Benoit Does It Easy In Star Guitar Stakes
Rue La La Streaks Free Down Stretch to Win Page Cortez
California Invader Liberal Lady Scores Shantel Lanerie
New Orleans, La (March 23, 2025) – Stacey Moak’s Benoit took to the front and never looked back, carving out easy early splits and finishing off the field with an energetic late stride to win the $100,000 Star Guitar Stakes presented by Brittlyn Stable on closing day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Joe Duhon, Benoit was expertly piloted by James Graham who slowed up the pace once loose on the lead.
“Over the years I’ve rode him plenty,” Graham said. “The horse did a great job. Joe (Duhon) did a great job. Happy to be a part of Benoit’s win.”
The 5-year-old son of Closing Argument covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.21, finishing 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Up N Gone. After threatening at the top of the stretch, Behemah Star’s bid was turned back and the two-time Star Guitar Stakes winner finished third.
“(Benoit) has been knocking on the door,” Duhon said. “Today was a good day. The horse ran good and the pace helped a lot, too. He deserved this win with how good he has been doing. This is a special day for us.”
Benoit returned Benoit $8.40, $6.00, and $3.60.
After scoring his first added money event, Benoit’s career record is 15-4-3-3 with a $228,960 bankroll. Benoit was bred by Joseph Tosterud in Louisiana.
Rue La La Streaks Free Down Stretch to Win Page Cortez
Brittlyn Stable’s homebred Rue La La set up shop behind a hot pace and streaked to the front down the stretch to win the $100,000 Page Cortez on closing day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Shane Wilson and piloted by Jose Guerrero, Rue La La went 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.38 over a turf course rated firm. Rue La La’s winning run made it back-to-back Page Cortez titles for her connections.
“She broke a little slow which was a part of the plan,” Guerrero said. “We wanted to set her up to make a deep run in the end. When I saw my chance we made our move.”
Rue La La started out near the back of the 12-horse pack of older fillies and mares but soon enough began to find her stride, advancing sharply through the far turn and getting first run on the closers. Taking the lead with a furlong to go, Rue La La was never being threatened by the late kick of Eye of the Pharaoh and Tommie G who ran second and third, respectively.
“This was the goal from the beginning,” Wilson said. “We put her in open company allowance races to get her race fit. Last race we tried to stay too close to the front, so today we let her do what she wants to do. we let her fall out and find her stride.”
Rue La La returned $14.40, $6.60, and $4.00.
The 7-year-old Louisiana-bred Star Guitar mare earned her first stakes title to boost her career earnings to $244,442 from a career record of 28-4-12-5.
California Invader Liberal Lady Scores Shantel Lanerie
Capping off a five-win day for the leading rider of Fair Grounds 153rd meet, Jose Ortiz piloted Naify Marsha’s Liberal Lady to her first stakes win in the $100,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial, the finale on Sunday’s closing day card.
Shipping in from Leonard Powell’s barn in California, the Louisiana-bred 5-year-old covered the 1 mile 70 yards in 1:42.69.
“She broke really clean but (Norah G) wanted the lead so I gave it to her,” Ortiz said. “(Norah G) was going faster than I wanted, so I took my filly back and she relaxed nicely. I asked her at the 3/8ths pole and she was there for me every step of the way so I just timed my move to take the lead at the 1/8th pole.”
Clearly a Test ran late to finish 3 lengths back in second. Certified Gem won the race over Dixie Farmer for third.
Liberal Lady paid $11.40, $5.60, and $3.80.
With the Shantell Lanerie, Liberal Lady’s lifetime record is now 16-3-3-2 with $192,840 in career earnings. The daughter of Mor Spirit out of the Trippi mare Cut Class Trip was bred by Coteau Grove Farms in Louisiana.
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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.
