Faucheux Cannot Wait to Run Tough Customer
Brittlyn Stable’s Tough Customer has always been highly regarded by those who have owned him. A dominant 5½-length debut winner first out on Sept. 24, 2014, for previous owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Wayne Catalano, the son of Giant’s Causeway and the well-bred Arch mare Acquileia finished a decent fourth eight days later in Grade I company behind the likes of Carpe Diem, Mr. Z and Bold Conquest in the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Pre-entered in the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, an injury prevented the bay colt from competing.
On the shelf for seven months, Tough Customer made three starts between May 2 and Aug. 1 for Catalano – finishing off the board twice, followed by a good second as the 3-1 favorite last out in a one-mile second-level allowance at Ellis Park. Privately purchased by Brittlyn, the 3-year-old makes the sixth start of his career and first for trainer Ron Faucheux in Saturday’s ninth race, a mile and 70-yard main track first-level allowance.
“He was a private purchase and he’s doing well,” Faucheux said. “We look forward to finally running him because he’s training well.
“We’ve had him for about three months now,” Faucheux continued. “There wasn’t really a race for him (at Louisiana Downs). We considered a couple spots for him, but we wanted to wait until the Fair Grounds because he has a non-winners condition and we wanted to save him for that where the purses are better.
“I don’t think the time off will hurt him. We’ve worked him consistently and he’s remained sound for us. He’s really a better-feeling horse than when we originally got him. He enjoys himself when he’s training. He seems to run well on the dirt so we’ll give him every opportunity to prove that, but there’s a strong possibility we may try him on the grass in the future.”
MARCHMAN MARCHES ON FOR CALHOUN, AIMS FOR BONAPAW
Talented turf horse Marchman continues to train impressively in the mornings for trainer Bret Calhoun. A big, handsome son of Sharp Humor, the bay 5-year-old was last seen finishing ninth of 14 in the Grade I $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Halloween.
“He’s been back on the tab and training well,” Calhoun said of the Martin Racing Stable-owned charge. “We’ve been trying to enter him and the race hasn’t gone, but we’ll keep marching with him to the ($60,000 Bonapaw) Stakes on January 2nd.”
The Bonapaw, won last year when rained-off by Maggi Moss’ retired Fair Grounds favorite Delaunay, is a 5½-furlong turf dash over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course – the same distance over which Marchman won the Grade III $100,000 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in 2014, as well as finished off the board last out on racing’s biggest day.
“I didn’t have the most confidence going into the Breeders’ Cup,” Calhoun explained. “We missed our prep (in the Grade III $150,000 Woodford Stakes) when he got sick. Then the prep came off the turf, anyway. So, he wasn’t 100% ready (for the Breeders’ Cup). Coming off that effort and now that he has a race in him, he’s doing well. He has good works and he’s the kind of horse you have to lead over there and see what you have.
“He’s quiet and good-minded and always seems to train well,” he continued. “The winter isn’t a great time for turf sprinters, but he’s ready to run. We’ll hopefully get him back to his best and then have him ready for the spring and the rest of the season.”
STRING KING TOPS WORK TAB
Charles C. Smith’s String King impressed once again in the mornings for his breeder-owner-trainer, working a bullet half-mile in 48.20on Wednesday morning. The son of Crowned King was the best of 24 and continues to prep well for Louisiana Champions Day next Saturday, Dec. 12.
Rowell Enterprises’ newly crowned millionaire Heitai had his first work back since a second in allowance company last out on Nov. 21, working four furlongs in 49 flat on Tuesday for trainer Tom Amoss.
One of Heitai’s biggest rivals, William J. Deckwa’s Too Dim was also on the tab this week, working five furlongs in 1:01.60 for trainer Eddie Johnston on Thursday morning in advance of a defense of his title in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint.
Graded stakes-winning turf sprinter Marchman continues to work sharply for his first start since the Grade I $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, working a half-mile in 48.80 for trainer Bret Calhoun on Wednesday morning.
Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots