Fair Grounds · Thursday, January 8, 2026 · Race 9 of 10

Maiden Special Weight

turf, firmOne And One Sixteenth MilesPurse $54,0009 ranPost 2026-01-08 16:49:00Final time 1:43.85Pool $124,534

Good for all except 1

Result

FinPPHorseJockey / Trainerstart1/41/23/4stretchfinishMarginOddsFig
110Touch of Fire
close up, clear, best
Marcelino Pedroza, Jr.222211—4.1060A
E1 93 · LP 112
29Robert Lee
pace, yield, 2nd best
Mitchell Murrill111122714.5041A
E1 95 · LP 106
36Royal Causeway
stdy, btw, 5w rally
Florent Geroux7778639½2.2057A
E1 86 · LP 109
41Next Time
inwrd, rated, no bid
James Graham3334349½13.6054A
E1 91 · LP 107
55Fake Smart
stdy, willingly outs
Paco Lopez889985115.0055A
E1 84 · LP 108
68Shuggy
rated 3w, wknd
Jose Ortiz56665613¾3.6042A
E1 89 · LP 104
77Whatever
track3w, retreated
Jareth Loveberry44434715½25.3045A
E1 90 · LP 102
83Apollo Eleven
rated ins, wknd
Axel Concepcion65557819¼5.9042A
E1 89 · LP 101
92In the Gray
no impact
Chris Rosier99879922¼110.6011A
E1 84 · LP 100

How the race unfolded (position at each call; hover a line to follow one runner)

123456789start1/41/23/4stretchfinish9Robert Lee6Royal Causeway1Next Time5Fake Smart8Shuggy7Whatever3Apollo Eleven2In the Gray10Touch of Fire

Fractional times

Call 123.40
Call 249.08
Call 31:14.24
Call 41:37.68
Final1:43.85

Payouts

BetWinning numbersPaidPool
win ($2)10$0.20—
place ($2)10$5.80—
show ($2)10$3.20—
exacta ($1)—$47.40$74,549
place ($2)9$13—
show ($2)9$6.60—
trifecta ($0.50)6$68.45$40,086
show ($2)6$2.80—
Pick 3 ($0.50)10$155.95$13,107
superfecta ($0.10)6-1$156.55$29,776
daily double ($1)—$18.40$12,619
Pick 3 ($0.50)4$31.15$0

Chart notes

TOUCH OF FIRE sat just behind the early pace, moved up through the far turn to take command entering the stretch, drove clear to be much the best. ROBERT LEE was quick to set the early pace, continued up the backstretch uncontestedly, came under pressure in the far turn until giving way at the top of the stretch, clearly second best. ROYAL CAUSEWAY took hold shortly after the start, raced off the pace between rivals, angled out five wide to rally for the show award. NEXT TIME broke inward, found position a couple lengths back along the inside, made no bid. FAKE SMART steadied back to last shortly after the start, closed willingly along the outside of the stretch. SHUGGY found position three wide in the middle of the pack, weakened in the stretch. WHATEVER tracked the early pace three wide, retreated in the stretch. APOLLO ELEVEN was in tight quarters early, raced along the inside, weakened in the stretch. IN THE GRAY trailed after the first turn, moved up a couple spots in the backstretch but weakened back to last in the far turn.