KY-trained Gigante, Stir Crazy, Kavod take off-turf Fair Grounds stakes

Stakes recaps by publicist Kevin Kilroy (Hodges photo of Gigante winning Duncan F. Kenner)

Gigante, Stir Crazy Score Second Stakes This Meet; Kavod Rolls Home in Kenner

 “Road to the Derby Day” Off the Turf Stakes Recaps

New Orleans, La (Jan. 18, 2025) – Taken off the turf due to morning rains on “Road to the Derby Day,” the $100,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley, $100,000 Marie G. Krantz, and $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner were all run over a “sloppy sealed” main track at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Gigante added another local stakes score for owners Diamond T Racing and Iapetus Racing, fighting up the rail to capture the Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes under Jose Ortiz for trainer Steve Asmussen. The last-out Diliberto Memorial winner now has three local stakes scores.

A field of six older males lined up for the off-the-turf affair. Idratherbeblessed set the early tempo from the rail, tracked closely by City Man to his outside, posting opening fractions in :25.35 and :50.10. Tracking in third, Gigante bided his time before making a run at Idratherbeblessed and had to fight through on the rail to seize the advantage. Finishing strongly through the wire, Gigante won by 1 3/4 lengths over the front runner. Money Supply ran third.

The Virginia-bred completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.66. 

Sent off at odds of 4-5, Gigante rewarded his backers with $3.80, $2.60, and $2.10.

Overall, Gigante’s record now stands at 19-8-1-2 while banking earnings of $1,187,650.

After breaking in the back of the pack, Blushing K.D. victress Stir Crazy rallied to prove much the best in the 1 1/16 miles Marie G. Krantz Memorial. Crossing the finish line 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Cupids Crush, Stir Crazy stopped the clock in 1:48.00.

Trained by Mike Maker, the 7-year-old mare was piloted by Joel Rosario.

“I was a little concerned after the break, but that’s her game to close,” Maker said. “I had confidence in her and confidence in Joel (Rosario) and they got it done.”

Taking pressure from Ghostly Gal, Cupids Crush set moderate fractions of :24.21 and :48.33. Able to save ground after a slow break, Stir Crazy advanced along the rail in the backstretch and tipped out at the top of the stretch to make her bid. With no daylight in front of her, Stir Crazy dove to the rail and squeezed through contact from Cupids Crush to take the lead and pull away.

Strikingly Spun came on late for third and Ghostly Gal hung around for fourth.

“It was a fun ride,” Rosario said. “At the beginning it wasn’t a good break, but she was the best filly after that. I just took her step-by-step and she got the job done.”

Now four for six on an off track, Stir Crazy’s lifetime record now stands at 26-7-9-3 with $548,354 in earnings.         

Baron Racing Stables’ Kavod stalked dueling leaders and pounced at the top of the stretch to win Duncan F. Kenner, kicking off the Road to the Derby Day stakes action. Trained by Joe Sharp, the 6-year-old covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.34 over a sloppy track and won by 5 lengths.   

“This horse has run hard the last two years,” Sharp said. “We sat here in the wings with this horse, but knew we’d be in good shape either way (Gilded Ruler intended for turf). When the rain came in this morning, we felt confident in how well this horse (Kavod) was doing. And you always feel lucky to have Frankie (Dettori).”

Making his first start in New Orleans, Kavod was piloted by international superstar Frankie Dettori.

“I’m pleased to be here,” Dettori said. “This is always one of my boxes to check, to get to New Orleans and ride at Fair Grounds. With the rain, the team had a lot of faith in him (Kavod). The horse did pretty much everything I wanted him to do. I won my first race here. I’m no longer a Fair Grounds’ virgin.”

Sent off at 7-2, Kavod paid $9.80. $4.40, and $2.80.

Overall, Kavod’s career record now stands at 39-8-8-3 with $908,753 in the bank.