Who Took the Money storms home in rescheduled LA Champions Day Turf Classic

Who Took The Money with Deshawn Parker aboard wins the 31st running of the Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

Who Took the Money Welcomes a Return to Grass

Even though he had won three of his last five starts on dirt, Allied Racing Stable’s Who Took the Money welcomed a return to grass, winning the rescheduled $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf in high-stepping fashion for trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Deshawn Parker.

Touchuponastar, who posted an upset over the 1-2 favorite in the Champions Day Classic on dirt, was scratched from Saturday’s Turf, opening the door for Who Took the Money to make amends. With the rails 34 feet out and longshots Play Mo and Charlie G in chase mode, Maga Man dictated early terms through tough to gauge fractions of :25.09 and :52.90. Meanwhile, 2-5 favorite Who Took the Money bided his time in sixth while in the clear. The race began to fall apart on the turn for home, and Who Took the Money displayed his patented late kick. Eventual second and third place finishers Smarty Alex and Ballinonabudjet also ran on well late, but the favorite prevailed by 2 ½ lengths in 1:50.59 for 1 1/16 miles.

“He has a really big turn of foot on the turf,” Parker said. “He has it on the dirt too, but on the turf it just feels totally different. I let him do his own thing. He tells me what to do. Turning for home he’ll kick it in gear himself. I really don’t have to do anything. I just let him do his thing and stay out of his way.”

Calhoun agreed.

“I think we had overstayed our welcome on the dirt a little bit,” Calhoun said. “He ran well, very consistent, but I think he had enough of it after the last time out (third in the LA Classic). I was happy to get back on the grass. It’s his much preferred surface. We are going to try to keep him on the grass in the Louisiana program for as long as we can. After that, we may have go to the open horses a little bit at some point. He’s kind of his own worst enemy. Like Deshawn (jockey Parker) said, he kind of does things his own way. If he gets a little bit better mentally, he might be a really good older horse.”

Who Took the Money returned $2.80 for the win. His record now stands at 15-10-0-3 with $469,177 in the bank.

Fair Grounds Racetrack and Slots Makes Changes to Condition Book 1

The management of Fair Grounds Racetrack and Slots has discovered that there are some problems with the turf course. As a precaution, adjustments have been made to Condition Book 1 in order to resolve the issues. The majority of the turf races moving to the dirt track.  Among the races being moved to the dirt track is the  Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf on December 10th. The stakes for Accredited Louisiana Bred three-year-old and upward fillies and mares, was originally to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Louisiana Champions Day Turf for Accredited Louisiana Bred three-year-olds and upwards will remain on the turf course.

For Fair Grounds Condition Book 1 Changes, Click Here

Ninety One Assault Repeats in Louisiana Champions Day Turf

Louisiana Champions Day Turf
Fair Grounds, 12-12-20, @ 8.5 Furlongs, Turf
3YO & Up, Accredited Louisiana Breds, $100,000

Ninety One Assault with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard wins the 30th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

NINETY ONE ASSAULT
Artie Schiller–Lilly Ladue
Breeder: Richey & Strode Stables, LLC
Owner: Thomas Morley & Paul Braverman
Trainer: Thomas Morley
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan

2nd
Afleet Ascent
Northern Afleet–Skip Queen
Breeder: Jason Hall
Owner: Lane Cortez
Trainer: Ron Faucheux
Jockey: Gabriel Saez

3rd
Guitar Tribute
Star Guitar–Sunday’s Child
Breeder: Brittlyn, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Jose M. Camejo
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Ninety One Assault Takes Louisiana Champions Day Turf

Louisiana Champions Day Turf
Fair Grounds, 12-14-19, @ 8.5 furlongs, turf
Three Year Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Bred, $100,000

Ninety One Assault_F-12-14-2019
Ninety One Assault, with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, wins the 29th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

NINETY ONE ASSAULT
Artie Schiller–Lilly Ladue
Breeder: Richey & Strode Stables, LLC
Owner: Thomas Morley and Paul Braverman
Trainer: Thomas Morley
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan

2nd
Remembermis
Misremembered–School Girl
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Raise the BAR Racing, LLC
Trainer: Thomas M. Amoss
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie

3rd
Budro Talking
Tale of Ekati–American Placed
Breeder: J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Owner: Jason S. Guidry and Karl Broberg
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez

Louisiana Champions Day Turf

Louisiana Champions Day Turf
Fair Grounds, 12-8-18, 8.5 furlongs (dirt)
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, $100,000

Magic Vow_12-8-2018-F
Brittlyn Stable’s Magic Vow with James Graham aboard wins the 28th running of the Louisiana Champions Day Turf. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

MAGIC VOW
Private Vow–Whitewashed
Breeder: J. Adcock
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Tyron Benoit
Jockey: James Graham

2nd
Theoryintopractice
Into Mischief–Cayman Colada
Breeder: Cypress Bend Farm
Owner: Courtney Barousse
Trainer: Corale A. Richards
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez

3rd
Battle At Sea
Into Mischief–Mystery At Sea
Breeder: Clear Creek Stud LLC
Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie