Longshot Idratherbeblessed Wires Muniz Memorial
New Orleans, La (March 22, 2025) – Sent off at 86-1, JD Thoroughbreds and Wayne Scherr’s Idratherbeblessed crossed over the field and never looked back, wiring the $300,000 Muniz Memorial presented by Horse Racing Nation (G2).
Trained by Chris Hartman and piloted by Ben Curtis, Idratherbeblessed covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.45 over a turf course rated firm, beating out 11 rivals.
“An outside gate gave me a chance to go forward,” Curtis said. “He did a little bit too much in his last race and pulled too hard in behind. I was able to get into a rhythm and do my own thing on the front end. He’s a horse who really sticks his head down and tries. I think the extra distance really stood to him. I know he was a long shot on the board but his most recent work was the best he’s ever put in. He got it done today.”
Tracking in third through much of the race, Gigante finished strong for second. Cameo Performance rallied late for third.
Idratherbeblessed returned $174.20, $70.20, and $28.40. Gigante paid $15.00 and $8.60. Cameo Performance returned $10.00.
With a career record of 27-5-6-6, the 5-year-old has earned $503,168.
Muniz Memorial (G2) Quotes
Joel Rosario, jockey of Gigante (second)
“It was a very good trip; he ran really well. It looked like for a second we were going to go by the winner but he kept moving away from us. But it was a very good effort from Gigante.”
Tyler Gaffalione, jockey of post-time favorite Spirit of St Louis (fourth)
“The race went true to form, being a lack of speed on the program. I tried to work out the best trip possible for him. There was a lot of crowding into that first turn. We were able to get down to the two path and he was able to give me a really good run down the lane but speed held pretty firm there and it was hard to run them down.”
Patiently Handled Way to Be Marie Earns First Stake in Tom Benson
Knocking on the door with four placings from five stakes tries, Robert LaPenta and Madakat Stables’ Way to Be Marie burst through on Saturday, earning her first stakes title in the $150,000 Tom Benson Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Rob Atras and piloted by Florent Georux, Way to Be Marie beat a field of nine older fillies and mares. She covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.04 across the Stall Wilson turf course, clear by 1 1/4 lengths from the late-rallying Tufani. Strikingly Spun ran third.
“She was there for me,” Geroux said. “She did it really easy and I’m proud of her.”
Way to Be Marie settled nicely in midpack along the rail as Classic Performer sped off to the front, rattling off opening fractions of :23.86 and :48.22. Tufani and Strikingly Spun assumed positions near the back of the pack. As the forward horses began to give way, the patiently handled Way to Be Marie began to produce, rallying down the stretch to the lead, well clear of the closing efforts of Tufani and Strikingly Spun.
“I feel like she’s been sitting on a win the entire time we’ve been here,” assistant trainer Brittany Atras said. “Flo rode a perfect race.”
Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Way to Be Marie returned $6.00, $3.60, and $2.80. Tufani paid $8.80 and $7.40. Strikingly Spun returned $6.40.
Way to Be Marie has a lifetime bankroll of $361,300 from a career record of 11-3-4-2.
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
