The $125.000 LCD Juvenile Stakes takes center stage at Fair Grounds on December 13, 2025, presenting a six-furlong test on the main dirt track exclusively for two-year-old colts and geldings foaled in Louisiana. As a prestigious State Bred stakes event, this race has a rich history dating back to 2006 and has produced numerous champions of the Louisiana-bred division. The LCD Juvenile carries weight penalties for recent stakes winners, with all runners assigned 121 pounds unless they’ve captured graded or open stakes since late 2024. Past winners include Continental (2024), Piece Of The West (2023), and Settle Me Down (2022). Among connections with previous success, Mb Stables has captured two editions (2018, 2020), while Alydar Stables won in 2012. The race has attracted a compact but competitive field of five talented Louisiana-bred sophomores, each seeking to add their names to this prestigious list of winners and establish themselves as the top State Bred juvenile in the Pelican State.
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
French Want Me represents T Boy Racing with Brian Curtis (3/5 odds) in the irons. This bay gelding by Ladies Want Me has won three of six career starts while earning $137.030, posting his best speed figure of 97. His most recent outing on November 1 at Delta Downs saw him dominate the $100.000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes at seven furlongs by one length after pressing the pace throughout, carrying 122 pounds. Prior to that on August 30 at Louisiana Downs, he captured the $75.000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs by one length after stalking the pace. Earlier on August 2, he won the $70.000 Young Mister Fifty Stakes at Evangeline Downs by 1/2 lengths on a muddy track. He also broke his maiden at Louisiana Downs on July 16 by two lengths and finished second at Evangeline Downs on June 12. He was gelded in late May. His recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet five-furlong breeze in 59.2 seconds at Evangeline Downs on December 3. His proven class at the highest level of Louisiana-bred competition, tactical speed, and consistent form make him the clear standout in this field.
Cherish Lune ships in for Mo Mentum Farm with Marcelino Murrill (8/1 odds) guiding this bay colt by La Lune Rain. With one win from just two career starts and earnings of only $11.230, he enters as a lightly raced prospect. His most recent outing on October 23 at Delta Downs saw him break his maiden by one length at five furlongs after pressing the pace, though he was claimed for $20.000 afterward. Prior to that on September 18 at Penn National, he finished tenth at six furlongs in his debut. His recent workouts at Fair Grounds show solid preparation, including a six-furlong breeze in 1:11 on December 6. While his maiden victory was impressive and he showed determination to win despite being claimed, his limited experience with just two career starts, lack of stakes competition, and the massive class jump from maiden claiming company to this State Bred stakes make him a significant longshot despite his recent form.
Sweet Avenger represents Alydar Stables with Irad Castillo (5/2 odds) aboard this bay gelding by Laffin Hero. With one win from just one career start and earnings of $21.850, he enters as an undefeated but untested prospect. His lone outing came on October 30 at Delta Downs, where he broke his maiden impressively by three lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs after setting the pace throughout. That performance earned him a 94-speed figure, suggesting he has significant ability. He was gelded in early April. His recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a six-furlong breeze in 1:11.1 at Charles Town on December 3. While his debut victory was dominant and his speed figures are competitive with this field, his complete lack of stakes experience and limited racing background with just one career start raise questions about whether he can handle this significant class jump, though his raw talent makes him a legitimate threat.
Monami Boy brings modest credentials for Arindel with Angel Concepcion (20/1 odds) guiding this bay gelding by Monami. Winless from two career starts with earnings of just $3.200, he enters off a fourth-place finish on August 14 at Del Mar at one mile after pressing the pace. Prior to that, on May 18 at Woodbine, he finished eighth at five furlongs in his debut. He was gelded in late June and sold for $225.000 in mid-February. His recent workouts are limited, with his most recent recorded work being a six-furlong breeze in 1:11.2 at Los Alamitos on December 7. While he’s shown flashes of ability in his limited starts, his winless record, modest speed figures, and lack of recent racing experience suggest he’s significantly overmatched against this quality field of proven Louisiana-bred stakes runners.
Violence completes the field for D J C Racing Stables with Martin Pedroza Jr. (4/1 odds) riding this bay colt by Hamilton. With one win from five career starts and earnings of $30.200, he enters off a third-place finish on November 1 in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes at Delta Downs at seven furlongs after setting the pace. Prior to that on September 6 at Louisiana Downs, he broke his maiden by three lengths at seven furlongs after controlling the pace throughout. Earlier efforts include fifths at Finger Lakes and Churchill Downs in maiden races. His recent workouts show solid preparation, including a six-furlong breeze in 1:11.1 at Gulfstream Park on December 5. While he’s shown consistent improvement and proven effective at sprint distances, his third-place finish behind French Want Me in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes suggests he may lack the necessary class to reverse that form, though his tactical speed and familiarity with today’s distance make him a threat for minor honors.
Pace Scenario and Prediction
The pace structure should develop with French Want Me and Sweet Avenger likely battling for the early lead, both having demonstrated consistent gate speed and the ability to control the tempo from the front. Violence has also shown tactical speed to press the pace or stalk just behind the leaders, while Cherish Lune may also factor into the early pace discussion. Monami Boy will likely settle in mid-pack or come from off the pace.
The projected winner is French Want Me, which brings the best combination of proven class, tactical speed, and consistent form to this State Bred assignment. His dominant victories in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes and Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes demonstrated his superiority over Louisiana-Bred competition, and with Curtis able to position him perfectly behind any early pace or control it himself, he should have every opportunity to secure his fourth career victory. His ability to handle both sprint and route distances, proven effectiveness carrying extra weight, and sharp recent workouts make him the horse to beat in this spot. Sweet Avenger appears the most dangerous threat with his impressive debut victory and competitive speed figures, though his lack of experience leaves questions about whether he can handle stakes company in just his second career start. Violence could factor with his tactical speed and recent form, while Cherish Lune and Monami Boy round out the field with both needing significant improvement to threaten the top contenders in this competitive Louisiana-Bred stakes event.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded