12/20/09
Last updated: 12/19/09 7:05 PM
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Star Guitar strummed a
winning tune in the LCD Classic
(Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.) |
The postponement of the $150,000
Louisiana Champions Day Classic by a week only served to delay the
inevitable as Brittlyn Stable’s STAR GUITAR (Quiet American) trounced five
overmatched rivals in the nine-furlong test at Fair Grounds on Saturday. One of
four Champions Day races washed out from the previous Saturday’s program, the
Classic turned into a tour de force with the four-year-old winning eased-up by 7
3/4 lengths in a time of 1:52 over the fast main track. The 1-5 favorite was
ridden by Curt Bourque for trainer Al Stall Jr.
The Classic was the ninth career stakes win for the bay colt, who has now won
on three consecutive Champions Day programs. He previously took the Champions
Day Juvenile in 2007 and the Champions Day Sprint in 2008. In addition to five
other stakes wins in Louisiana-bred company, Star Guitar also claimed an open
stakes win in the August 15 Evangeline Mile S. He was also third earlier this
season in the Alysheba S. (G3). His record now stands at a sparkling 14-11-0-2,
$708,458.
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Another past Louisiana Champions Day winner, Wachtel Stable et al’s DESERT
WHEAT (Wheaton), prevailed in the $100,000
Turf
for a second time. Victor of the 2006 renewal, the six-year-old ran third in
2007 and second in 2008. He landed this edition by four widening lengths as the
4-5 favorite, completing about 1 1/16 miles on yielding ground in 1:49 2/5. He
was guided by Corey Lanerie.
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Desert Wheat blew the LCD
Turf wide open
(Hodges Photography/Lynn Roberts) |
A prominent fixture in state-bred grass stakes for four seasons now, Desert
Wheat now has eight stakes wins and 10 stakes-placings to his credit. In
addition to his two Champions Day scores, the Bill Mott trainee has also claimed
two editions of the Mr. Sulu S. and one victory each in the Shiskabob S., Dixie
Poker Ace S., Gentilly S. and John Franks Memorial S. He now sports a bankroll
of $668,001 from a line of 48-11-10-5.
Lee Young Farm’s FLASHY WISE CAT (Catastrophe) slipped through along the
inside to catch 29-1 chance and long-time leader Lee City Slew (Leestown) in the
$100,000
Louisiana Champions Day Sprint. Under Shane Sellers, the even-money favorite
drew off in the final yards to register a decisive 4 1/2-length triumph in a
time of 1:09 4/5.
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The Sprint was the first stakes attempt for Flashy Wise Cat, whose four
previous wins included a course-and-distance allowance prep on November 14. The
four-year-old, conditioned by Troy Young, saw his bankroll swell to $170,000
from a stellar mark of 9-5-3-0.
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Seven Seventythree rallied
late in the LCD Ladies Sprint
(Hodges Photography/Rick Samuels) |
Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s SEVEN SEVENTYTHREE (Littleexpectations) looked
more like a 757 with an overpowering score in the $100,000
Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint, the first of the afternoon’s
rescheduled stakes. Running in eighth with just two rivals beaten a quarter-mile
from home, the three-year-old found her best stride late and quickly drew off in
the final furlong to reach the wire eight lengths clear of her nearest
competitor. The 7-2 third choice, Seven Seventythree completed six furlongs in
1:11 2/5 under Shaun Bridgmohan.
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Seven Seventythree has now won four stakes since moving to the Steve Asmussen
barn last spring. Her prior added-money wins came in the Crescent City Oaks,
Frank A. (Buddy) Abadie Memorial S. and Salute S., and she was also a head
second in the Texas Stallion S. As a juvenile, she had placed in the Presque
Isle Debutante S. and My Trusty Cat S, and prior to this score had been idle
since a third in the August 1 Louisiana Cup Oaks. Her career mark now stands at
13-6-2-2, $301,300.
