Submitted by brian.spencer on December 9, 2017

Louisiana Champions Day Classic
Fair Grounds, 12-9-17, 1 1/8 Miles
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Breds
Purse: $150,000

MOBILE BAY
Lone Star Special-Tranquility Bay
Breeder: Tigertail Ranch
Owner: Tigertail Ranch
Trainer: Victor Arceneaux
Jockey: Diego Saenz

2nd
Grand Basin
Good and Tough–Silver Rail, by Dispersal
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Owner: William J. Deckwa, Jr., and John Carbo
Trainer: Edward J. Johnston
Jockey: Miguel Mena

3rd
Underpressure
Birdstone–Charming Colleen, by Charismatic
Breeder: James McIngvale
Owner: Mallory Greiner
Trainer: Chris Richard
Jockey Corey J. Lanerie

A 10-month layoff appeared to be no issue for Tigertail Ranch’s Louisiana millionaire Mobile Bay as he successfully defended his title in an epic renewal of the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic when the gutsy iron horse with nine stakes victories outnodded challenger Grande Basin.

Piloted by Diego Saenz and trained by Victor Arceneaux, the 5-year-old son of Lone Star Special broke right on top and separated himself from the remainder of the field throwing down fractions of 24.51, 48.58 and 1:14.24. As the field approached the far turn, Mobile Bay’s leading margins began to slim down as Grande Basin and Underpressure started to inch their way closer to the leader. At the top of the stretch, Saenz called on Mobile Bay for everything he had while jockey Miguel Mena did the same aboard Grande Basin to his inside. Underpressure kept close company but could not quite get involved with the two fighters up front. While it looked like Grande Basin may have gotten the better of his rival, the defending champion would not be denied. Both horses laid their noses right on the wire together resulting in a photo finish that would go to Mobile Bay, who finished the nine furlong trip in a time of 1:51.95.

“I was on the lead and he didn’t want to come back to me,” Saenz said. “I was afraid I was going to get beat because he was a little fresh off the layoff. That was close.”

Mena had no excuses aboard Grande Basin.

“Beautiful trip,” Mena said. “I rode him the way I think he likes, but it was just a very tough beat. We lost to one of the best Louisiana-breds out there.”

Mobile Bay brought his lifetime earnings all the way up to $1,096,440 after his second straight Louisiana Champions Day Classic win. Other stakes victories of his include a win in the Grade II Super Derby in 2015 as well as triumphs against open company in the Zia Park Derby and Sunland Park Handicaps at their namesake courses. He returned $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10 while Grande Basin and Underpressure returned $5.40, $3 and $2.20, respectively.

Mobile Bay joins Blissful Union (1991-92), Magnify (1997-98), Costa Rising (2006-07), Star Guitar (2009-11) and Sunbean (2013-14) as the only horses to score multiple victories in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic.

Mageez and One King’s Man completed the running order.

Louisiana Champions Day Sprint
Fair Grounds, 12-9-17, 6 furlongs
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Accredited Louisiana Breds
Purse: $100,000

STAND HIM UP
Time Bandit–Taffy Davenport, by Miswaki
Breeder: Hay Hollow Racing Stable LLC
Owner: Hay Hollow Racing Stable LLC
Trainer: Howard Alonzo
Jockey: Gabriel Saez

2nd
Just Kissing Back
Limehouse–Just Kissing, by Kissin Kris
Breeder: Forrest Lanning, Kelly Turner & Tresa Snow
Owner:  Kim C. White
Trainer: Dale White, Sr.
Jockey: Diego Saenz

3rd
Hunker Down
Musket Man–My Friend Bele, by My Friend Max
Breeder: Jo Ann Thompson
Owner: Double Dam Farm LLC
Trainer: Delmar R. Caldwell
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie

Hay Hollow Racing Stables’ Stand Him Up ($5.20, $3.60, $3.40) pulled off a hat trick when winning the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint by 1¼ lengths in a final time of 1:11.03. Ridden by Gabriel Saez and trained by Howard Alonzo, the son of Time Bandit came into the race off of a victory against allowance company at Evangeline Downs in August and a win on Opening Day in the Heitai Stakes.

Breaking from the gate, Stand Him Up sat just a half-length off the pace controlled by Jockamo’s Song who set fractions of 22.76, 46.73. Approaching the top of the stretch, Stand Him Up took command, headed and passed the leader and held off 24-1 longshot Just Kissing Buck ($17 and $10.80) while Hunker Down ($11.40) took the show spot, another three-quarters of a length back.

“He’s an awesome horse,” Saez said. “Every time I get on him he gives me 100%, and I was glad that a couple horses went to the front end. When it was time to come around and make our move, he finished up running.”

Stand Him Up collected $60,000 from his Sprint victory, which brought his career earnings up to $208,460 in his seventh career win in 14 lifetime starts.

Jockamo’s Song, Nubin Ridge, My Friend Flavin, Double Barrel Man, Philly and Outofthisgalaxycompleted the order of finish.

Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint
Fair Grounds, 12-9-17, 6 furlongs
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Fillies and Mares, Accredited Louisiana Breds
Purse: $100,000

MY MISS CHIFF
Into Mischief–Carl’s Frosty Girl, by Pulling Punches
Breeder: Steve E. Holliday
Owner: Town and Country Racing, LLC
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Mitchell Murrill

Town and Country LLC’s My Miss Chiff ($4.40, $3 and $2.10) kept an undefeated streak over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track alive when she won the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint, her fourth victory in as many starts over the New Orleans oval.

Ridden by Mitchell Murrill and trained by Al Stall, Jr., the daughter of Into Mischief’s wins at the Fair Grounds include a maiden win in January and a March allowance victory, both against statebreds, as well as her triumph last out in the Happy Ticket Stakes on Opening Day.

Breaking from the gate, Murrill took My Miss Chiff back to third as Elektracutioner dictated the pace up front through fractions of 21.86 and 45.56. Approaching the top of the stretch, My Miss Chiff began to gain on the tiring pacesetter and took command to win the race by three-quarters of a length over Look Into My Eyes ($5.80 and $3.20), who was  3½ lengths clear of Wheatfield ($2.10) in third.

“We got the trip we wanted,” Murrill said. “We sat outside. She does her own thing and then just takes me right back to the wire.”

My Miss Chiff scored her fourth victory in six lifetime starts and boosted her earnings to $159,660.

Play Unified, Dr Liz, Bitsy’s C C, Discreetly Grand, Elektracutioner, Sunny Oak and Fairwell Tax Breakcompleted the order of finish.

Louisiana Champions Day Lassie
Fair Grounds, 12-9-17, 6 furlongs
Two-Year-Old Fillies, Accredited Louisiana Breds
Purse: $100,000

MINIT TO STARDOM
Star Guitar–Wild About Marie, by Wildcat Heir
Breeder: Brittlyn Stables, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Colby J.Hernandez

2nd
Sarah’s Holy Belle
El Corredor–My Holy Belle, by Holy Bull
Breeder: Perform Stables Inc.
Owner: Perform Stables Inc.
Trainer: Ricky Courville
Jockey: Chantal Sutherland

3rd:
Girls Life
Colonel John–Saucey Officer, by Officer
Breeder: Georgia Farms Inc
Owner: Brad Raney
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: Ashley Broussard

Brittlyn Stable’s Minit To Stardom ($3, $2.60 and $2.10) proved herself to be a worthy 1-2 favorite in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie, winning the six-furlong event by an emphatic 7¼ lengths. Guided to victory by Colby Hernandez and trained by Al Stall, Jr., the daughter of Louisiana living legend Star Guitar broke sharply and sat just to the outside of pacesetters Tigertail Ranch’s Cool Spring and stablemate Andthebandplayedon who set opening fractions of 22.10 and 46.38 Around the far turn, Minit To Stardom cruised to the front without being asked and began to open up on the field. Hernandez shook the reins a few times in the stretch as the filly completed the trip in 1:12.18.

Perform Stables Inc.’s Sarah’s Holy Belle ($9.80 and $6) closed to get second, 1¼ lengths ahead of Brad Raney’s Girls Life ($6.80) in third.

“She’s a really nice filly,” Hernandez said. “She’ll do anything you ask her to, but I didn’t have to ask her to do much.”

The Louisiana Champions Day Lassie was Minit To Stardom’s first stakes victory in only her second career start. She made her career debut a winning one by 5¼ lengths on Opening Day in a state-bred maiden special weight. The victory elevated her lifetime earnings to $84,600.

Yes Gorgeous, Cool Spring, Andthebandplayedon, She’screative and Just A Bandit completed the order of finish.  

Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile
Fair Grounds, 12-9-17, 6 furlongs
Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings, Accredited Louisiana Breds
Purse: $100,000

GREELEY WENT WEST
El Corredor–So Well Read, by Read the Footnotes
Breeder: Tom Curtis & Wayne Simpson
Owner: Phyllis J. Hodges and Randy Schiender
Trainer: James E. Hodges
Jockey: James Graham

2nd
Divine Bean
Star Guitar–Good Human Bean, by Langfuhr
Breeder: Brittlyn, Inc.
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Albert M. Stall, Jr.
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez

3rd
Cajun Creed
Jimmy Creed–Surprise Squall, by Stephen Got Even
Breeder: Danny M. Brown & Donna B. Brown
Owner: Horseplayers Racing Club LLC
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Phyllis J. Hodges and Randy Schiender’s Greeley Went West ($15, $7 and $4.20) out-dueled Brittlyn Stable’s stubborn Divine Bean ($3.60, $2.80) in the stretch to take the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes by a length in a time of 1:11.76.

Trained by James Hodges and ridden to victory by James Graham, the son of El Corredor remained undefeated in two starts, the first of which was a win against state-bred maidens at Louisiana Downs in September. Graham kept Greeley Went West off the pace commanded by Divine Bean who set opening fractions of 21.96, 46.07 and 58.60 before unsuccessfully fighting off a challenge from the eventual winner. Horseplayer Racing Club’s Cajun Creed ($3) took the show spot another length back.

“He broke sharp and I put him in a good spot,” Graham said. “When I picked him up he sprinted home. He went after them a little sooner than I wanted to, but halfway around the turn I said, ‘Man, I’ve got a little bit of pony.’”

The first time gelding enhanced his career earnings to $73,200.

Ready Prospector, Pound For Pound, Prayer Boy, Exigent and Uncle Herbie completed the order of finish.

Louisiana Champions Day Ladies 
Fair Grounds, 12-9-17, @ 1 1/16 miles, turf
Three-Year-Olds and Upwards, Fillies and Mares, Accredited Louisiana Breds
Purse: $100,000

INVENIAM VIAM
Half Ours–Haliburton Honey, by Regal Classic
Breeder: Paul E Mullen
Owner: Allied Racing Stable, LLC
Trainer: Brad H. Cox
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan

2nd
Pacific Pink
Private Vow–Truly Romantic, by Robyn Dancer
Breeder: Brandon Adcock
Owner: Keith Plaisance
Trainer: Edward J. Johnston
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie

3rd
Mr. Al’s Gal
Salute the Sarge–Spanish Ice, by Spanish Steps
Breeder: J. Adcock & Neal McFadden
Owner: Brittlyn Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Justin Jeansonne
Jockey: Diego Saenz