Fair Grounds: Accomplished Girl, Cupids Crush Return for Pan Zareta Showdown

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Accomplished Girl, Cupids Crush Return for Pan Zareta Showdown

NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 25, 2025) – A deep and competitive group of 12 fillies and mares is set for Saturday’s $100,000 Pan Zareta Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The race, scheduled for Nov. 29 with the rail set at 7 feet, features the return of last year’s top two finishers: winner Accomplished Girl and runner-up Cupid’s Crush.

Steve Asmussen sends out Gentry Farms’ Accomplished Girl, who looks to return to the winning form she displayed last year scoring in both the Pan Zareta and Kelly Memorial. The 5-year-old mare has shown consistent early speed throughout her career and has proven dangerous when able to control the tempo. Last year, she worked out a perfect rail-skimming trip on her way to victory. On Saturday, Accomplished Girl will break from post 12 with jockey Paco Lopez aboard.

Xtreme Racing Stables’ Cupid’s Crush, trained by Hugh Robertson, returns to the Pan Zareta seeking to turn the tables. Last year, she lost significant ground, racing 10-wide when attempting to circle the field from the back of the pack, and lost by 1 1/2 lengths. The 5-year-old mare exits the Dowager (G3) at Keeneland, where she attempted 12 furlongs for the first time and finished last. All Cupid’s Crush’s turf scores have come going 1 mile or longer. Mitchell Murrill gets the call.

Logical contenders include Gavea (GER), who won last year’s Mardi Gras Stakes for Al Stall Jr.; Cart Girl Sam, who has been in solid form as a 4-year-old, winning allowance races at Churchill Downs and Colonial Downs; and Serving Time (GB), the lone sophomore in the lineup, who will return to Fair Grounds, where she is a perfect 2-for-2 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

The Pan Zareta is slated as Race 8. First post for Saturday’s nine-race card is 12:45 p.m. CT.

The Pan Zareta field, rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Gavea (GER) (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Stall Jr.)
Cart Girl Sam (Ben Curtis, Rohan Crichton)
Brunch Punch (C.J. McMahon, Juan Larrosa)
Big Trouble (Declan Cannon Greg Foley)
Swoonatra (James Graham, Chasey )Pomier
Peak Earnings (Emmanuel Nieves Robertino Diodoro)
Cupids Crush (Murrill, Robertson)
Sassi Strutter (Colby Hernandez, Lee Thomas)
Serving Time (Jareth Loveberry, DeVaux)
Aztec Empress (Sofie Vives, Steven Duke)
Tryinmyheartout (Issac Castillo, Shane Wilson)
Accomplished Girl (Lopez, Asmussen)

Festivities at the Fair Grounds

The 154th racing season at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots features a range of fan-favorite events:

Nov. 27 — Thanksgiving at the Fair Grounds: The 101st Thanksgiving Classic headlines a full day of racing and dining.

Dec. 6 — Exotic Animal Races / Family Day: Camels, ostriches and zonkeys return for a popular event first introduced in 2012.

Dec. 13 — Louisiana Champions Day: Ten races, including seven stakes, showcase top Louisiana-bred horses on dirt and turf.

Jan. 31 — Exotic Animal Races / College Day: College students and families enjoy the return of the exotic races.

Feb. 14 — Louisiana Derby Preview Day and Breast Cancer Event: major Derby/Oaks preps and a Breast Cancer Awareness event highlight the Valentine’s Day program.

Feb. 28 — Wiener Dog Races: Dachshunds sprint 30 yards for $1,000 in prizes.

March 14 (3 p.m.) — Clash of the Colleges Twilight Races: Evening racing and live music close out the college-themed event.

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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.