How to bet the 2025 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial Stakes

A talented field of eight Cajun-bred juveniles will speed six panels on the Fair Grounds dirt in Thursday’s $100,000 Joseph R. Peluso Memorial S. The opening day co-feature will have a pair of recent maiden winners from the barn of Bret Calhoun, including top pick #5 Our Moneyman (3-1). Second by a neck in an open maiden special weight dash at Churchill Downs on Sept. 26, the Mr. Money colt graduated at second asking when toppling a deep bunch at Keeneland on Oct. 19 while overcoming a full field of prospects from the tricky rail post. 

Joseph Peluso Wagers

• $20 win #5 Our Moneyman ($20)
• $1 trifecta 5 with 3,7 with all ($12)
• $1 trifecta 5 with all with 3,7 ($12)

Our Moneyman has posted two morning drills in the interim and will also receive Lasix for the initial time. The bay homebred will appreciate the drop in with state-bred foes on Thursday, and he could sit a nice voyage just off of an expected heated pace early on. Axel Concepcion retains the mount. 

The wildcard in the field is also the morning-line choice in #7 Dynamite Tonight (5-2). The $127,000 son of freshman sire Independence Hall was unveiled at Delta Downs on Nov. 7 and ran his foes off of their respective feet in an 8 3/4-length romp, while finishing five-eighths in a fast final time in the process. The Samuel Breaux pupil is from a family of precocious runners, and while he faces a much tougher task in his local bow, the fleet gelding might be up to the task. He draws outside of the other major pace in the race and will have Jareth Loveberry in the stirrups. 

Sam David’s #3 Luna C (15-1) didn’t earn a robust Brisnet Speed figure for his debut tally at Evangeline Downs in August, but the $47,000 yearling purchase did it the right way and has appeal as the potential value of the tilt. The chestnut son of Kantharos has proven that he can rally from off the pace, and the youngster has also posted four morning drills at this venue leading up to his stakes bow. He is both out of and kin to a stakes winner, and I expect him to be rallying past runners in the lane with Marcelino Pedroza, Jr. in the silks.