McGee, Hernandez team to win FG’s Menard in Lotsandlotsofcandy’s stakes debut

Fair Grounds stakes recap by publicist Kevin Kilroy (Hodges Photography above of Lotsandlotsofcandy winning the Menard)

NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 10, 2025) — Jay Em Ess Stable’s Lotsandlotsofcandy broke to the front and never allowed her five rivals to threaten in the stretch, scoring in Saturday’s off-the-turf $100,000 Nelson J. Menard Memorial by 4 1/2 lengths in the lightly raced 5-year-old mare’s first stakes appearance.

The homebred daughter of Twirling Candy had three wins and a second in four starts at Churchill Downs and Ellis Park before heading to New Orleans for the winter with Churchill-based trainer Paul McGee, who had Brian Hernandez Jr. up for the stakes triumph.

Lotsandlotsofcandy covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.11 over a main track labeled “good.”

“Paul had her cranked up and ready to go today,” Hernandez said. “Going into her (allowance win last out at Churchill Downs) we knew she was a couple works short but that it was time to go. To top it off the way she did just shows what a great job Paul has done with her. As big as she is, she keeps getting better and better.”

Pan Zareta Stakes winner Big Trouble ran second for trainer Greg Foley and jockey Declan Cannon, while Sporting Lady finished third.

Originally scheduled for the turf, the Menard was moved to the main track because of heavy morning rain.

“She’s a naturally fast filly and I just try to get along with her,” McGee said. “She has got a big grass number and we are wanting to try her on the grass. The race here next month (Mardi Gras Stakes) is what we are going to point for.”

Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Lotsandlotsofcandy paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.10.

Lotsandlotsofcandy’s career record improved to 6-3-1-0, with earnings of $278,645.