SUNBEAN LEADS LOUISIANA CHAMPIONS DAY CLASSIC

By Michael Adolphson —-

NEW ORLEANS (December 5, 2016) – Living Louisiana equine legend Sunbean will attempt to win his third Louisiana Champions Day Classic on Saturday, Dec. 10, when the Ron Faucheux trainee breaks from post five under regular rider Richard Eramia. Owned and bred by Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable, the 6-year-old son of Brahms won the $150,000 event as a 3-year-old and 4-year-old, but missed last year’s with an injury that prevented him from racing for 385 days. Since returning to training, the 15-time stakes winner and seven-time victor over the Fair Grounds dirt has won three stakes, including his last two starts. He looks to join Brittlyn Stable’s other legend, Star Guitar, as the only three-time winner of the day’s marquee event.

Challenging Sunbean will be multiple stakes winners The Pickett Factor and Mobile Bay, who finished one-two in last year’s edition. The former, owned by Melissa Cantacuzene and trained by Ralph Irwin at Louisiana Downs, has tailed off in form since, winning only once from five subsequent starts. He was fifth last out in the $100,000 Delta Gold Cup behind Sunbean and runner-up Mobile Bay. John Jacinto rides from post three.

Tigertail Ranch’s Mobile Bay has proven to be a war horse for trainer Victor Arceneaux, racing 23 times since Jan 2015, winning eight times and placing another eight times. Winless since the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on May 1, he will be ridden Diego Saenz from the outside post six.

Completing the field for the Classic are One King’s Man (Miguel Mena, rail), Mageez (Mitchell Murrill, post two) and Southern Argument (Roberto Morales, post four).

A total of 11 stakes races worth $1.1 million will be run Saturday. Additional highlights include:

The six-furlong $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint is headlined by Dare to Dream Stable’s defending champion Jockamo’s Song. The Mike Stidham-trained son of Half Ours was second, beaten a head, in the Heitai Overnight Stakes in November and will be ridden by Florent Geroux. Circle H Farm’s Nubin Ridge, who posted a 9-1 upset when returning to the Louisiana-bred ranks in the Heitai, will attempt to use the local prep as a springboard to Champions Day glory for trainer Alan Klanfer. Ashley Broussard, who was aboard for the son of Gold Tribute’s Heitai score, will retain the call.

Just Kissing Buck, John’s Luck, Greeley’s Wish, Chattanoogan, Too Dim, C U Tiger, Zendelphian, Grande Basin, My Friend Flavin, Hitheredarling and Smoothmoney complete the field.

Nine 2-year-old colts and geldings were entered in the six-furlong $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, led by owner-trainer Dallas Stewart’s Saint’s Fan. The son of Tale of Ekati was a powerful victor against open maiden special weight company at Churchill Downs in early November and will face Louisiana-bred company for the first time under jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. His main competition may come in the form of Wells Watson et al.’s Al Stall Jr.-trained Philly, a son of Star Guitar who powered home at first asking on Opening Day against Louisiana-bred maidens. Philly will be ridden again by Miguel Mena.

Run Away Ralph, Imindycatbirdseat, Street Honor, Laughingsaintssong, Just Due, Stormin Afleet and Jack Snipe’s complete the field.

Gillian and Kirk Harris’ Sir Genghis will look to bounce back after a close third-place finish in last month’s Heitai Overnight Stakes when starting in the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Starter Stakes over 1 mile and 70 yards on the Fair Grounds main track. A multiple stakes winner at Evangeline Downs this summer, the son of Tale of the Cat will be ridden by Colby Hernandez for trainer Kirk Harris.

Rock N Sake, Rocketringo, Heavy On Themister, Watch My Smoke and Bluegrass Punch complete the field.

About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 145th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 104th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2016 through April 2017. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.