Sunbean decision proves correct; Snuggs and Kisses upsets Daisy Devine

Sunbean is now three-for-four following the Gentilly (Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography)

Brittlyn Stable’s homebred Sunbean ran
away with the $59,400
Gentilly Stakes
for three-year-old state-breds at Fair Grounds on Saturday, Louisiana Derby Preview Day, as the 4-5 favorite.

The Al Stall Jr. pupil came from off the pace and made his move four wide around
the far turn before pulling away by 4 3/4 lengths. With Colby Hernandez in the
saddle, Sunbean covered one mile and 70 yards in 1:42 3/5 over the good main
track in a race that was originally slated for about a mile on the turf.

“I knew there was quite a bit of speed and when they broke they were ripping
right along there,” Hernandez said. “When I got around going into the second
turn I just eased my hands out a little bit and he just picked it up for me. I
smooched at him at the quarter-pole and he just ran on by.

“This horse has carried me the whole meet,” Hernandez added. “I’ve been
having a tough meet and he’s just carried me right along.”

Hopeful Notion was runner-up, while another 5 3/4
lengths back in third was Nubin Ridge. Skip the Pinot went straight to the front
after being brushed at the start to post fractions of :23 3/5, :46 3/5 and 1:12
1/5 but faded in the stretch to cross the wire in fourth. Heitai, Johnny Handsome,
Phantom’s Ghost and Pure Pegasus rounded out the order of finish.

Snuggs and Kisses just held Daisy Devine (outside) on the wire (Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography)

Two races later, L Barrett Bernard’s Snuggs and Kisses pulled off the upset
over 2-5 favorite Daisy Devine in the $72,750
Bayou Handicap in another race
that was taken off the turf.

“We weren’t going to run if it stayed on the grass,” trainer Tom Amoss said.
“The whole idea was to run if it came off the grass. Daisy Devine is a great
filly. Obviously, she is a great turf filly. So, maybe a little vulnerable today
on the dirt. We were able to take advantage of it. My filly ran her heart out
and, you know, (jockey) Rosie (Napravnik) rode a good race too.”

“Today, quite frankly, if you’re going to beat Daisy Devine you’re only going
to it running on the dirt and when she’s conceding a lot of weight to us,” Amoss
added.

Snuggs and Kisses broke to the lead and posted fractions of :24 1/5, :48 2/5,
1:13 1/5 and 1:38 2/5 in her wire-to-wire win. Daisy Devine was able to draw
even on the far turn but that was as close as the favorite got as she could not
overtake the winner, who crossed the wire a head in front. Snuggs and Kisses stopped the teletimer in 1:45 1/5 going 1 1/16
miles over the fast track.

“You know, we were able to get a really nice pace from the inside,”
Napravnik said. “At the three-eighths pole, Daisy Devine was kind of creeping up on us and
I said ‘Oh boy, here she comes’ but my filly really stuck it out and kept her
nose in front the whole way. It was a very game effort.”