Rue La La Streaks Free Down Stretch to Win Page Cortez

Rue Lala with jockey J. A. Guerrero aboard wins the4th running of the Page Cortez Stakes at Fair Grounds.  Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

New Orleans, La (March 23, 2025) – Brittlyn Stable’s homebred Rue La La set up shop behind a hot pace and streaked to the front down the stretch to win the $100,000 Page Cortez on closing day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Trained by Shane Wilson and piloted by Jose Guerrero, Rue La La went 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.38 over a turf course rated firm. Rue La La’s winning run made it back-to-back Page Cortez titles for her connections.

“She broke a little slow which was a part of the plan,” Guerrero said. “We wanted to set her up to make a deep run in the end. When I saw my chance we made our move.”

Rue La La started out near the back of the 12-horse pack of older fillies and mares but soon enough began to find her stride, advancing sharply through the far turn and getting first run on the closers. Taking the lead with a furlong to go, Rue La La was never being threatened by the late kick of Eye of the Pharaoh and Tommie G who ran second and third, respectively.

“This was the goal from the beginning,” Wilson said. “We put her in open company allowance races to get her race fit. Last race we tried to stay too close to the front, so today we let her do what she wants to do. we let her fall out and find her stride.”

Rue La La returned $14.40, $6.60, and $4.00.

The 7-year-old Louisiana-bred Star Guitar mare earned her first stakes title to boost her career earnings to $244,442 from a career record of 28-4-12-5.