FAIR GROUNDS: BOBBY THE BRAIN GIVES STIDHAM WIN 100

By Michael Adolphson —-

• Bobby the Brain Gives Stidham Win 100
• Sunbean Set for Champions Day
• Work Tab

BOBBY THE BRAIN GIVES STIDHAM WIN 100

Stallionaire Enterprises’ Bobby the Brain made his debut a winning one for trainer Mike Stidham, giving the defending meet champion his 100th victory of 2016. The son of Pioneerof the Nile set fractions of 47.63 and 1:12.18 before finding more in the lane and winning by 2½ lengths under Mitchell Murrill. Stidham, who won the Battle of New Orleans Stakes earlier in the card with Robert S. Evans’ Rapid Rhythm, pierced the century mark for the first time in his career.

“He looked great this morning and seems to have come out well,” Stidham said. “We had him at Arlington all summer and he was training well, but then started going the wrong way on us. He was getting too aggressive and didn’t know how to switch off. At that point, we basically stopped on him and gave him a few weeks off and basically started over from scratch with him once we got him to the Fair Grounds in October. We gelded him and then he started relaxing and doing it the right way.

“He was always very athletic, agile and quick, but his mind wasn’t going with his body,” Stidham continued. “Maybe the switch to dirt helped him as well, but he’s an athlete, as you can see, and has the stamina to carry that speed. He had horse left and there’s still room for improvement. As trainers, we’re always looking for the 2-year-old who can get the two turns like him. We will probably look for an a-other-than with him.”

Bobby the Brain was an $85,000 Keeneland September 2016 purchase, picked out by Stidham and bloodstock agent Marette Farrell. He is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Diamond Bachelor, who finished second earlier in the day in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park.

Stidham became only the 33rd trainer in America and 11th locally based conditioner to break 100 victories thus far, joining conditioners Scott Becker (107), Tom Amoss (118), Bret Calhoun (134), Brad Cox (137), Danny Pish (145), Jeremiah Englehart (173), Mike Maker (201), Mark Casse (228), Steve Asmussen (303) and Karl Broberg (352). Joe Sharp sits at 99 victories going into Sunday’s card.

The victory was the second of the meet for Stallionaire. The operation won a Nov. 26 turf maiden for juvenile fillies with Rickey’s Girl. At second asking, the daughter of Bodemeister was impressive in her first grass attempt and will now point to allowance company, according to Stidham.

SUNBEAN SET FOR CHAMPIONS DAY

Brittlyn Stables’ Sunbean is ready to win his third $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic next Saturday, according to trainer Ron Faucheux. The 15-time stakes winner is also cross-entered in the $100,000 Turf earlier in the card.

“He’s doing really well and coming in ready to go,” Faucheux said. “There was no down side of cross-entering, so I went ahead and did that. If it were to rain and come off the turf, a second option carrying less weight is good, but we are pointing to the Classic.

“He’s trained as well as he’s ever trained,” he continued. “His numbers and margin of victory aren’t as good as before the layoff, but I’m not sure if it’s that the competition is a little bit better than it used to be, which I think it is.”

Sunbean has raced five times in 2016, winning three stakes races, including his last two starts. He has proven versatile since returning from a 385-day layoff, winning added-money events on both surfaces.

WORK TAB

Multiple stakes-winning sophomore turf filly Inconclusive worked an easy five furlongs in 1:03 flat for trainer Richie Scherer and owners Carolyn Friedberg and Jeff T. Larson.

Stonestreet Stables’ Union Jackson, third last out in the $75,000 Thanksgiving Handicap, worked a half-mile in a leisurely 52 flat for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Columbine Stable’s talented multiple allowance winner Money Flows worked a smart half-mile in 48 flat for trainer Al Stall, Jr. Unraced since May, the lightly campaigned son of Malibu Moon has been turning in a steady stream of strong works since arriving in New Orleans.

Untapable’s impressive maiden-winning little sister Untapped worked five furlongs in 1:02.60 for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner-breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds.