Grade I-Placed Medoro Makes Seasonal Bow in Marie G. Krantz Memorial a Winning One

[Wandering Eyes]

The California girl came east and started her 2026 season with a strong effort as Medoro (Honor Code) ran down her rivals late to win the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Twice placed at the Grade I-level as a 3-year-old two seasons back, she spent her entire '25 campaign at Del Mar. The daughter of Honor Code started that year with a win in the Osunitas Stakes in mid-July, and it proved to be her only time in the winner's enclosure in four tries. That being said, she still produced good efforts to get up for a piece of the trifecta in the GII John C. Mabee and GIII Goldikova Stakes before taking another swing at elite company last out Nov. 30 in the GI Matriarch Stakes. Pulled and checked early in that running, she managed to get up for sixth against a salty field with experience at the highest levels domestically and abroad.

Hammered at the windows for this '26 season start, Medoro went off at even-money while racing on Lasix for the first time in her career. She was content to watch the race unfold from fifth early when they posted an opening fraction of :23.23, but the pace gradually cooled from there with a half going up in :48.85. After six furlongs in 1:13.17, she had her work cut out for her as Cupids Crush (Cupid) was still well in command at the head of affairs and not looking to come back. Closing the distance relentlessly into the final furlong, she found just enough to overhaul that rival late by three-quarters of a length. The 72-1 wild longshot Lucky Speech (Audible) ambled in to claim third.

“It was a horse race in the end,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz. “Cupids Crush kept digging in, but I think I had a very good trip. She was going very nice into the first turn. I was able to drop her into the rail, save a lot of ground, and when I asked her to go, she was there for me.”

“This is a nice filly,” said Peter Eurton. “She's got all those graded stakes placings on her resume, she got the job done here. She gives you everything she's got. She's never missed a check except for her last race, so you gotta love her.”

“This is our first year at Fair Grounds, and I think it's really working out well. I mean, where else would you rather be than New Orleans? We have never traveled with Medoro, so we thought we'd test drive something new. We shipped for $100,000. It just seemed like a lot of fun. It was definitely worth it.”

Medoro is the first to the races for Achira, herself twice placed in the Osunitas Stakes that her daughter would later win. Since this victress, the mare has produced a pair of unraced horses of racing age–the most recent named Provider (Honor A.P.)–and has a 2025 colt by Not This Time in the wings. Achira, herself out of a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby hero Giacomo, is due to American Pharoah in 2026. One of the dam's half-sisters is Veronique (Mizzen Mast), whose claim to fame is through her son, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' SW Nashville (SPeightstown) and his half-brother SP Strategic Reserve (Munnings). In addition to the aforementioned Derby winner, this is also the immediate female family of MGISW Tiago and MGSW & MGISP Stanwyck.

 

MEDORO with a hard charge in the stretch to win the Marie G. Krantz Memorial at @fairgroundsnola! @jose93_ortiz was up for trainer Peter Eurton.

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MfJc9Qa8wV

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) January 17, 2026

MARIE G. KRANTZ MEMORIAL S., $100,000, Fair Grounds, 1-17, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.17, fm.
1–MEDORO, 124, m, 5, Honor Code–Achira (MSP, $151,852), by English Channel. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $60,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 13-6-3-3, $563,100.
2–Cupids Crush, 124, m, 6, Cupid–Dazzlingsweetheart, by Dazzling Falls. ($40,000 Ylg '21 MNSAUG). O-Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC; B-Mary Von Seggern, Eric Von Seggern, Barry Butzow & Joni Butzow (MN); T-Hugh H. Robertson. $20,000.
3–Lucky Speech, 118, m, 5, Audible–Luckyallmylife, by Lookin At Lucky. ($105,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Millennium Stables, LLC; B-Delia Nash & Jun Park (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $10,000.
Margins: 3/4, 4 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 27.10, 72.60.
Also Ran: Nanda Dea (Arg), Strikingly Spun, Sweet Treasure, Stylish Sue, Triumphant Spirit, Epic Style, Lakota Spirit. Scratched: Wild Bout Hilary.

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