The $100.000 Wright Memorial Stakes takes center stage at Fair Grounds on January 10, 2026, presenting a six-furlong test on the main dirt track exclusively for fillies and mares four years old and upward foaled in Louisiana. The Wright Memorial carries weight penalties for recent stakes winners, with all runners assigned 123 pounds unless they’ve captured graded or open stakes since early 2025. Past winners include Penal Party Angel (2024), Holy Reception (2023), and Cartoonish (2021). Among connections with previous success, T Boy Racing captured the 2023 edition with Holy Reception. The race has attracted a compact but competitive field of five talented Louisiana-bred older fillies and mares; each seeking to add their names to this prestigious list of winners and establish themselves as the top State Bred older female in the Pelican State.
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
Touch Of Oak represents Maxmillion Farm with Florent Geroux (5/1 odds) in the irons. This chestnut four-year-old filly by Worst Case Scenario has won two of eleven career starts while earning $167.970, posting her best speed figure of 97. Her most recent outing on November 22 at Fair Grounds saw her finish second by a head in the $100.000 Callie Memorial Stakes at six furlongs after pressing the pace throughout, carrying 123 pounds. Prior to that on July 20 at Del Mar, she finished sixth at 6 1/2 furlongs in optional claiming company. Earlier efforts include a fourth at Parx Racing and placings at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park. She was sold for $30.000 in late May. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet six-furlong breeze in 1:10.3 at Fair Grounds on January 5. While her narrow loss in the Callie Memorial demonstrated her ability to compete at this level at Fair Grounds, her inconsistent record and tendency to finish second raise questions about whether she can finally break through against this quality field.
Fringe Benefits brings solid credentials for Mo Mentum Farm with Brian Curtis (4/1 odds) guiding this seven-year-old chestnut mare by Bo Judge. With nine wins from 37 career starts and earnings of $272.640, she enters off a victory on October 28 at Finger Lakes at 1 7/16 miles by one length in allowance company, carrying 124 pounds. Prior to that on September 26, she finished seventh at Aqueduct at six furlongs. Earlier efforts include a fifth at Del Mar, a sixth at Saratoga on turf, an eighth in the Grade 3 Shawnee Stakes at Churchill Downs, and a third-place finish at Woodbine. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a bullet six-furlong breeze in 1:10.4 at Fair Grounds on January 3. While she’s shown versatility and proven effective at various distances, her recent form has been primarily at route distances, and the cutback to six furlongs after winning at nearly 1 1/2 miles raises questions about whether she can handle this sprint test against fresher, faster rivals.
Oeuvre Rain represents T Boy Racing with Paco Lopez (6/5 odds) aboard this bay four-year-old filly by La Lune Rain. With seven wins from 17 career starts and earnings of $343.560, she brings the strongest credentials to this assignment. Her most recent outing on December 23 at Delta Downs saw her finish third in the $100.000 Rosewater Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs after racing in the back of the pack, carrying 124 pounds. Prior to that on November 22 at Fair Grounds, she captured the $100.000 Callie Memorial Stakes at six furlongs by a head after rallying from fifth in the early stages, carrying 123 pounds. Earlier on October 11, she finished second in the $100.000 Magnolia Stakes at Delta Downs at seven furlongs. She also won the $75.000 Louisiana Champions Day Filly & Mare Sprint on August 30, the $100.000 Louisiana Ladies Soiree on June 7, and the $60.000 Cajun Miss Stakes on May 2. Her recent workouts show consistent preparation. Her proven class at the highest level of Louisiana-bred competition, tactical speed, and course-and-distance victory in the Callie Memorial make her the clear standout in this field, and she carries 125 pounds due to her recent stakes successes.
Miss La Lune ships in for Xcel Racing with Jose Ortiz (8/1 odds) guiding this chestnut four-year-old filly by La Lune Rain. With four wins from 19 career starts and earnings of $97.980, she enters off a victory on December 4 at Turf Paradise at 5 1/2 furlongs by one length in allowance company, carrying 119 pounds. Prior to that on November 11, she finished fourth at Turf Paradise at six furlongs in optional claiming company. Earlier efforts include victories at Fairmount Park on turf and dirt, and placings in allowance and claiming races. Her recent workouts are limited, with her most recent recorded work being a four-furlong breeze in 46.1 seconds at Penn National on January 2. While she’s shown consistent form at lower levels and won her most recent start, the significant class jump from allowance company at Turf Paradise to this stakes level at Fair Grounds presents a major challenge, and her modest speed figures suggest she may lack the necessary class to compete with proven stakes runners.
Brusilov Treat completes the field for Iwin Enterprise with Irad Castillo (3/1 odds) riding this gray five-year-old mare by Brusilov. With seven wins from 16 career starts and earnings of $233.670, she brings strong credentials to this assignment. Her most recent outing on December 23 at Delta Downs saw her finish second by a head in the Rosewater Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs after setting the pace throughout, carrying 125 pounds. Prior to that on November 20, she finished third at Fair Grounds at 1 7/16 miles after setting the pace. Earlier on October 11, she won the Magnolia Stakes at Delta Downs at seven furlongs by 3/4 lengths after controlling the pace. She also finished third on turf at Beulah Park, won at Louisiana Downs on turf, and captured the $60.000 King Creole Stakes on May 3. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a seven-furlong breeze in 1:23.2 at Delta Downs on December 10. Her proven class in Louisiana-bred stakes and tactical speed make her a serious threat, though she carries 125 pounds and the cutback from 7 1/2 furlongs to six furlongs raises questions about whether the shorter distance suits her best running style.
Pace Scenario and Prediction
The pace structure should develop with Brusilov Treat likely establishing the early lead, having demonstrated consistent gate speed and the ability to control the tempo from the front. Touch Of Oak has shown tactical speed to press the pace or stalk just behind the leaders, while Miss La Lune may also factor into the early pace discussion based on her recent running style. Oeuvre Rain will likely settle in mid-pack before unleashing her late rally, with Fringe Benefits expected to track from a stalking position or come from off the pace.
The projected winner is Oeuvre Rain, who brings the best combination of proven class, tactical speed, and course-and-distance form to this State Bred assignment. Her narrow victory in the Callie Memorial Stakes at this exact track and distance demonstrated her superiority over Louisiana-Bred competition at six furlongs, and with Lopez able to position her perfectly behind the expected pace before unleashing her powerful late kick, she should have every opportunity to defend her title successfully. Her six stakes victories in 2025, including multiple wins over State Bred rivals at various distances, confirm her status as the division’s leader. Brusilov Treat appears the most dangerous threat with her proven class and tactical speed, though the cutback to six furlongs and carrying 125 pounds leave questions. Touch Of Oak could factor with her recent narrow loss in the Callie Memorial, while Fringe Benefits and Miss La Lune 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