Mandaloun Beats Midnight Bourbon in Louisiana Stakes
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Mandaloun wins the Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course
It may not be Affirmed versus Alydar, but Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon certainly know to stage a lively rivalry.
The sixth matchup in a year's time between the two 4-year-olds was a thriller as they battled down the stretch in the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) before Juddmonte's Mandaloun edged away to prevail by three-quarters of a length over his familiar rival Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
"Hopefully (Mandaloun) took a big step forward today off the layoff to run down a very good horse who was on the lead, and we can build off this. We're going to need to if we want to have the year we're expecting to have," said trainer Brad Cox, who swapped his trademark baseball cap for a ski cap due to the chilly conditions Saturday in New Orleans. "I do think it's definitely in the cards that he can build off this and be a better horse this year."
The first steps at 4 for both Mandaloun, who was coming off a six-month layoff, and Midnight Bourbon were impressive as they showed no signs of slowing down after emerging as two of the top runners in a deep and talented 3-year-old crop.
The connections of both horses viewed the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana as a stepping stone to the Feb. 26 $20,000,000 Saudi Cup (G1) and if Round Seven takes place there, the $20 million international stakes should be a dazzler.
"It's very possible," Cox said about the possibility of running his homebred son of Into Mischief in the Saudi Cup. "I always thought he'd like one turn if he ever shorten him up to one turn. The Saudi Cup is a (one-turn) mile-and-an-eighth and it's something I definitely think he can handle. We're excited to get this race underneath him and now we'll take a deep breath. It's always tough running a horse off a layoff."
Sore heels brought Mandaloun's 2021 campaign to a premature end following the July 17 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), where he was elevated to first after Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified and placed last for drifting in, clipping heels with Midnight Bourbon, who lost his rider.
With Saturday's win, he improved his record to six wins in nine starts with earnings of $1,741,252, and, though he was second on the first Saturday in May, he may even wind up as the official winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) should Medina Spirit be disqualified for failing post-race drug tests.
Given the no contest in the Haskell, the Louisiana gave Mandaloun a 3-2 edge over Midnight Bourbon in races when both horses crossed the finish line with a jockey on his back. In six of Mandaloun's last seven races, Winchell Thoroughbreds' son of Tiznow was also in the starting gate.
In those first four meetings Midnight Bourbon won the Lecomte Stakes (G3), the 2022 edition of which was contested Saturday right after the Louisiana, while Mandaloun was victorious the following month in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2), both at Fair Grounds.
Midnight Bourbon, who was second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), and jockey Joel Rosario took the lead over his five challengers in the Louisiana. Running for the first time since a third in the Nov. 26 Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) for trainer Steve Asmussen, he led by two lengths after a half-mile in a comfortable :48.25 over the fast track.
Mandaloun was third at that point and jockey Florent Geroux made his move into second midway on the final turn. The 4-5 favorite ($3.80) moved to within a half-length of 6-5 Midnight Bourbon after six furlongs and the two battled to the wire from there.
"We had to run down a very good horse," Geroux said. "I felt that last year there was a lot in him and sometimes he wasn't willing to give it to me. But this time when I asked him and pushed the button, he was there for me. I felt we finished fast."
Midnight Bourbon's lead was down to a head at the eighth pole and Mandaloun wore him down late to cover the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.52.
"(Mandaloun) is more polished mentally now," Cox said. "Physically he's definitely better than he was last year. He's grown, he's filled out like he's supposed to now that that he's a year older."
Twin Creek Racing Stable's Warrant , a 4-year-old son of Constitution trained by Cox, was 8 1/4 lengths back in third in the field of six.
Mandaloun is the second of five foals from the Empire Maker mare Brooch and her first stakes winner. He also has 3-year-old and 2-year-old full brothers and a yearling half brother by War Front .