Rising Inflation and Mr. Mo Money Victorious in Opening Day Stakes at Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 20, 2025) – Two stakes for Louisiana-breds were held on opening day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, as Rising Inflation proved much the best in the John Valene Memorial, and longshot Mr. Mo Money upset the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial.

Rising Inflation with   Isaac Castillo aboard wins the 4th running of the John Valene Memorial at Fair Grounds.   Hodges Photography / Jan Brubaker

Rallying from fifth, Mark Rose, Slam Dunk Racing and Dennis Bailey’s Rising Inflation saved ground into the stretch before taking the lead and drawing clear by 4 1/2 lengths over five older females. The Jonathan Wong trainee, piloted by Isaac Castillo, covered 1 mile and 70 yards in 1:44.03. Norah G finished second, and Clearly a Test was third in the Valene.

Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Rising Inflation paid $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10.

Notching her second stakes win since moving from Chad Brown’s barn in New York to join Wong in Louisiana, the 4-year-old daughter of Mitole now boasts a career record of 10-5-0-2 with $223,550 in earnings.

Mr Mo Money with Thomas Pompell aboard wins the 4th running of the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.  Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

Walter Horton’s 2-year-old colt Mr. Mo Money led a Mr. Money-sired exacta in the Peluso, as Our Moneyman finished 1 1/2 lengths back in second. Trained by Brett Brinkman, Mr. Mo Money tracked outside the leaders before making a decisive move to the front at the top of the stretch under jockey Tommy Pompell.

Going 6 furlongs, the 21-1 longshot stopped the clock in 1:11.70 and paid $45.40, $11.40 and $5.40.

With a career record of 6-2-2-2, Mr. Mo Money has banked $124,850.