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Four Undercard Stakes Slated for Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots


Lightemupwithcharm will head a strong field in the $40,000 Mid-City Stakes Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans.

© Coady Photography

By Martha Claussen

NEW ORLEANS, LA—SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 –Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots will close out its 2018 Quarter Horse meet with twelve races on Saturday, September 8. Four undercard stakes are on the program and will run prior to the $434,538 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) (see related story).

$40,000 Mid-City Stakes

Saul Dorado’s Lightemupwithcharm leads a field of six accredited Louisiana-breds in the 440-yard Mid-City Stakes. The 4-year-old by Sizzlin Cartel is trained by Martin Trejo and won his last two stakes at Delta Downs, including the $100,000 Louisiana Classic on July 7. Rider Everardo Rodriguez will pilot the 4-5 favorite. Rogelio Marquez, Jr.’s San Lorenzo Cartel, second in the Louisiana Classic, will break from the rail under Eddie Sanchez.

Sired by Coronas Leaving You, the 4-year-old is trained by Jose Sanchez, III. Multiple-stakes winner Heza Louisiana Dash will be ridden by Gilbert Ortiz for owner by TM Ranch. Kenneth Roberts, Sr. trains the 6-year-old son of Heza Fast Dash who has earned $510,641 in his 28 lifetime starts.

The Mid-City Stakes, the first of four stakes, will run as the third race on the card, with an approximate post time of 1:24 pm.

$40,000 Lakeview Dash

A field of ten sprinters will compete at the distance of 250 yards in the Lakeview Dash, set as the seventh race on the Saturday afternoon program. M&M Stables LLC’s La Mos Corona, who just missed in the $40,000 Audubon Stakes here on August 16, has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

La Mos Corona will make her second start at Fair Grounds Race Course this year in Saturday's Lakeview Dash.
© Hodges Photography
Bred by Oscar Rhone, the daughter of Coronas Leaving You out of the multiple-stakes winning mare La Mos Chingono, had won her last six starts for trainer Orlando Orozco. Floriberto Maldonado has the return call, breaking from post position three.

Other contenders include 2017 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby champion Gary Hartstack’s Jrs Coronas Shadow. The 4-year-old gelded son of Coronas Leaving You, will be ridden by Donald Watson for Roberts. Sweet Bru, owned by Jose Ortiz, is a 5-year-old mare by Embrujo Fg. Damian Martinez will ride for trainer Gary Mason. Breaking from the far outside post is Little Bro Big Streak owned by Rosendo Valdez. Sired by Jet Black Patriot, the 4-year-old gelding ran second here in the opening day Gentilly Stakes, also contested at 250 yards. Last year’s Fair Ground leading rider John Hamilton has the return call.

$25,000 French Quarter Stakes

The 330-yard French Quarter Stakes features a field of ten accredited Louisiana-bred fillies and mares, including La Mos Corona, who is cross-entered in the Lakeview Dash. Florentino Leon’s Graceful Eagle, a Colorado-bred daughter of One Famous Eagle, has won three of her four starts at the distance of 330 yards.

Simulcast Stakes winner Graceful Eagle will face a strong field in the French Quarter Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography
Trained by Josue Huitron, she ships in off a victory in the Simulcast Stakes at Gillespie Fairgrounds on August 25. Luis Vivanco, the current leader in the jockey standings, has the mount. She will break from post position two at odds of 7-2.

Adame Racing LLC’s Memphis D Nasty will make her second start of the year for trainer Bruce Bell. John Hamilton will guide the 5-year-old mare by FDD Dynasty, who has earned $140,432 in 26 lifetime starts. Stakes winner Zenergetic, trained by Brian Stroud, drew the far outside post and will be ridden by Gilbert Ortiz. Owned by the Zenergetic Group, the 5-year-old mare by Dominyun, will be seeking her seventh career victory.

The French Quarter Stakes will run as the eighth race on the card.

$25,000 De Saix Stakes

The 330-yard De Saix Stakes for 2-year-olds attracted a field of ten with Tdz Louisiana Toast installed as the 3-1 morning line choice. The Mardi Gras Futurity runner-up is owned by Juan Martinez-Labastida and will be ridden by Jorge Linares. Miguel Rodriguez trains the son of Jess Louisiana Blue, who won his trial for the LQHBA Sale Futurity here on August 17, but did not qualify for the final.

Mardi Gras Futurity runner-up Tdz Louisiana Toast will be looking for his first stakes victory in the De Saix Stakes Saturday afternoon at Fair Grounds Race Course.
© Hodges Photography
Joe Davis bred, owns and trains Parti Wagon, who will give a leg up to rider Rolando Pina. The son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon ran fifth in the Firecracker Futurity at Delta Downs and prepped for this stakes with an allowance win here on August 18. Mia Jet In brings a two-race win streak for owner and breeder Lester Columb. The filly by Jet Black Patriot is trained by Kenneth Weeks and will be ridden by Luciano Duenez.

Post time for the DeSaix Stakes is 4:06 pm. It goes as the ninth race program and will be followed by the running of the $434.538 LQHBA Sale Futurity (RG1) (see related story) as the tenth race on Saturday’s program.

Post time is 12:30 pm (Central) for Saturday’s live racing program at Fair Grounds.

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Martha Claussen served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park for ten years and continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.


Courtesy Ses