Nominations Close This Saturday for the Six Louisiana-bred Stakes
Bossier City, LA – There is a lot of activity this week in the Louisiana Downs racing office as this Saturday is the deadline to nominate for Louisiana Cup Day. The annual event featuring six stakes saluting Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds set for Saturday, September 19.
Last weekend, Evangeline Downs hosted the $60,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity for accredited Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds. Both the winner of the filly and colts/gelding divisions are under consideration for Cup Day.
Mirabeau, a daughter of Bind, was nothing short of sensational as she drew off by a margin of
10 ¼ lengths under jockey Diego Saenz. Owned by Larry Romero and Ron Faucheux, she covered 5-1/2 furlongs in 1:04.90, which impressed both her connections and racing fans.
As reported by Mary Rampellini in the Daily Racing Form, Mirabeau was bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock and Nathan Granger. Faucheux purchased Mirabeau as a yearling at the Equine Sales of Louisiana auction in 2019. Not long afterward, he sold an interest in the daughter of Bind to Larry Romero. Mirabeau is by Bind and is out of the Speightstown mare, Smittystown.
She has won three of four lifetime starts and the $36,000 first-place purse increases her lifetime earnings to $75,350. Faucheaux was asked about the next start for Mirabeau.
“We will probably nominate her for Louisiana Cup Day, but have not made a decision,” said Faucheaux.. “There’s a chance; we were ecstatic with her stakes win Saturday night.”
Faucheaux acknowledges that he has several runners in mind for Cup Day, including Monte Man, who won the 2018 Louisiana Cup Sprint. Bred by Val Murrell, the son of Custom For Carlos is a multiple-stakes winner who has earned $610,923. Claimed for just $5,000 by Ivery Sisters Racing, the now 7-year-old gelding won an allowance race at Evangeline Downs on August 20.
“He’s still got a lot of fight in him,” added Faucheaux.
$60,000 D.S. “Shine” Young Futurity Chu Chu’s Legacy is also under consideration for Louisiana Cup Day according to his conditioner Allen Landry. Bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock and Hume Warnell, and also sired by Bind, the gelding drew off to a four length victory under rider Tim Thornton.
He has won two of three lifetime starts and the $36,000 first-place purse pushes his career earnings to $60,800.
“It was really exciting,” Landry said of the stakes score. “He will be nominated (for Cup Day) and we’ll see how he is doing. He’s certainly heading in the right direction.”
Landry had confirmed that he will have two previous Louisiana Cup Day winners set for the September 19th event. Rodney Verret’s Laughingsaintssong, a 6-year-old gelding bred by J.E. Jumonville and his wife, Bunny, who own one of the top Quarter Horse farms in Louisiana. They own a Vindication mare Laughing Saint and bred her to Grade 1 winner Songandaprayer. He boasts a record of ten wins and earnings of $363,010 and won the 2019 Louisiana Cup Sprint as well as the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint at Fair Grounds. Landry will look to the turf for
Net A Bear, a 4-year-old filly by Awesome Bet owned by Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro. She is also a multiple-stakes winner for breeder Lora Pitre with victories in the 2019 Elge Rasberry at Louisiana Downs and Louisiana Champions Day Turf at Fair Grounds.
Trainer Scott Gelner is pointing In The Navy to the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic. Owned by Kendall Standlee, the 6-year-old son of Midshipman won the 2018 edition of the race and was a convincing winner in the 2019 Frank Brothers, also contested on the Louisiana Downs turf course last September.
“I’ve only been able to run him once this summer with so many races forced off the turf,” said Gelner. “He had a good work on Monday; I think he’s back on target.”
G’Wildcat, who ran third to Chu Chu’s Legacy in the D. S. “Shine” Futurity, may return to action in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile, according to Gelner.
“He won his first out, but on Saturday, they got away from him,” he said. “He galloped out well, so we’ll see about heading to Cup Day.”
As previously mentioned, trainer Joey Foster confirmed that Our Lost Love will seek her third stakes win. Bred and owned by Tri-Star Racing LLC, the 3-year-old daughter of Half Ours has already eclipsed the $200,000 earnings mark with five wins from nine starts. The talented filly broke her maiden at Louisiana Downs last September and won her first stakes, the $93,700 Louisiana Futurity on December 29 at Fair Grounds. Two months later, she added a victory in the $70,000 Take Charge Brandi at Delta Downs. On August 8, she made easy work of her rivals, winning a five-furlong sprint in :57.35 seconds.
“Knowing that we can run on Cup Day means everything for me and my owners,” said Foster. “Our Lost Love showed us she is ready, getting the win (on August 8) so easily with the rail out. We’ve got big plans for Cup Day!”
Further information on the following Louisiana Cup Day features is posted on Equibase.
$40,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred Six furlongs
$40,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred Six furlongs
$40,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred Six furlongs
$40,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Up LA-Bred Six furlongs
$40,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Up LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
$40,000 Louisiana Distaff 3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)
Nominations will close on Saturday, September 5. Contact David Heitzmann atdheitzmann@caesars.com or by calling (318) 741-2511.
Shantel Lanerie Breast Cancer Fundraiser To Take Place on Louisiana Cup Day
Harrah’s Louisiana Downs will conduct a fundraiser on Saturday, September 19 in support of the Shantel Lanerie Cancer Breast Foundation. The beloved Louisiana native and wife of jockey Corey Lanerie was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in January, 2018 and passed away just six months later. She is survived by her parents, husband and daughter, Brittlyn.
Rick Mocklin, who was Lanerie’s agent for ten years and his wife, Janette, were close friends of Shantel. Mocklin serves as founder and president of the Shantel Lanerie Breast Cancer Foundation (SLBCF). The 501(c)(3) organization was founded in September, 2018 with a mission of educating, empowering and encouraging women to become pro-active in early detection, and if diagnosed, surviving breast cancer. Acknowledging that breast cancer impacts the entire family, the Foundation designates funds raised through donations and fundraisers to assist with basic needs of breast cancer patients through every stage of diagnosis and treatment.
Beginning at 2:00 pm on Louisiana Cup Day, a table will be set up in the grandstand with monogrammed apparel and memorabilia. Jockeys will be on hand to autograph the items, with all proceeds to benefit the foundation. Fans will be able to stop by the table, purchase items or make donations until 6:00 pm.
Mocklin has reached out to each of the Louisiana racetracks on their premier racing days to support fundraising efforts for the foundation. Sadly, due to COVID-19, many of the scheduled events this year have been canceled.
“The pandemic has affected so many people this year and events at many tracks were not able to take place,” said Mocklin. “We are grateful to Louisiana Downs for welcoming us back on Cup Day again this year.
“Breast cancer can be devastating for so many people,” added Mocklin. “To lose Shantel when she was just 42 years-old was heartbreaking for her family and many friends. The foundation has already helped 40 women diagnosed with breast cancer and we want to keep raising funds to support those in need.”
Handicapping Preview Show Set for Saturday, September 19
Louisiana Downs track announcer John McGary and regional racing publicist Martha Claussen will team up for a pre-race handicapping preview at 2:00 pm in the Inside Rail, located on the first floor of the grandstand. They will offer analysis and their selections for each of the races on the Louisiana Cup Day card. The seminar is free and open to all racing fans.
Post Times and Racing Dates
The 2020 Thoroughbred racing season at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs got underway on Saturday, June 6. The 64-day meet will run Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday through September 23. Post time is 3:05 pm (Central).
About Harrah’s Louisiana Downs
Located near Shreveport in Bossier City, Louisiana, Louisiana Downs opened in 1974 and was purchased by Caesars Entertainment in December, 2002. With annual Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing seasons, the track is committed to presenting the highest quality racing programs paired with its 150,000 square foot entertainment complex offering casino gambling, dining and plasma screen televisions for sports and simulcast racing.
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