10 Stakes Races Make Up Louisiana Champions Day
Saturday, December 14 is Louisiana Champions Day at the Fair Grounds outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with a whopping 10 stakes races on tap. The first three are for Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses, with purses worth $100,000 each race. Here are top three selections for the seven Thoroughbred stakes, starting in race 5.
The $100,000 Lassie kicks things off. #6 Vacherie Girl won first out for Steve Asmussen over this track and gets Florent Geroux aboard. #4 Sebs Princess was a stakes winner across town on October 18 in good fashion, then ran fourth going a mile last out. She cuts back today. #7 Our Lost Love won her first two starts, including a sharp performance on the grass in September, but was fifth in the Louisiana Jewel last out.
The $100,000 Ladies Sprint has #2 Midnight Fantasy dropping out of stakes company at Saratoga in July. She has been freshened since and is three for four over this track. #3 Minit to Stardom was a grade 2 winner at Saratoga in July, and won an allowance at Laurel Park last out. #4 Ours to Run is trained by Larry Jones and is a multiple winner over this track, with three stakes wins from five starts this year.
The $100,000 Juvenile is run over six-furlongs. #2 Binding Agreement is 4-1 on the morning line after breaking his maiden here on November 28, scoring by nearly eight lengths for trainer Al Stall. #7 Chimney Rock will be a popular choice after running second, beaten less than a length, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) last out at Santa Anita. He has yet to win on dirt. #6 Outofmybind is a two-time winner and a winner over this track last out with a good speed figure.
The $100,000 Turf drew 11. #7 Theoryintopractice comes in for trainer Asmussen, is unbeaten in two tries on this course, and was second in this race last year. #5 Magic Vow is the race’s defending champion, but has only won once since then, excluding a starter allowance he took in November but was then disqualified from. #1 In the Navy won a stakes race at Louisiana Downs two back over Theoryintopractie, but was a disappointing seventh last out. He is two for five over the course.
The $150,000 Classic highlights the card. #1 Underpressure is the defending champion of the race after scoring emphatically last year, and has won an additional three races – and two stakes – this year. #3 Mageez is coming off a second-place effort in the Gold Cup at Delta Downs, and has been top three in 29 starts. #7 Star Fitzstall, by Star Guitar, was an impressive winner over a mile last out, and has won three of six this year.
The $100,000 Ladies Turf Stakes is a wide-open affair with a full field. #10 Mr. Al’s Gal seeks her 12th win but second this year after winning at Delaware Park three back. She was fourth in consecutive stakes since. #9 Is Too is unbeaten in two starts on the surface, and is a stakes winner this year. #6 Eskenformore was a stakes winner across town last out, and has won two of five this year for James Hodges.
The $100,000 Sprint concludes the stakes races. #3 Laughingsaintsong has won two in a row, including a stakes race, and has been freshened since August. #4 Win Lion Win is a 6-1 shot who has been running on grass of late but switches to the main track where he often runs very well. #7 Monte Man has won four of five starts here and was third in this race last year.