FAIR GROUNDS STAKES RECAPS

By Ryan Martin —-

Excessivespending; Hodges Photography

EXCESSIVESPENDING EARNS WELL DESERVED STAKES WIN IN NELSON J. MENARD MEMORIAL

NEW ORLEANS (February 2, 2019) – After knocking on the door in several stakes events, Joey Keith Davis’ Excessivespending ($10.20, $4.20 and $3.80) finally secured a triumph against such caliber in Saturday’s Nelson J. Menard Memorial Overnight Stakes.

The 5-year-old daughter of Shackleford sat off the pace led by Fiesta who recorded opening fractions of 22.01 and 46.16. At the top of the stretch, Excessivespending moved to the four path and made a strong rally to tackle favored Oxford Comma ($3.40 and $3.00) and finish in a time of 1:04.25. La Dame Blanche ($4.40) rounded out the trifecta.

Completing the field were Golden Days, Contributing, Fiesta, On Probation and Soul Singer.

Jockey Mitchell Murrill guided Excessivespending to victory and earned his third stakes win of the meet.

“We got a good break and a good trip,” Murrill said. “We just had to wait on the right time. The previous race (Pan Zareta Stakes) I squeezed on her too soon and she got a little late on me but today we were able to figure it out and adjust.”

Trained by Chris Hartman, Excessivespending was third in the Pan Zareta Stakes last time out. Last May she was third behind Triple Chelsea in the Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill Downs.

“She always has a chance, she tries really hard,” Hartman said. “She’s difficult to ride and Mitchell put a perfect ride on her today.”

Excessivespending has now banked a total of $305,348 having earned $44,640 from her win in the Nelson J. Menard Memorial Overnight Stakes. Saturday’s victory was her sixth win overall in a career that has seen 23 lifetime starts.

Bred in Kentucky by BMWZ Stables, Excessivespending is out of the In Excess (Ire.) broodmare Excessing, who also produced stakes winner and graded stakes placed Sweet Marini. She was purchased for $65,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale from consigner Woodford Thoroughbreds.

MARQUEE PRINCE CROWNED WITH VICTORY IN ‘CAPTAIN’ MAESTRI MEMORIAL OVERNIGHT STAKES

Following two unplaced efforts against stakes company over the main track, Marquee Prince ($6.20, $4.00 and $3.00) made a successful return to turf when taking the Lloyd ‘Captain’ Maestri Memorial Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Guided by jockey Florent Geroux, the 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince broke from the rail and settled to the inside while tracking in fourth only three lengths off the pace. Vivid Verse set the early pace and led the opening quarter in 24.64. As Marquee Prince began inching his way closer to the front, Spectacular Gem took command and led the half in 49.61. At the top of the stretch, Marquee Prince was only an length off the pacesetter and under strong urging from Geroux, was able to get past Spectacular Gem in the final half-furlong to win by 1 ¼ lengths. He completed the one mile journey in 1:39.48. Spectacular Gem ($6.40 and $4.40) was second while Bluegrass Parkway ($3.00) was a troubled third.

Completing the order of finish were Vivid Verse, Corruze and Conative.

Owned by Rick, Donna and Jeff Awtrey, Marquee Prince scored his first victory since a 12¼-length romp against winners over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course. Last out he was fifth beaten 4¼ lengths in the Remington Springboard Mile in December.

“He was sneaky good last time at Remington and he already won an a other than so he had experience,” Geroux said. “Today he was back on turf and had a great trip down on the inside saving ground. When I cut him loose at the eighth pole it took him a stride or two to get going but he was best at the end.”

Marquee Prince gave two-time Fair Grounds leading trainer Brad Cox his fourth stakes triumph of the meet.

“His pedigree didn’t say one thing one way or another,” Cox’s assistant trainer Ricky Giannini said. “He’s still learning a lot. He has a good work here last Saturday and Flo rode him perfectly. The race set up for him.”

Marquee Prince earned $36,828 from his stakes victory in the Lloyd ‘Captain’ Maestri Memorial Overnight Stakes which enhanced his career earnings to $105,541. His lifetime record now sits at 6-3-0-0.

Bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, Marquee Prince is out of the Include broodmare Try to Remember who produced Grade I-placed Holiday Soiree. He was purchased for $215,000 by bloodstock agent Clay Scherer at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale in Lexington, Ky. where he was consigned by Airdrie Stud.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (“Fair Grounds”), the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN). Fair Grounds also operates 14 OTBs (12 with video poker facilities) throughout southeast Louisiana. Live racing at Fair Grounds returns in the fall with the 147th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 106th running of the Louisiana Derby in March of 2019. More information can be found online at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.