Big Trouble Back in Menard After Pan Zareta Win
Saturday’s Trio of Stakes Includes Palmisano and Wright
NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 4, 2025) — Exiting a career-best effort in which she captured the Pan Zareta by open lengths, Donamire Farm’s homebred Big Trouble returns in Saturday’s $100,000 Nelson J. Menard Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Nine older fillies and mares have been entered for the open-company 5 ½-furlong turf sprint, one of three stakes scheduled for the Jan. 10 program. Also on the nine-race card are a pair of Louisiana-bred dirt sprints, the $100,000 Gary P. Palmisano Memorial and the $100,000 Bob F. Wright Memorial.
Trained by Greg Foley, Big Trouble has never finished out of the money in five local turf starts. Trip-compromised in both the Kelly and Mardi Gras Stakes last meet, the 5-year-old Kantharos mare rebounded sharply in the Pan Zareta, rallying from near the back of the pack under a clean ride from Declan Cannon, who retains the mount for the Menard.
John Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock, and Borders Racing Stable’s Serving Time will look for a cleaner trip of her own. The Cherie DeVaux trainee encountered traffic when closing gamely to finish third behind Big Trouble in the Pan Zareta, which marked the lightly raced 4-year-old’s first start following an 11-month layoff. Jose Ortiz takes the call.
Perhaps the most intriguing entrant is Jay Em Ess Stable’s Lotsandlotsofcandy. Trained by Paul McGee, the 5-year-old mare has delivered stakes-caliber performances in two of her five career starts. The Menard will represent both her first attempt at the open stakes level and her first start on turf for the daughter of Twirling Candy.
One of four turf races carded Saturday, the Menard is scheduled as Race 8.
A cast of ten older males will take center stage in the Gary P. Palmisano Memorial, including back-to-back Louisiana Champions Day Sprint winner Geaux Sugar, who finished second in the 2025 edition. Owned by Single Malt Stables and trained by Keith Bourgeois, the all-out speedster has amassed more than a half-million dollars in lifetime earnings.
Geaux Sugar figures to be the controlling speed, as he has consistently shown the ability to clear fields early and carry his pace over the Fair Grounds main track.
Chief among his competition is dual Palmisano winner Bron and Brow, who brings proven class and tactical versatility to the matchup. Formerly trained by Mark Casse, the 7-year-old gelding is now in the care of owner-trainer Steve Asmussen. Capable of sitting just off the pace or mounting a sustained run from midpack, Bron and Brow is well positioned to capitalize should the early fractions become contested.
The Palmisano is slated as the finale of Saturday’s 9-race program.
With six older Louisiana-bred fillies signed on, the Bob F. Wright Memorial sets the stage for round five of the rivalry between Secret Faith and Blue Fire. Thus far this meet, Norman Stable’s sensational Secret Faith has emerged victorious in both of their encounters, including the Delmar Caldwell Memorial.
Their most recent meeting in the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint produced a thrilling stretch run resulting in a half-length separating the two. With the edge going to the Jayde Gelner trained Secret Faith The 4-year-old fillies have faced each other four times in total with Secret Faith taking three.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Blue Fire owns the distinction of being the only state-bred mare to have defeated the 11-time winner.
The Wright kicks off the trio of stakes as Race 5.
Here is the complete field for the Menard Memorial, listed from the rail out, with jockey and trainer:
· Big Trouble (Cannon, Foley)
· Serving Time (Ortiz, DeVaux)
· Banterra (Paco Lopez, Steve Asmussen)
· Party Pauline (Mitchell Murrill , Chris Hartman)
· Rue Lala (Isaac Castillo, Shane Wilson)
· Harbor Springs (Jareth Loveberry, Foley)
· Sporting Lady (Jamie Torres, Keri Brion)
· Gavea (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Al Stall Jr.)
· Lotsandlotsofcandy (Brian Hernandez Jr., McGee)
Here is the complete field for the Palmisano Memorial, listed from the rail out, with jockey and trainer:
· Benoit (James Graham, Joe Duhon)
· Sir Wellington (Paco Lopez, Hugh Robertson)
· Bron and Brow (Isaac Castillo, Asmussen)
· Hay Jude (Jose Ortiz, Tom Amoss)
· El Dinero (Jareth Loveberry, Pat Devereux Jr.)
· Geaux Sugar (Mitchell Murrill, Bourgeois)
· Strong Promise (Florent Geroux, Allen Landry)
· He's Late Again (Brian Hernandez Jr., Allen Landry)
· Carpis (Sofia Vives, Sam David Jr.)
· Sounds Like Power (Marcelino Pedroza, Jr., Randy Degeyter Jr.)
Here is the complete field for the Wright Memorial, listed from the rail out, with jockey and trainer:
· Blue Fire (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen)
· Beleout (Erica Murray, Courtney Dandridge Jr.)
· Hopeitsmyluckyday (Mitchell Murrill, Yovani Munoz)
· Custom Design (Colby Hernandez, Floyd Pitzer)
· Secret Faith (CJ McMahon, Jayde Gelner)
· Six String (Florent Geroux, Allen Landry)