A deep nine-race card, together with two stakes, kicks off opening day, Nov. 22, of the 153rd season of racing at Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans.
The 2 stakes, every value $100,000, function Louisiana-breds racing six furlongs, with the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes for 2-year-olds up first of the stakes because the fifth race, adopted a pair races later by the Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. The previous race lured a subject of seven, topped by Three Chimneys Farm, Coteau Grove Farms, and Dusty Castille’s debut winner Voila Magic , whereas the latter race attracted 9 entries, led by Victorious Racing’s Manama Gold , a gaggle 3 winner in Dubai in February.
The Coteau Grove Farms-bred Voila Magic is a Risky half brother to graded stakes winner and $932,900 earner Touchuponastar (Star Guitar ). Corridor of Famer Steve Asmussen trains Voila Magic, and Cherie DeVaux takes over the conditioning of Manama Gold, who raced thrice this spring and summer season for Todd Pletcher after her import to america.
Manama Gold, by Star Guitar out of Charged Cotton , is a full sister to the late Ova Charged, a dominant Louisiana-bred sprinter who received 15 of 19 begins and $918,575.
Jose Ortiz, the Eclipse Award-winning jockey of 2017 and at present fourth amongst riders in North America by earnings by means of Nov. 20, rides each Voila Magic and Manama Gold. Ortiz is driving the meet at Honest Grounds for the primary time this winter.
On opening day, different jockeys driving embrace Axel Concepcion, Jareth Loveberry, James Graham, Jeiron Barbosa, Colby Hernandez, and Ben Curtis. Extra riders will journey south and deepen the colony when the Churchill Downs meet concludes Dec. 1.
Asmussen and Brad Cox may have their customary loaded stables, and final 12 months’s main coach, Shane Wilson, is energetic on opening day with eight starters.
Cox, Asmussen, and different trainers like Kenny McPeek repeatedly ship horses between Honest Grounds and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas throughout winter. McPeek’s Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan has recorded a few exercises at Honest Grounds, and Thorpedo Anna may be part of him in coaching domestically over the winter.
Brian Hernandez Jr., their common jockey, will base at Honest Grounds within the coming weeks.
Over the 76-day season, $8.875 million in stakes purses will likely be up for grabs, topped by the $1 million, 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) March 22, 2025.
A collection of filth routes leads towards the Louisiana Derby, starting with the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 21 and adopted by the $250,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) on the similar distance Jan. 18. The $500,000, 1 1/8-mile Risen Star Stakes (G2)—received this 12 months by eventual Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) winner Sierra Leone —precedes the Louisiana Derby Feb. 15.
Entries: Joseph R. Peluso Memorial S.
Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots, Friday, November 22, 2024, Race 5
- STK
- 6f
- Grime
- $100,000
- 2 yo
- 2:45 PM (native)
Entries: Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial S.
Honest Grounds Race Course & Slots, Friday, November 22, 2024, Race 7
- STK
- 6f
- Grime
- $100,000
- 3 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
- 3:45 PM (native)