NOBLE AFFAIR (c, 3, Vekoma–Paden Affair, by Rockport Harbor) was unveiled Dec. 27 at this venue but sprinting on the turf, and ran on well to claim third in a blanket finish after trailing early on from eighth.
Moved to the dirt for this second jump, he was asked to navigate a sloppy surface as Fair Grounds hustled to beat the weather, and left the gates carrying 3-1 odds on this seasonal debut. Out to set the pace through an opening quarter in :22.38 and after four furlongs in :45.89, Noble Affair was still leading the bunch, but that lead was under pressure from Corona de Oro (Bolt d'Oro) in the lane. Game along the rail as the 2-1 favorite came calling from the grandstand side, his advantage was shrinking late as the pair battled down to the wire. Noble Affair managed to hold off that looming rival by a half-length and it was a long way back to third.
The victor is the most recent to the races for Paden Affair, who has now produced five successful offspring from six of racing age. Her most recent is a yearling colt by Nashville, and the mare is due to Elite Power for 2026. Paden Affair is a half-sister to SW & GSP Indian Burn (Indian Charlie), herself the dam of MGSW & GISP Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map).
Noble Affair was purchased for $600,000 at OBS April last season after previous selling for $275,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September last year and bringing $75,000 as a weanling during the auction's November sale in 2023.
#8 NOBLE AFFAIR ($8) goes gate-to-wire digging in late to win race 7 at the @fairgroundsnola. The son of Vekoma (@spendthriftfarm) was ridden by @James_D_Graham and is trained by Steve Asmussen. Wathnan Racing owns, pic.twitter.com/SELIos1aMO
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 24, 2026
7th-Fair Grounds, $54,000, Msw, 1-24, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.84, ft, 1/2 length.
NOBLE AFFAIR (c, 3, Vekoma–Paden Affair, by Rockport Harbor) Sales history: $75,000 Wlg '23 KEENOV; $275,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $600,000 2yo '25 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $38,450. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
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