Back on dirt, Breeders' Cup runner-up Chimney Rock cruises

Chimney Rock, runner-up last month in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, switched surfaces, dropped in class, romped and survived an objection Saturday in the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes.

Jockey Florent Geroux piloted the Mike Maker-trained Chimney Rock to a six-length victory in a six-furlong dirt sprint at the Fair Grounds restricted to Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds.

Chimney Rock entered Saturday’s race with six starts already to his name, but his last five had come on the turf. He ran second in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, just ¾ of a length off champion Four Wheel Drive.

Maker had the Artie Schiller colt run on dirt Saturday for the first time since his June 21 Belmont Park debut – a race originally scheduled for the turf.

Chimney Rock went off Saturday at 7-5 odds against six others, the second betting choice behind only 6-5 favorite Binding Agreement.

Under Geroux, Chimney Rock stalked as pace setter Pickens went a half-mile in :45.59. The colt then took off in the stretch, blazing his way to a score that stopped the clock in 1:11.46.

Binding Agreement ran second and Outofmybind third behind Chimney Rock, who returned $4.80.

Outofmybind jockey James Graham lodged an objection, alleging interference at the start against Chimney Rock and Geroux. Fair Grounds stewards upheld the order of finish.

Three Diamonds Farm campaigns Chimney Rock, who’ll now go into his 3-year-old season with sprinting options on both dirt and turf.