Fair Grounds: Mambo Galliano digs in for Kenner victory

Mambo Galliano got a terrific inside tracking trip under Jimmy Graham before wearing down Backtalk to capture the $150,000 Duncan Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds on the Louisiana Derby undercard Saturday in New Orleans.

Owned and trained by Louie Roussel, Mambo Galliano waited a few lengths behind a sharp pace contested by Cash Refund and Riley Tucker, with Backtalk looming large approaching the quarter pole. After straightening away, Backtalk took command, but Graham swung his mount farther outside, and Mambo Galliano surged to prevail by a length.

“They went quick,” said Graham. “He sat off the pace, I pulled the trigger, and off he went.”

Early Return, part of the favored stable entry with Cash Refund, was third, with Cash Refund fourth in the field of eight older sprinters.

Mambo Galliano, a Florida-bred 5-year-old gelding, returned $16.20 after finishing the six-furlong distance in 1:09.24 over a fast track. He now has 6 wins and 7 seconds from 18 lifetime starts and earnings of nearly $270,000.

“We give him plenty of time between races, and he likes that,” said Roussel.