How to bet the Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes

A talented field of seven Cajun-bred juveniles will dash six panels on the Fair Grounds main oval in Friday’s $100,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial S. Six of the seven signed on for the heat are coming off of tallies in the tricky handicapping assignment. 

Peluso Wagers

• $15 exacta 7 with 2,5 ($30)
• $5 trifecta key 7 with 2,5 ($10)
• $3 trifecta 2,5 with 7 with 2,5 ($6)

It’s difficult to look past superb debut winner #7 Voila Magic (9-5) from the outside post for conditioner Steve Asmussen. By Volatile, the $275,000 yearling purchase took some money in his unveiling at Keeneland while facing open company, and the colt delivered with a huge first-out score. The gray showed big early foot, took over readily in the lane, and drew off to a commanding, 5 3/4-length triumph while registering a solid 90 Brisnet Speed figure in the process. 

Voila Magic has put in a pair of maintenance moves to ready for his stakes bow and retains the services of Jose Ortiz, who is 4-for-8 for Asmussen as of late. The top pick also receives Lasix for the initial time for an outfit that is often better with second-time starters in general. 

#2 Louisiana Jess (9-2) was a smart debut winner at Churchill Downs on June 14 while facing open foes and followed that up with a five-length stakes victory over state-bred runners at Evangeline Downs last time out. One of two in the field trained by Bret Calhoun, the bay son of excellent debut sire Vekoma faces a much tougher task than he encountered last time, but the March foal is surely talented and is also capable of running behind runners which is a benefit in a field with plenty of early gas in the mix. Reylu Gutierrez inherits the mount and will bring the colt from off the pace in this spot. 

I have no idea what #5 Hay Jude (5-2) toppled in his daylight debut win at Delta Downs for trainer Tom Amoss, but the colt sure did it the right way and could be almost any kind on Friday. The $70,000 two-year-old purchase has been training in swift fashion this season, which includes a rapid five-furlong move at Fair Grounds last week, and he doesn’t give the impression of a colt who will need the lead in order to perform well. This Aurelius Maximus colt will be in the mix early, nonetheless, with Jareth Loveberry riding the February foal.