Odds-On Favorites Fall as Hay Jude and Noneya take the Opening Day Stakes at Fair Grounds
New Orleans, La (Nov. 22, 2024) – Maggi Moss’ Hay Jude proved much the best in the 2-year-old division of Louisiana-breds, overcoming trouble to win the $100,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial.
Trained by Tom Amoss and piloted by Jareth Loveberry, Hay Jude was all heart to take down the odds-on favorite Voila Magic by 3/4 lengths, covering the 6 furlongs over the fast main track in 1:11.56.
“This horse was well meant,” Loveberry said. “He had all the trouble in the world–good thing he was much the best today.”
The Aurelia Maximus colt clipped heels in the backstretch, got in tight in the turn, and had to split foes with an impressive surge to get up in the nick of time. Louisiana Jess finished third by a neck. Tdz Hint of Power rounded out the superfecta.
“We have always thought he was a good Louisiana bred,” Amoss said. “He showed a new dimension today, coming from off the pace. Jareth talked about the trip he ha–it wasn’t a good trip. Everyone knows I have a very special relationship with jockeys here and I was calling Jareth a lot of names, other than his real name, but we got the win.. I’ll talk to Maggi (Moss) and we’ll formulate a plan. If he comes back from the race in good shape, you’ll see us back in for Louisiana Champions Day.
Hay Jude paid $9.60, $3.40, and $2.80.
The freshman is now perfect in his two starts and has earned $87,000.
Ronnie Ward’s longshot Noneya sat the perfect tracking trip to power home in the $100,000 Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial. The 6-year-old mare won by a 1/2 length going 6 furlongs across a fast main track in 1:11.04.
Trained by Ronnie Ward and piloted by Jose Luis Rodriguez, Noneya beat seven fillies and mares, including the odds-on favorite Manama Gold, the 2024 UAE Oaks (G3) winner who is Ova Charged’s full sister.
“She loves this track here,” Ward said. “She’s been good to us, she really has. I told Jose (Luis Rodriguez) our only shot is to come from off it, let the speed go, and it set up for us. We’ll take a good look and try to bring her back for Louisiana Champions Day.”
Freeburn set the pace and dug in late but finished second to Noneya by 1/2 length. Six Strings came on late for third. Manama Gold finished fourth.
At 23-1, Noneya paid $48.40, $15.60, and $9.00.
“We loved this horse coming into the race,” Rodriguez said. “She had a strong work over the track. I followed the plan to let the forward horses go and make a late move to get by them.”
The daughter of Palace tallies a 26-8-5-4 career record with $337,310 in lifetime earnings.
Louisiana Champions Preview Weekend resumes on Saturday with a 10-race program that includes four more statebred stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m. CT. Louisiana Champions Day is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14.
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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.
