Shining Star Wires $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes

By Kevin Kilroy —-

​2-17-26 Shining Star, with Jose Ortiz aboard, wins the 83rd running of the Mardi Gras Stakes Turf Sprint at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA. Hodges Photography/ Amanda Hodges Weir

Shining Star Wires $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes

NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 17, 2026) — Sumaya US Stable’s Shining Star popped the gates, stole to the front, and was never menaced by her eight female rivals, wiring the $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Trained by Brad Cox and with Jose Ortiz in the irons, Shining Star won by 4 ¼ lengths, covering 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.34.

“We broke on top, so I decided to let my filly run,” Ortiz said. “She was going so good every step of the way; I was very happy with her.”

As Shining Star rolled through opening fractions of 21.67 and 44.64, her main rivals chased with Trouble Ahead on the inside, Civetta in the middle and Lotsandlotsofcandy on the outside. Shining Star dropped to the rail and extended her lead down the stretch, as Trouble Ahead led the rest, Civetta produced late for third, and Lotsandlotsofcandy hung on for fourth.

Sent off at 1-2, Shining Star paid $3, $2.40, and $2.10.

“Her last three wins say so much about her,” assistant trainer Ricky Giannini said. “She’s rated and now she broke on top – she’s very push button. When you ask her, she just explodes. She’s built like a sprinter, and she’s really good at this, so we’ll probably keep her at sprint distances.”

The Chilean-bred, who won her first four races in her native country, is now three-for-three since joining Cox’s barn and moving to the turf. With a 9-7-0-0 lifetime record, the 5-year-old mare has built a $138,372 bankroll.

Live racing at Fair Grounds resumes on Thursday with a four-day race week and regular 12:45 p.m. CT first posts.

Weiner Dog Racing is set for Saturday, Feb. 28. The deadline to enroll your dachshund is Feb. 20.

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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.