NEW ORLEANS, LA – Lothenbach Stables homebred Captivating Moon bombed the tote with a 43/1 shocker in Saturday’s $150,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3).
With Marcelino Pedroza in the saddle, Captivating Moon broke from the far outside post 10 and went straight to the rear while the 9/5 favorite Factor This dueled up front with Spectacular Gem.
Captivating Moon tipped out to run seven-wide in the stretch and rallied his heart out to take command near the final 1/16 while still on his wrong lead, then pulled ahead late to win.
The Chris Block trainee conquered the 1 1/8-mile yielding turf route by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:50.27.
Logical Myth rallied from near the rear to take second by a head and a nose over Peace Achieved and Set Piece, respectively, ahead of Factor This and Spectacular Gem.
Artie’s Rumor, Danceteria, Midnight Tea Time, and Dontblamerocket completed the order of finish.
Blackberry Wine scratched in favor of the Mineshaft Stakes on the dirt one race earlier; he finished fourth.
Captivating Moon’s win was his first since taking the local December 2019 Diliberto Memorial Stakes and improved his overall record to 29-5-8-5. The 6-year-old intact son of Malibu Moon has now earned $608,118.
Captivating Moon returned $89 to win, $29 to place, and $19.20 to show. Logical Myth brought back $6.60 to place and $5.40 to show. Peace Achieved paid $14.80 to show.
