Fair Grounds: Overfilled Costa Rising Kicks Off Estimated $1 Million All-Stakes Pick 5

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Overfilled Costa Rising Kicks Off Estimated $1 Million All-Stakes Pick 5

NEW ORLEANS (March 16, 2026) – Thirteen entered, and a dozen older statebred turf sprinters will run in the 5 ½-furlong $100,000 Costa Rising Stakes on Louisiana Derby Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The Costa Rising will serve as the first leg of an estimated $1 million All-Stakes Pick 5 that covers four graded stakes, two turf affairs, and concludes with the Grade 2 $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby.

Tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite, Keith Plaisance’s Nine Part is set to take on stakes company for the first time in just his second try on the turf. The first came Feb. 21, going 5 1/2 furlongs, when the Bobby Felks trainee dominated six rivals, including three entered in the Costa Rising, by 2 1/4 lengths. Never out of the money in six starts, Nine Part is a five-time winner who has never lost at Fair Grounds. Jose Ortiz takes the call.

In a wide-open race, the top contenders include Strong Promise, an eight-time winner trained by Allen Landry, who most recently won the Premier Night Sprint at Delta Downs and has two wins from three starts on the turf. Also in the mix is Jayde Gelner-owned and -trained Big Chopper, who enters sharp after winning his last start at one mile and takes a similar path to when he backed up his victory in the Eddie Johnston Memorial Stakes by scoring in this race in 2023.

The Costa Rising will go as Race 8.

First post for Saturday’s 14-race Louisiana Derby Day program is noon.

Here is the complete field for the Costa Rising Stakes, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer and morning-line odds:

Nine Part (Ortiz, Felks, 3-1)
Strong Promise (Jensen Melancon, Allen Landry, 6-1)
Hay Jude (Isaac Castillo, Tom Amoss, 5-1)
Sassi D (James Graham, Lee Thomas, 10-1)
Monsieur Candy (Jareth Loveberry, Larry Rivelli, 9-2)
Clear as a Bele (Axel Concepcion, David Terre, 15-1)
Big Chopper (Jamison Mudd, Jayde Gelner, 15-1)
Chad’s Flashy Ways (Juan Vargas, Wesley Ward, 20-1)
Sounds Like Power (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Randy Degeyter Jr., 8-1)
Smash It (Ben Curtis, Brendan Walsh, 10-1)
Take Charge J J (Emanuel Nieves, Eric Henry, 20-1)
Dr. My Eyes (Luis Saez, Grant Forster, 20-1)
Buy the Rights (Axel Concepcion, Michelle Lovell, 20-1) AE

Louisiana’s Best to Be Showcased Over Six Closing-Weekend Stakes at Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS (March 16, 2026) – The closing weekend of the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots 2025-26 racing season will feature 11 stakes races, six of them written for Louisiana-breds. A pair are set for Saturday, March 21, and four will be run on Sunday, March 22. Some of the best Louisiana-breds in training will be featured, including Braken Poppa, Nine Part, Our Moneyman, Margie’s Intention, Blue Fire, Synthetic, and Sippin On Gin.

First up Saturday is the 1 mile 70-yard $100,000 Crescent City Oaks. Slated as Race 2 on the 14-race program, a field of seven Louisiana-bred fillies is led by Braken Poppa. Tabbed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite, Braken Poppa boasts a stellar 3-for-4 record and is undefeated going two turns, winning all three starts at Fair Grounds in increasingly impressive fashion, including a decisive score in the $100,000 Louisiana Broodmare of the Year Stakes on Feb. 28. Owned by Bradley Kent and Ken Reimer and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the daughter of Aurelius Maximus will be guided by leading rider Jose Ortiz.

Thirteen entered, and a dozen older statebred turf sprinters will line up in the 5 1/2-furlong $100,000 Costa Rising Stakes, scheduled as Race 8 on Louisiana Derby Day, the opening leg of an estimated $1 million All-Stakes Pick 5. Tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite, Keith Plaisance’s Nine Part will take on stakes company for the first time in just his second turf attempt after dominating six rivals by 2 1/4 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs Feb. 21 for trainer Bobby Felks. A five-time winner from six starts who has never lost at Fair Grounds, Nine Part will again be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

First post for Saturday’s 14-race Louisiana Derby Day program is noon.

The 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Crescent City Derby will be held Sunday, closing day at Fair Grounds. Set as Race 7, the first of four stakes, the statebred derby is led by Allied Racing Stable’s Our Moneyman. The Bret Calhoun trainee, who broke his maiden last fall at Keeneland, will stretch out to two turns for the first time. Axel Concepcion has the call on the 6-5 morning-line favorite.

Trained by Brad Cox, grade 1-placed Margie’s Intention will make her 4-year-old debut in the 1 mile 70-yard $100,000 Shantel Lanerie Memorial, set as Race 8. The 2025 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan winner Margie’s Intention will make her first start in her home state since running second to Blue Fire in last year’s Crescent City Oaks, whom she’ll face again Sunday. The Steve Asmussen-trained Blue Fire exited a win in the local Bob F. Wright to run a game second against open company in the Bugler at Oaklawn Park. She has five wins from seven starts at the Shantel Lanerie distance.

Synthetic, one of the stories of the meet, will put her perfect record on the line in the $100,000 Ova Charged Stakes. Owned by Keith Plaisance and trained by Bobby Felks, Synthetic has been untouchable in her four wins, including beating open allowance company Jan. 31. She will be tasked with 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf in what will be her first start on the grass. The Ova Charged will go as Race 11.

The 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Star Guitar Stakes presented by Brittlyn Stables will see Sippin on Gin return to the main track after a turf experiment in the Edward Johnston Memorial. Trained by Bret Calhoun and owned by Allied Racing Stable, the 2025 Crescent City Derby winner was installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite in a field of nine older males.

First post for closing day’s 13-race card is 12:45 p.m. CT.

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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.

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