Fair Grounds: Moonlit Garden Favored in Thursday’s Bob Fortus Memorial

By Grant LaGrange —-

Bob Fortus; Lou Hodges Photography

New Orleans (December 13, 2019) – Headlined by Jerry Marks Stable LLC’s 7/5 morning line favorite Moonlit Garden, a field of eight has been programmed for Thursday’s post-Christmas feature, the $75,000 Bob Fortus Memorial.

Formerly run as the Tiffany Lass, the Bob Fortus Memorial is named in honor of the longtime horse racing reporter and author who passed away in July. It is for fillies and mares (3yo&up) and will be run over 1 mile and 70 yards.

A career earner of $458,773 with four wins from 26 starts, the 5-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon was last seen finishing third behind her stablemate Mylady Curlin in the Falls City (G2) at Churchill Downs on November 28. Florent Geroux has the return call from post eight on Thursday.

“She’s had two works over this track recently,” said Moonlit Garden’s trainer Brad Cox. “She came out of that last race in really good shape so we’re expecting her to run well. She’s in a January sale (horses of all ages at Keeneland), so this will probably be her last run with us. We’re hoping she can add this stakes win to her resume before she goes off to the sales ring.”

Commonwealth Stable, Randy Bradshaw and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Out for a Spin, who broke her maiden at Fair Grounds in March en route to a 52/1 upset score in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, will make just her second start back since crossing the line 11th in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 3. Trained by Dallas Stewart and ridden on Thursday by Brian Hernandez Jr., she is listed at 12/1 on Mike Diliberto’s morning line and drew post three.

The Bob Fortis Memorial Field (jockey/trainer) with morning line odds

Enchanted Ghost (Murrill/Stidham) at 7/2
Saracosa (Bridgmohan/Walsh) at 8/1
Out for a Spin (B. Hernandez Jr./Stewart) at 12/1
Brunette Princess (Doyle/Bauer) at 12/1
Grandaria (Graham/Walsh) at 10/1
Tiz Ella (Pessin/Beschizza) at 15/1
Mariah’s Galaxy (K. Smith/Arceneaux) at 9/2
Moonlit Garden (Geroux/Cox) at 7/5

With a post time of 5:20 p.m. CT, The Bob Fortus Memorial will be run as race 11 on Thursday’s 12-race card. First post is 12:30 p.m. CT.

-30-
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 is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global