Moon Swag with Corie Lanerie aboard pulls away to win the Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds. (Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir)
Broussard Win Kicked off Three-Win Day for Walsh Barn on “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day”
Fair Grounds Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Farfellow Farms’ Moon Swag relaxed off a sharp early pace and came charging late to win Monday’s $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots by 2 1/2 lengths. Charlie’s Penny 3-5 favorite lost the place photo and finished third.
Moon Swag, a 4-year-old filly by Malibu Moon, ran 1 mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:43.21. The Walsh barn won two other races on the Road to the Derby Kickoff Day card – the Untapable Stakes with 2-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous and a maiden special weight rout with their promising 2-year-old colt Banishing, also a Godolphin homebred.
Corey Lanerie rode the winner, a late rider change after Luis Saez was delayed by travel issues. Trainer Brendan Walsh’s assistant trainer Paul Madden saddled Moon Swag to victory.
Lil Kings Princess went right to the front and led the field of five older fillies and mares down the backstretch in fractions of :23.59, :47.03 and 1:12.55 with Charlie’s Penny stalking 2-wide and Powder River tracking to the leader’s inside. Moon Swag was traveling comfortably off the rail, giving distance to her foes in front and behind while mid-pack and in the clear on the outside.
“She got stuck down inside in the Fall City, and ran a little keen,” Madden said. “Brendan (Walsh) was adamant he wanted to keep her away from the horses today. Thankfully that worked out for us. It’s great for the team. She’s not the easiest filly to be around. A lot of credit goes to Salvador, her groom and Steven who rides her every morning.”
Leaving the turn, Lil Kings Princess began to fade, and Charlie’s Penny took a brief lead. Moon Swag ranged up to Charlie’s Penny right hip and took some convincing from Lanerie to get by but once she did, she had all the late kick.
“I had time to prepare in case I was riding,” Lanerie said. “I looked at the Racing Form and watched her last races. She looked pretty easy to ride, and Brendan (Walsh) gave me my instructions.”
For Broussard Memorial, Race 3, forward to 3:43.
The first prize was $60,000 and hiked Moon Swag’s bankroll to $334,880 with a record of 4-1-4 from 13 starts. It was her second career stakes win. At age 2, she won the 2020 Manzano Stakes at Albuquerque.
Moon Swag paid $6.00, $2.80 and $2.10 at odds of 2-1. Powder River was second, followed by Charlie’s Penny, Bow Bow Girl, and Lil Kings Princess.
Racing at Fair Grounds is back on Thursday with the first post scheduled for 1:15 p.m. CT and a card of eight races on the dirt. On Saturday, Dec 31, the stakes action picks back up with the $100,000 Pago Hop, $100,000 Woodchopper, the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity (Boys), and the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity (Girls).
