Mitole filly ‘Rises’ to the occasion in Fair Grounds’ season opener

Rising Inflation rolled to a 4 ½-length victory in the $100,000 John Valene Memorial S. Nov. 20 at Fair Grounds, the opening day of the 2025-2026 meet at the New Orleans oval.

The 4-year-old Mitole filly, who won the Louisiana Cup Distaff S. in August, has won four of her last five starts, including a pair of allowance wins by a combined 32 lengths.

Allowed to sit a few lengths off the pace in the early stages of Wednesday’s 1 mile and 70-yard contest, Rising Inflation began to move up along the rail around the final bend. She came alongside the leaders entering the stretch, then pulled away powerfully in the final furlong to finish in 1:44.03 on a fast track.

The winner is owned by Mark Rose, Slam Dunk Racing & Dennis Bailey and was bred by J. Adcock and Hume Wornall. Her record now stands at 5-0-2 in 10 starts, with earnings of $223,550.

Mitole, who will stand for $10,000 in 2026 and is the sire of this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Shisospicy, leads all Third-Crop sires with 123 individual winners, and is second on the list by progeny earnings, graded stakes winners and graded stakes horses.