Former Fair Grounds owner Louie Roussel III was not
present for the 85th running of the featured $60,000 Thanksgiving Handicap on
Fair Grounds’ traditional opening day, but it was still a rousing hometown
victory for the New Orleans
native because he owns and trains the winner, Mambo Galliano.
Scoring his second straight victory and his fifth in 16
lifetime starts, Mambo Galliano responded when roused by jockey James Graham
for the stretch run and drew off late for a four-length score to increase his
career earnings to $167,192 in front of the festive opening day crowd – most of
whom were native New Orleanians enjoying their traditional Turkey Day holiday.
The winner, who was saddled by fellow trainer Neil
Pessin and accomplished the six-furlong distance in 1:09.56, returned
$11.20, $5.80 and $4 while finishing four lengths in front of Oliver Pierce’s Sweetsouthernmoon,
who paid $9 and $4.60 and was a nose to the good of Winmore LLC and Robert and
Lawana Low’s Cool Bullet, who returned $5.20.
“He’s been working up to this one, and we got some lovely
little splits to set off of before he took off,” said the Irish-born jockey
Graham. “Hopefully, he’ll keep improving off of this one.”
Pessin, a stable neighbor of Roussel’s, updated Mambo
Galliano’s recent days.
“He’s been here for about a week or 10 days,” said Pessin.
“Louie sent him down and we just galloped him into the race today.”
Favored Foreign Production, owned by Foxwood
Plantation, set the early fractions of 21.95 and 45.22 before weakening to
fourth in the late stages.