French Want Me held off a determined challenge from Cherish Lune in Friday’s $125.000 LCD Juvenile Stakes at Fair Grounds, prevailing by a neck in the six-furlong State Bred stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings foaled in Louisiana under Brian Curtis for T Boy Racing. The bay gelding posted a final time of 1:09.41 over a fast track, earning his fourth career victory from seven starts. Sent off as the heavy favorite, French Want Me demonstrated exceptional determination and class while confirming his status as the top Louisiana-bred juvenile with a hard-fought victory in this prestigious event, adding to his earlier triumphs in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes and Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes while carrying 123 pounds.

Flow & Calls

As the gates opened for the LCD Juvenile Stakes, French Want Me broke alertly from post one to secure position in fifth through the opening quarter mile in :22.2. Cherish Lune, breaking from post two, settled into fourth under Murrill. Sweet Avenger occupied second in the early stages after breaking from post three, while Violence broke from post five and established the early lead. Monami Boy, breaking from post four, raced in fourth position as the field completed the opening quarter over the fast surface.

Through the half-mile marker reached in :45.3, French Want Me had improved his position significantly, advancing to third. Cherish Lune moved up to fourth, beginning to make his presence felt. Sweet Avenger had dropped back slightly to first position, tracking the early pace. Violence continued to show the way in second, maintaining contact with the leaders. Monami Boy raced in third as the field approached the far turn.

As the field reached the five-furlong marker in :57.3, French Want Me had continued his forward move, advancing to second position and positioning himself for the stretch drive. Cherish Lune had moved up dramatically to fourth, closing ground on the leaders. Sweet Avenger raced in first, staying in contention. Violence occupied second, tracking the pace. Monami Boy continued from third as the field prepared to straighten for home.

In the final furlong, French Want Me surged to the lead under Curtis’s urging, taking command in the stretch. Cherish Lune mounted a determined challenge, closing powerfully to secure second position but unable to reach the winner despite his best efforts. Sweet Avenger held on well to claim third after racing prominently throughout. Violence finished fourth after pressing the pace earlier, while Monami Boy completed the order in fifth. The winner crossed the finish line a neck in front of the runner-up.

Each Runner Mentioned

French Want Me settled into fifth through the opening quarter in :22.2, improved to third at the half-mile marker in :45.3, advanced to second at the five-furlong call in :57.3, and surged to the lead in the stretch to win by a neck in a final time of 1:09.41 for his fourth career victory.

Cherish Lune raced in fourth through the opening quarter, maintained fourth at the half-mile marker, moved up to fourth at the five-furlong call, and closed with powerful determination to claim second, beaten a neck in just his third career start.

Sweet Avenger occupied second position through the opening quarter, moved to first at the half-mile marker, raced in first at the five-furlong call, but was overtaken in the stretch to finish third in his second career start.

Violence established the early lead through the opening quarter, maintained second at the half-mile marker, occupied second at the five-furlong call, but flattened out in the final furlong to finish fourth.

Monami Boy raced in fourth through the opening quarter, continued from third at the half-mile marker, maintained third at the five-furlong call, but faded to finish fifth.

Winner’s Profile

French Want Me, a bay gelding by Ladies Want Me out of French Angeles, was bred and is owned by T Boy Racing in Louisiana. The victory pushes his lifetime earnings to $212.030 with four wins from seven career starts. Having proven his superiority among Louisiana-bred juveniles with victories in the Louisiana Legacy Stakes, Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes, and now the LCD Juvenile Stakes, French Want Me has established himself as the clear leader of his division heading into the winter months.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45³  :57³  1:09²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 2 Paid 13.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 2 – 3 Paid 17.10

Scratched: None

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded