Duke Duval (Luis Saez, Steve Asmussen, 8-1)
- Acceleration (John Velasquez, Todd Pletcher, 4-1)
- Cadet Corps (Paco Lopez, Kelly Breen, 6-1)
- Moonlight (Jose Ortiz, Chris Bullock, 6-1)
- Time to Win (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown, 4-1)
- Hit Show (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 9-5)
- Stowaway (Jareth Loveberry, Whit Beckman, 8-1)
Complete Fairgrounds Stakes (G3) field, rail to out, including jockey, trainer, and morning line odds:
- Sandpipe (Paco Lopez, Lindsey Schultz, 12-1)
- Brilliant Bertie (Brian Hernandez Jr., Shelley Deveau, 4-1)
- Point Proven (Jareth Loveberry, David Teller, 30-1)
- Giant (James Graham, Steve Asmussen, 20-1)
- Cameo (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh, 6-1)
- Editors (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Stidham, 6-1)
- Program (Reese Saez, Non Kas, 3-1)
- Idratherbelessed (Marcellino Pedrosa Jr., Chris Hartman, 12-1)
- Raginos (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen, 7-2)
- Agate Road (John Velasquez, Todd Pletcher, 12-1)
Live racing at Fairgrounds will run from Thursday through Saturday, February 12-14, with the track closed on Sunday, February 15. Racing will then pause for the traditional Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras celebrations.
Fan Take: This exciting return to stakes races marks a pivotal moment as some of the sport’s elite older horses begin their campaigns, offering fans early previews of top-tier talent. Events like these at Fairgrounds not only showcase thrilling competition but also help build momentum toward marquee spring racing, keeping the horse racing community deeply engaged.
