Fair Grounds: Louisiana Champions Day analysis and selections
- Updated: December 9, 2017
Louisiana Champions Day card at Fair Grounds features eight stakes races
The day after snow, sleet and rain fell unusually on the New Orleans Fair Grounds, the historic track presents fans with eight stakes races for Louisiana bred runners. Sun is in the forecast for the Crescent City for the remainder of the weekend and all I can say is “I wish I was there”.
Race 4 – Louisiana Champions Day Starter Handicap for three year olds and up going 1 mile on the turf for $50,000. It’s a small field of seven, mainly old timers, and if we had to pick one it would probably be Well’s Gold at 9 to 2. He’s exiting back to back dirt races at Remington, and will be getting back on the lawn. Miguel Mena, who’s 19% winners at the meet, will be in the saddle. This guy is 9 and reaching the end of his journey, but has caught a pretty weak bunch and may have one left in him.
Race 5 – Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes for two year old fillies going 6 furlongs for $100,000 purse. A field of eight will go postward with leading trainer Al Stall sending out Brittlyn Stable’s young daughter by their millionaire Louisiana bred stallion Star Guitar. In her first race, Minit to Stardom was an easy winner of a 5 1/2 furlong MSW and will be making her second start as the 5 to 2 favorite. The other Stall runner is also by Star Guitar, but this one is was sold by Brittlyn. Andthebandplayedon broke her maiden at first asking and has since returned with back to back second place finishes including a runner up spot in her last start here in an ALW NW2L (allowance, non-winners of two lifetime) for $43K. It’s tough to like a first time starter vs. winners. But that’s what we’ll go with here and make #1 Cool Spring the pick. 19% Sire wins with 1st time Starters. Dam has 2 winners from 2 starters and 1 stakes winner
Race 6 – Louisiana Ladies Turf for fillies and mares three years old and up, going 1 1/16 miles on the turf for a purse of $100,000. A field of nine that includes Inveniam Viam, the winner of the Si Cima stakes in her last start here on November 18th. She’ll face off against Pera who led through most of the Si Cima before tiring to finish a length behind at 58 to 1. Dontmesswithjoanne, who made her first start against Louisiana breds last time out in the Si Cima, returns from a third place finish and will try to make up two lengths on the winner. She’s still eligible for NW3L and looks to be capable of a winning effort over her stablemate, Inveniam Viam, and gets the added distance today.
Race 8 – Louisiana Champions Day Turf is for three year old open company runners going 1 1/16 miles on the turf for a purse of $100,000. A field of nine includes the Mr. Sulu winner, Fort Pulaski, as well as Trust Factor who was second in the Sulu as the heavy favorite. Last year’s winner of this race, Hail to the Nile, returns off an eight month layoff, unlike last year when he prepped in the Mr. Sulu before winning this one over this year’s Sulu winner, Fort Pulaski. On paper, this year’s LCD Turf appears to be a better bunch and we could see an upset in here as several horses are on the improve after making a move to the turf. Keep an eye on Harbor Pilot who has drawn widest of all at 15 to 1 as he makes his second lifetime start on the turf looking to make it two in a row.
Race 9 – Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile is for two year old colts and geldings going 6 furlongs for a purse of $100,000 and will see the return of another of the Star Guitar babies from Brittlyn Stables and the barn of Al Stall. Winner of his maiden voyage last time out going 5 1/2 furlongs, Divine Bean will be making his second lifetime start after setting all the fractions in an easy win and should be capable of the added 1/2 furlong as his sire won at 1 1/8 miles on several occasions. Again, it’s tough to pick a maiden winner in his next start and he’ll have more company this time as the water gets a little deeper. Taking a shot with Greeley Went West to come from off the pace to get this one. He’s another who just broke his maiden and hasn’t been out in 3 months but sitting on two bullets in preparation for this.
Race 10 – Louisiana Champions Day Classic is scheduled to go 1 1/8 miles on the turf for a purse of $150,000. Three runners have been scratched early, leaving a field of five. And what was billed as the Classic has been diminished to the ‘classless’ as only Mobile Bay will offer much pressure to the aptly named Underpressure who will be the selection for this race.
Brisnet PPs
Race 11 – Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes is a 6 furlong dash for three year olds and up competing for the $100,000 in prize money. The field of 10 includes last year’s winner My Friend Flavin who returns off a 6 month layoff as he did last year when beating Jockamo’s Song who returns as the favorite off back to back wins in his last two starts. My Friend Flavin won this race last year from the nine hole, and gets the nod despite the long layoff.
Race 12 – Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint is a 6 furlong sprint for fillies and mares three years old and up running for $100,000 and is perhaps the most competitive race on the card of eight stakes races at Fair Grounds. At 9 to 5 is My Miss Chiff, winner of the Happy Ticket in her last start making her 3 for 3 at Fair Grounds dating back to her two her first two lifetime wins last year here as a two year old. Six runners exiting the Happy Ticket return, including last year’s winner Sunny Oak who was bumped hard and checked last time out and will get a new rider in Corey Lanerie. At 2 to 1 is the Happy Ticket runner up, Wheatfield, who was closing fast under Florent Geroux in her first start against state breds. She’s a five year old who has been running open company in New York against graded company, but has failed in her last two starts as the favorite. However, she won this race last year and expect her to show up with the same effort this time around. But it won’t be enough to overcome My Miss Chiff who hangs on late.
Wiz Capper’s Fair Grounds Picks
