Lotsandlotsofcandy Moves to Turf for Mardi Gras
NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 14, 2026) — After an ultra-impressive victory in the off-the-turf Nelson J. Menard Stakes, Jay Em Ess Stable’s Lotsandlotsofcandy will make her turf debut as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Tuesday’s $100,000 Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Carded at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, the Mardi Gras attracted a field of nine older fillies and mares.
A 5-year-old mare by Twirling Candy, Lotsandlotsofcandy has won four of her six career starts, and in each victory she has led at every call and drew off from her competition down the stretch. In her 4 1/2-length victory in January’s Menard, she beat the Pan Zareta winner Big Trouble, whom she’ll face again on Tuesday. Trained by Paul McGee, Lotsandlotsofcandy drew post 7 and will be reunited with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
Donamire Farm has a pair entered in the Mardi Gras, both trained by Greg Foley, led by Big Trouble. She earned her first stakes win in November’s Pan Zareta. The 5-year-old Kantharos mare is a half sibling to grade one winner Troubleshooting. With no wins in three wet-track tries, Big Trouble looms as a major threat to turn the tables on the favorite over turf.
Other logical contenders include last year’s Mardi Gras champion Gavea, trained by Al Stall Jr.; the Brad Cox-trained Chilean-bred Shining Star, who has won her two turf tries by more than 11 lengths and will step up to stakes company for the first time in the U.S.; and Godolphin’s Civetta, a stakes winner as a 2-year-old who is trained by Brendan Walsh.
The Mardi Gras Stakes is slated as Race 8 of 9. First post on Tuesday is 12:45 p.m. CT. Fair Grounds will be racing on Lundi Gras as well, with eight races carded for Monday.
Here is the complete field for the Mardi Gras Stakes from the rail out with jockey, trainer and morning line odds:
Big Trouble (Declan Cannon, Foley, 9/2)
Gavea (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Al Stall Jr., 8/1)
Twirl Around (Mitchell Murrill, Foley, 12/1)
Serving Time (Irad Ortiz Jr., C. DeVaux, 8/1)
Civetta (Ben Curtis, B. P. Walsh, 6/1)
Shining Star (Jose Ortiz, Brad Cox, 5/2)
Lotsandlotsofcandy (Brian Hernandez Jr., Paul McGee, 2/1)
Annie’s Joy (James Graham, Steve Bryant, 50/1)
Party Pauline (C.J. McMahon, Chris Hartman, 20/1)
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
