Kiss My Mud Bug Kisses The Field Goodbye With Wire-To-Wire Win In Faubourg St John Stakes

NEW ORLEANS, LA–AUGUST 31, 2024–Kiss My Mud Bug gets his second consecutive victory this season in stakes fashion after winning the $50,000 Faubourg St. John Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Saturday.

With Arnulfo Gutierrez in the irons, Kiss My Mud Bug broke clear from the gates and led the field from wire to wire for a 1/2-length victory over Freakin Patriot. The son of Kiss My Hocks crossed the wire in 47.069 seconds against a six mph headwind. The 870-yard victory paid $13.00 to win for the slight upset on 6/1 odds.

Freakin Patriot Dash, ridden by Paulina Ramirez, made a late gain to catch Kiss. My Mud Bug came up short at the wire, placing second by 2 1/4 lengths over post-time favorite One Fast Cajun and rider Ubaldo Luna.

Kiss My Mud Bug didn't start racing until last year. The six-year-old gelding won twice at Evangeline Downs in a 550-yard maiden and 440-yard allowance race from seven starts. But this year, the distance horse trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr seems to have found his nitch in the 870 races, including his first stakes victory in the Faubourg.

The $24,000 winner's share of the purse increased Kiss My Mud Bugs earnings to $53,075 for owner JBJ Ranch and improved his record to 4-1-2 from ten starts. Dena Kirkpatrick bred the brown gelding in Texas out of the First Down Dash mare Kates Always First, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Ride My Wagon, Shawns Quick Dash, and Darkelly.

Trainer Ricardo Castillo saddled runner-up Freakin Patriot Dash for owner Areli Gutierrez. The nine-year-old veteran has lit the board 39 of 58 starts with 15 wins and $273,484 in the bank. The stakes-winning son of Game Patriot was bred by Robert Touchet in Louisiana out of Freakin Dash by Streak And Dash.

Third-place Shane Ladner conditions finisher One Fast Cajun. The six-year-old son of Heza Fast Dash has 13 victories, with five in stakes competitions. The Faubourg St John Stakes in 2022 and the Live Oak Stakes and Virgil Bond Stakes at Delta Downs this season.

One Fast Cajun has earned $258,800 for owners Darrin and Norman Ladner. Terry Gabriel bred the bay gelding in Louisiana out of Cajun Rocket by Lion Tamer.

Lz King Of The Kings, ridden by Hugo Gutirrez, placed fourth, and Louie B Quick, with Ricardo Hernandez Jr aboard, completes the order of finish.