Kentucky Derby Prep Races: Muniz Memorial Stakes

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Kentucky Derby Prep Races Odds and News

Muniz Memorial Stakes 2025: Spirit of St Louis Leads the Field

The Grade 2, $300,000 Muniz Memorial will take place at Fair Grounds on Louisiana Derby Day, showcasing a competitive field of 12 older males racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The race plays a pivotal role in the day’s high-stakes action, including the Louisiana Derby and the Fair Grounds Oaks, both of which serve as early Kentucky Derby Prep Races. 

The results will impact Kentucky Derby odds and influence Kentucky Derby betting strategies as the road to Churchill Downs continues.

Top Contender: Spirit of St Louis

Trainer Chad Brown has dominated this race with three previous wins and enters the 2025 edition with a strong duo led by Spirit of St Louis. The six-year-old gelding, owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Richard Schermerhorn, secured his first graded stakes win in January with a late run in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park. 

In that performance, he closed from midpack under Tyler Gaffalione to edge Integration at the wire. Returning as the 3-1 morning-line favorite, Spirit of St Louis will break from post 6 with Gaffalione aboard again.

Brown’s Second Entry: Redistricting

Brown’s second entry, Redistricting, is a lightly raced five-year-old owned by Klaravich Stables. Last year, he finished second in the Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont and the Seabiscuit Stakes at Del Mar. Moreover, he has been installed as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line. Additionally, he will break from post 5 with Flavien Prat aboard.

Intense Challenges from DeVaux and Maker

Trainer Cherie DeVaux also enters two contenders, led by Brilliant Berti. The son of Noble Mission has amassed over $1.6 million in earnings and closed out his three-year-old season with a win in the Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland. Brian Hernandez Jr. will be back in the irons, with the pair breaking from post 8 at morning-line odds of 5-1.

Stablemate Rebel Red, the second choice at 4-1, has three wins from six starts under DeVaux’s training and finished third in the Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. This marks his second attempt at graded stakes competition, with meet-leading jockey Jose Ortiz set to ride.

Mike Maker also brings a pair to the Muniz Memorial, led by What Say Thee, a Texas Turf Classic winner who ran third in the Fair Grounds Stakes last out. He has succeeded at this distance, with three wins from five attempts. Maker’s second entry, Smokey Mandate, won a local allowance in February and will step up in class for this start.

Other Notable Entries

Steve Asmussen-trained Gigante has already won the first two races in the series for older turf males but disappointed last out in the Fair Grounds Stakes. The millionaire runner, now owned by L and N Racing and Clark Brewster, will break from the rail with Joel Rosario aboard.

For more insights, odds, and wagering options, visit our racebook and stay updated on all the action leading up to the 2025 Kentucky Derby.