Wathnan Racing’s Cox-trained Hit Show takes G3 Louisiana Stakes
Fair Grounds’ stakes recap by Joe Kristufek/Hodges photo of Hit Show’s win in the G3 Louisiana Stakes
New Orleans, La (Jan. 18, 2025) – The entirety of Kentucky-based Hit Show’s career, it’s basically been all or nothing. In taking Saturday’s $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) presented by Relyne GI by Hagyard at Fair Grounds, he has now won half of his 16 starts with just one second. His other seven races have resulted in off-the-board performances.
Off to a stutter-step start from the rail draw in the field of eight, the gray/roan son of Candy Ride found himself last down the backstretch, chasing the moderate fractions of :24.23 and :48.66 set by the front running Track Phantom, the winner of last year’s Lecomte (G3). With the Japanese-bred Komorebino Omoide right on his flank throughout, Track Phantom (6.50-1) would eventually give way to that longshot (14.90-1 rival) on the far turn. Skinner, the 2.30-1 California invader making his first career start under the tutelage of Cherie DeVaux, launched his rally ahead of Hit Show’s, but the gray grinder eventually worked his way past both he and Komorebino Omoide, who fought on gallantly for second, to post a 1 ½ length victory. Hit Show completed the 1 1/16 miles over a sloppy track in 1:44.91.
A somewhat disappointing third (placed fifth) as the 8-5 favorite in the Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs when last seen on November 28, Hit Show got back on track for trainer Brad Cox.
“We gave him a little break (after the Clark), shipped down to Florida (Payson Park),” Cox said. “That was the plan to zero in on this race. He responded well. He’d been working well at Payson with Patch Adams the past few weeks. I want to congratulate Wathnan (owners) for sticking with us and hopefully he can pick off a grade one later this year. I always thought he was a horse with top talent.”
With the win, Hit Show now boasts an overall record of 16-8-1-0 with a bankroll of $1,410,928. He has won five of the last six races Florent Geroux has been aboard, and six of eight with that rider overall.
“It looks like he runs for me, and I like him too,” Geroux said. “He’s always honest in races and always tries on Any kind of track, he doesn’t care. This horse likes to do his job. He’s the type of horse that deserves a grade one next to his name.”
Hit Show returned $4.60, $3.00 and $2.40. Runner-up Komorebino Omoide (JPN) paid $10.20 and $5.60 while Skinner, the 2.30-1 second choice, returned $2.60 to show. Maycocks Bay, Heroic Move, Cooke Creek, Track Phantom and Pipeline completed the order of finish.
