ERC goes Louisiana way in the Justify

Louisiana (LA) Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 3:15:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3700788
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JUSTIFY
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Stakes – Sponsored – Purse : $100,000 – 4 Year Olds and Older – Owner Restricted
5.5 Furlongs | ~1100 Meters | Eleven Sixteenths of a Mile| Fast Dirt

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The Elite Racing Club visits the virtual Fair Grounds in New Orleans for this month’s stakes event, the JUSTIFY. A five and a half furlong sprint for older males has attracted a compact field of eight club runners, including a lone distaffer, racing for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse on tap. The trophy presentation will be held immediately after the race as the club parties down Louisiana style.
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As for the club’s trainer championship, at this writing, harrylan’s 41 points sport a 6 point lead over 2nd place jbcri09. Newfydowns is next with 33 points, and dontbetonme is just one back of newfy. Summerset rounds out the top five. Looks like an exciting fall season is on hand.
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Good mix of styles in this event — should be a competitive heat. Let’s take a look at the past performances, and see what we may see.

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4…..4/1
NO NOT THRILLED…………………IRE…….7M……. harrylanlow15
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Seven year old horse was 2nd best in his last two, listed stakes at today’s distance, smacking 107 and 108 SP#s in stalking trips. One outing back of those two resulted in a frustrating 5th place finish in another listed stakes, also at 5.5 furlongs, beaten just a half length in a blanket finish. Old timer has caught a second wind in his seventh year, could be right in the thick of things as they head for the finish line. for the harrylanlow15 barn.
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6…..10/1
DEVILISHLY DEVIL………………….KY……. 4G……..amir1661
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Speedster from the amir1661 outfit set the pace and tired to 9th in his latest try in the G3 Blacklisted Stakes at 5 panels, eking out a 99 SP# in his first grade stakes effort. One before that he won the Mambo Me listed stakes at this trip, busting out a 108 SP# in a wire to wire run. Steps back down to a listed stakes here; dangerous front runner may shake loose and dare them to catch him.
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3….5/1
FOREVER CEMETERY………………KY…….5M……. jbcri31
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Deep closing sprinter was 2nd best most recently in an open allowance at this route, pegging a 104 SP# from well back in the pack. His only career stakes engagement was a fast closing 2nd in the Hard To Handle listed at three quarters of a mile, punching a 105 SP# from the middle of the pack. Will be hoping for a rapid early pace to set up up his late kick; looks like he’ll be part of the deep stretch cavalry charge for the jbcri31 racing group.
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5…..7/1
KIRK HUGHES……………………….JPN……5F…….. claimerz7
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Nineteen time winning speedball is our only distaff entrant. She has won her last two starts , open allowances at 6 furlongs and 4.5 furlongs, earning 98 and 103 SP#s. Looks like she’ll be battling the other front runners from the gate opening to around the far turn. Could get a dream trip if the other speedsters back off; She could upset the field to earn her 20th career victory, her 15th for the claimerz7 barn of the summerset operation.
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1…..5/2
TUSSIN……………………………….AUS……4M…….myt4go10
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Bay colt has been running middle distances since two year old season. He was 3rd last out at 7.5 furlongs in a restricted allowance, bashing a 112 SP#. One back of that he was a no threat 5th in the Coal Miners listed stakes at 7.5 panels, bagging a 111 SP#. Good to see mightyforego back in the ERC wars; the cut back in distance for this runner may sharpen his stalking racing style. SP#’s compare favorably with these. Handicapper rates him best at 5/2 on the tote.
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8…..6/1
THE AIR IS BLUE ……………………SKOR….5G……..villagedowns
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Front running gelding comes off a wire to wire score in a restricted allowance at this trip, firing a 104 SP#. Dunnvilledowns trainee from his villagedowns stable just failed to get the money one back of that in a restricted allowance at this distance, flinging a 106 SP# while making all the pace. Looks like he’ll be part of the early pace scenario, but will need some luck to hold off the closers to the finish line.
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2…..9/1
MAXIMUS MEMORIES…………… LA…….. 4M……. bigz17
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Fleet four year old colt finally got his first stakes victory in latest, the Mau Ten Mile over this oval, blasting a 109 SP# in a stalking trip. In his prior outing he tired late to 4th in the Virginia Affair listed stakes at this distance, bashing a 102 SP# after an early pace duel. Runner from the bigz17 barn of the bigz racing group could be a major player in the early pace, or bide his time until the stretch run to get the jump on the closers. Jockey tactics may be the deciding factor.
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7…..9/2
BREEZING THE CHUTE…………….KY……..5G…….amdb3
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Brown gelding was an OK 4th in his first appearance off “the cut”, sticking a 105 SP# in a $10,000 starter at 7 furlongs. One before that he won the race he was claimed from, a $10,000 claimer at this route, smacking a 109 SP# with a stalking trip. It appears this guy likes to have a target to run at, but don’t be surprised if this dontbetonme protege is right on the pace. Handicapper likes him as 3rd choice at the betting windows.
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Good luck everybody, and may they all come home fast, safe and sound.