Rising Inflation and Mr. Mo Money Victorious in Opening Day Stakes at Fair Grounds

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Rising Inflation and Mr. Mo Money Victorious in Opening Day Stakes at Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 20, 2025) – Two stakes for Louisiana-breds were held on opening day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, as Rising Inflation proved much the best in the John Valene Memorial, and longshot Mr. Mo Money upset the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial.

Rallying from fifth, Mark Rose, Slam Dunk Racing and Dennis Bailey’s Rising Inflation saved ground into the stretch before taking the lead and drawing clear by 4 1/2 lengths over five older females. The Jonathan Wong trainee, piloted by Isaac Castillo, covered 1 mile and 70 yards in 1:44.03. Norah G finished second, and Clearly a Test was third in the Valene.

Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Rising Inflation paid $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10.

Notching her second stakes win since moving from Chad Brown’s barn in New York to join Wong in Louisiana, the 4-year-old daughter of Mitole now boasts a career record of 10-5-0-2 with $223,550 in earnings.

Walter Horton’s 2-year-old colt Mr. Mo Money led a Mr. Money-sired exacta in the Peluso, as Our Moneyman finished 1 1/2 lengths back in second. Trained by Brett Brinkman, Mr. Mo Money tracked outside the leaders before making a decisive move to the front at the top of the stretch under jockey Tommy Pompell.

Going 6 furlongs, the 21-1 longshot stopped the clock in 1:11.70 and paid $45.40, $11.40 and $5.40.

With a career record of 6-2-2-2, Mr. Mo Money has banked $124,850.

Opening-week added-money action for statebreds continues Friday with the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial. Three stakes are set for Saturday’s 9-race card.

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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 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.