Louisiana Champions Day Undercard Recap

In addition to the Classic, Turf and Juvenile stakes races, seven other stakes races were contested on the Louisiana Champions Day card presented by Acadian Ambulance.

– Despite a troubled trip, Keith Plaisance’s Eddie Johnston-trained Pacific Pink rewarded her many backers in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies. Ridden by Robby Albarado, the 3-year-old daughter of Private Vow rated kindly off the pace before launching a bid into the lane. Stymied behind horses throughout much of the long Fair Grounds stretch, she found room late and punched through for a three-quarter-length win, stopping the clock in 1:46.15 for the 1 1/16-miles main track trip. In capturing her fourth stakes win, Pacific Pink boosted her bankroll to $291,300 with the $60,000 winner’s share.

Sent to post as the 1-2 choice, Pacific Pink returned $3, $2.40 and $2.10, besting longshot Private Promise ($14 and $7.60) and Indian Wind ($4.80) at the wire.

Discreetly Grand, Heatseeker Sharon and Aliana completed the order of finish.

– In the day’s opener, Charles Forbes and Tommy Hay’s Open Me a Corona did not disappoint as the public’s 1-5 betting choice, posting an easy victory in the Grade II $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Classic. Stopping the clock in 21.981 seconds for the 440-yard distance under the mildest of urging under jockey Saul Ramirez, Jr., the Bobby Martinez-trained son of Coronas Leaving You closed his career by capping an undefeated season with his sixth consecutive win. Open Me a Corona returned $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10 and boosted his career bankroll to $741,665 with the $51,000 winner’s share.

Scooter Prize ($4 and $2.60) finished second and Ld Streakin n Leavin ($4.80) crossed the wire third. Heza Fast Rogue,Jls Mr Bigtime, Shesa Dashingromance and Jjs Black Lace completed the order of finish.

– Dare to Dream Stable’s recent maiden winner Jockamo’s Song proved his romping graduation run was no fluke, wearing down millionaire and race favorite Heitai while holding off defending champion Too Dim to capture the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint by a length to give jockey Mitchell Murrill his first career stakes victory. Trained by Mike Stidham, the gray 3-year-old son of Half Ours covered the six-furlong trip in 1:10.78 and returned $13.80, $5.40 and $3.40. The $60,000 winner’s share boosted his lifetime bankroll to $88,275.

Too Dim finished second and paid $4.20 and $2.80 with Heitai further back in third, returning $2.40.

The running order was completed by Skip the Pinot, Cajun Silver, Louisiana Flyboy, King Bandit, Top Cat Boogie and Sir Genghis.

– Valene Farm’s Platinum Lady, a homebred daughter of Half Ours, tracked a quick early pace and forged clear late to win the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint. Ridden by Robby Albarado for trainer Eric Heitzmann, she covered the six-furlong distance in 1:11.88 and increased her career earnings to $171,102 with the winner’s lot of $60,000.

Platinum Lady returned $36.60, $14.20 and $7.80 while crossing the wire ahead of Lady Grantham ($5.20 and $3.60) andWind Chill Factor ($6.40).

– Hardy Racing Stables’ Watch My Smoke, third in last year’s Louisiana Champions Day Classic, entered the stretch alongside race favorite Deep Bottom before drawing off by 1¾-lengths to win the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Starter Handicap. Navigating the 1 mile 70 yards trip in 1:42.58 under Colby Hernandez for trainer Keith Bourgeois, the son of Leestown became an eight-time winner and banked $30,000 to increase his lifetime earnings to $305,625.

Watch My Smoke paid $13, $4.40 and $3 with Deep Bottom returning $2.80 and $2.10. Hero Force rallied late to secure third and returned $3.20.

Social Prize, Chad Be Glad, Intheblinkofaneye, Grand Honor and Populist Politics completed the order of finish.

– Joan Rood’s Zoomin for Bugs, third in last year’s Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Juvenile, captured the Grade II $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Derby under jockey Armando Ramirez for trainer Danny Mittag. The son of Zoomin for Bux completed the 400-yard trip in 20.228 seconds, returned $15.00, $6.80 and $5, and earned $45,000 to inflate his career bankroll to $180,480.

Strong Guns just missed and finished second, returning $27.60 and $11.20, while race favorite Heza Louisiana Dash was third and paid $3.

Completing the order of finish for the Derby were Jes a Fast Dasher, Heza Fast Wokatee, Tf Hez Jess Rowdy, Running Game Patriot, Icanonlyemagine, Jess an Effort, Bellas Leaving You, B and G Fast Dash and Nl Boogie for Bux.

– Joseph Landreneau’s Kelli Smith-trained Jet Black Zoomer avenged his loss in September’s local LQHBA Sales Futurity when posting a 30-1 upset in the $100,000 Grade II Louisiana Champions Day Quarter Horse Juvenile. The son of Jet Black Patriot crossed the wire in 17.897 seconds for the 350-yard trip under jockey Tony Alberto and returned $63.00, $15.80 and $8.20 while earning $45,000 to increase his career earnings to $72,196.

Micmac Warrior crossed the wire second before being disqualified for interference and placed fourth following an inquiry, leaving Telerosa ($3.60 and $3) and Fast Ladys Man ($8.20) as the official runner-up and third-place finisher, respectively.

Cute Mic Jagger, Streakin Bye U, Heisa Hot Ticket, Punctuality, Shades of Buck, Patriots Leaving You, Carry On Game and Jess Zoom completed the order of finish.

 
Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots