Category: Who Took the Money
LTBA Announces 2022 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions
Who Took the Money storms home in rescheduled LA Champions Day Turf Classic
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.
Who Took the Money’s Big Kick Too Much in Scott’s Scoundrel
Proving yet again to have the most deft late-kick in Louisiana, Allied Racing Stable’s Who Took the Money won the $75,000 Scott’s Scoundrel for older state-bred routers on day two of Louisiana Champions Preview Weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
In a field full of dangerous front runners, it was Big Chopper who made the lead over a track labeled sloppy. Pressed by Allied Racing’s Highland Creek through opening fractions of 23.66 and 46.77, Big Chopper capitulated the lead to Highland Creek as Brittlyn Stable’s Behemah Star came forward from third. As the .90-1 favorite, Who Took the Money rounded the second turn and began to unleash. Behemah Star grinded past Highland Creek for a temporary lead but he could not match strides with jockey Deshawn Parker and Who Took the Money late, as he bounded home to score by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:42.09 for 1 mile 70 yards. Behemah Star and Highland Creek dug in to hold second and third, respectively.
“That big kick, I tell you,” Deshawn Parker said. “You never think he is going to fire and then he takes off. I just do what he wants me to do. You can tap him down the backside, and he doesn’t give you nothing. As soon as you turn for home, you tap him, he just takes off.”
With this win, Who Took the Money has a 13-9-0-2 record and $392,677 to prove it. If this 4-year-old holds his form, Who Took the Money will be tough to handle on Louisiana Champions Day (Dec 10).
WHO TOOK THE MONEY CASHES IN WINNING THE $100,000 GOLD CUP AT DELTA DOWNS
VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out its first week of live Thoroughbred racing for the 2022-23 season on Saturday and the nine-race program featured the $100,000 Gold Cup Stakes for 3-year-old and up Louisiana-bred competing at seven furlongs. The event was won by Allied Racing Stables, LLC’s Who Took the Money under jockey Deshawn Parker.
Using a come-from-behind style in a race with plenty of pace, Who Took the Money rallied strongly around the second turn to garner the lead in the upper-stretch and go on to a 7-1/4 length win at the finish line. The early pace of 22.80 second for the quarter mile and 46.94 for the half was set by Brians Iron Mike. But as the field turned for home it was Who Took the Money who found the lead and went on to the score. Brians Iron Mike stayed on for second while Relentless Dancer settled for third another fourt lengths behind the runner-up.
The final time for Who Took the Money in the Gold Cup was 1:24.51 seconds, just 20/100ths off the track record set by No Its not in 2003. Each race on the Saturday card was contested over a fast track.
Who Took the Money was making his local debut in the Gold Cup and was also coming off a five-month layoff. His last start before the race came in the Evangeline Downs Classic back in May, which he also won. The Gold Cup tally was his eighth from 12 overall starts and his fourth in stakes company. He earned $60,000 for his effort on Saturday and now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $347,677.
Bred in Louisiana by his owner, Who Took the Money is a 4-year-old chestnut gelding by Steet Boss, out of the Speightstown mare Speights’ Colony.
Sent to the gate at odds of 8-5, Who Took the Money paid $5.40 to win, $4.20 to place and $2.80 to show. Brian’s Iron Mike was worth $8.40 to place and $6.20 to show. Relentless Dancer returned $5.60 to show.
Delta Downs will race again next Wednesday through Saturday nights. First post time each evening is at 4:55 pm.
For more information about the new season, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information on Facebook and Twitter.
TO THE VICTORS GO THE SPOILS
2022 Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Annual Awards Banquet Honoring the 2021 Accredited Louisiana Bred Champions and their Connections
WHO TOOK THE MONEY CHARGES TO VICTORY IN THE $60,000 EVANGELINE DOWNS CLASSIC
ALLIED RACING STABLE RUNNERS COMPLETE WEEKEND STAKES SWEEP
OPELOUSAS, LA –Deshawn Parker capped off a big weekend stakes sweep with a victory aboard Who Took the Money in the $60,000 EVD Classic at Evangeline Downs on Saturday night. The race for 4-year-old and up Louisiana-bred runners was contested at the distance of one mile over a track rated fast.
Father Goose and Maga Man both broke sharply and set off in a spirited duel into the clubhouse turn. Highland Creek and Drewhustle were on the chase, while Who Took the Money was allowed to relax near the back of the field. The opening quarter-mile was covered in a swift 23.36 seconds, and the early battle continued through a half-mile in 46.55 seconds. As the field moved through the far turn, Highland Creek, the other Allied Racing Stables, LLC (Chester Thomas) runner in the field, was in a striking position just behind the leaders, while Relentless Dancer ranged up with a wide bid. Deshawn Parker and Who Took the Money were just starting to begin their run but were still seventh as the field move past six furlongs in 1:12.00 seconds.
As the field moved to the top of the lane, Highland Creek surged to the lead, Venn was moving through some traffic, while Who Took the Money was gaining with a six-wide move. At the furlong marker Highland Creek was 1-1/2 lengths in front, but stablemate Who Took the Money was moving fastest in the center of the racetrack. The two Bret Calhoun trainees were well clear of the field in the final yards, with Who Took the Money rushing past for a ½-length victory. Runner-up Highland Creek was 3-1/2 lengths clear of the third-place finisher Venn. The final time for the mile was 1:37.90 seconds.
Who Took the Money earned $36,000 for the victory, his seventh from 11 career starts. The winning purse increased his lifetime earnings to $286,677.
The 4-year-old gelding was bred in Louisiana by Allied Racing Stable, LLC. Sired by Street Boss, the chestnut is out of the Speightstown mare Speights’ Colony.
Who Took the Money, sent off as the wagering favorite, rewarded backers with a $4.40 win price, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show. Highland Creek paid $3.60 to place and $2.60 to show. Venn, the longest shot on the board at 41-1, paid $7.80 to show.
Live racing resumes on Wednesday with a 5:30pm first post. The Evangeline Downs Thoroughbred season runs on a Wednesday thru Saturday schedule until August 27.
2021 Accredited Louisiana-Bred Champions
Special Win for Faucheux as Mangelsen Wires Johnston Memorial
Favored Who Took the Money scratched after flipping in the gate
New Orleans, LA (March 5, 2022) — All stakes victories are sweet, but this one touched trainer Ron Faucheux deeply. Though this is the 42nd running of the $60,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial Stakes, 2022 is the first year it was run under its current title. Named for the recently departed, longtime beloved Louisiana horsemen, Eddie Johnston, a dear friend of and mentor to Faucheux, the race took on added significance.
You wouldn’t be the only one wondering if Johnston had a divine hand in setting the stage for Allen Cassedy’s Mangelsen to succeed as the race was over for the initial post-time favorite before it even began.
Loading into the gate, fans and connections alike had one question – could the chalk Who Took the Money run down the front-running Mangelsen before the wire and win his third race in a row? On this day, that question would not be answered.
The Bret Calhoun-trained colt, who was recently named 3-year-old colt of the year by the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association, flipped, broke through the gate, and ran off before being caught and scratched. It was the perfect situation for Mangelsen to capitalize on, and following a slight delay, the betting public knew just that, with money shifting heavily to make Mangelsen the eventual .50-1 favorite.
“It was unfortunate the 6 horse (Who Took the Money) scratching,” jockey Jareth Loveberry said. “But our plan was still the same. Go to the front, get him to relax on his own, and carry him home.”
Relaxed and leading through all the 25.11, 49.44, and 1:27.52 calls by as many as four lengths, Mangelsen didn’t feel pressure until the homestretch when 4.00-1 closer Treys Midnite Moon made a move on the rail that put him in front in the deep stretch, but only for a handful of strides. After taking a bad step near the rail earlier on, jockey Jareth Loveberry made sure to finish down the center of the turf course which separated him from his rail-rallying pursuer, but that didn’t stop Mangelsen from seeing the threat, responding, and fighting forward to come home in 1:40.61 for the mile (about) over a firm course with the rail eight feet out.
In the winner’s circle, the emotions came through for Fair Grounds’ 2020-21 leading trainer Faucheux, who with this win regained a one-win lead on four-time Brad Cox for this meet’s crown.
“Today was all about Eddie Johnston and his family coming out,” Faucheux said. “Eddie was one of the greatest friends I have ever had. A true mentor, he taught me so much. I just can’t be happier to win this race. This goes down as maybe the best win of my life. That’s how much Eddie meant to me. This is definitely one I’ll never forget.”
One dimensional and one away from his tenth win, Mangelsen’s career record is now 28-9-4-2, sitting pretty with earnings of $194,800 and ready for his next front-running score.
Who Took the Money’s Form Casts Shadow over Eddie Johnston Field of Eleven
The 42nd edition of the $60,000 Edward J. Johnston Memorial Stakes, running under its current title for the first time on Saturday at Fair Grounds, attracted a large field of LA-bred 3-year-olds and up. Everything from first-time-turfers to multiple turf stake winners will compete on the lawn, but Allied Racing’s Who Took the Money stands out from the crowd.
Winning the Louisiana Champions Day Turf in just his second grass start, Bret Calhoun’s 4-year old is two for three on the lawn after beating a salty group of optional claimers last out, including Louisiana Champions Day Classic winner, Grand Luwegee. Flashing an impressive late turn of foot in the Louisiana Champions Day Turf, he rallied from 12 lengths back at the third call to win by 5 ¾ lengths over Treys Midnite Moon, Budro Talking, and Mangelsen – all of who will test him again in the Eddie Johnston. Deshawn Parker keeps the mount on the 4/5 morning line favorite and will begin his voyage from post six.
If anyone could steal it from Who Took the Money, Allen Cassedy’s front-runner Mangelsen seems like a logical choice. After speeding off in the Louisiana Champions Day Turf and tiring to finish fourth, Mangelsen’s form came into question next out when losing by 9 ½ lengths as the favorite in an optional claiming starter allowance, but trainer Ron Faucheux righted the ship with the next out effort, as the gelding led throughout to beat three of his Eddie Johnston foes. Jareth Loveberry will ride Mangelsen for the first time, sending from post seven (9-2 ML).
Multiple turf stakes winner, Hermilo Racing’s Budro Talking will make his first start in Hugo Rodriguez’s barn after being claimed out of the February optional claimer where he finished behind Mangelsen, Get Them Justin, and City Park. With a late-running style, Budro Talking will break from post eight under Mitchell Murrill looking for his 10th lifetime turf win (12-1 ML).
Snake Racing’s 7-year-old Treys Midnite Moon, a 15-time winner with a stakes victory on his resume, looks for his first win in 2022 after finishing on top five times in 2021. Third in his last three starts, including three back to Who Took the Money in the Louisiana Champions Day Turf, trainer “Bunky” Richards calls on James Graham to ride this late-kicker from post five (8-1 ML).
The remainder of the field with post position, jockey/trainer and morning line odds is as follows: Spartan Team investment’s Ballinonabudjet (post one, Colby Hernandez/Michelle Lovell, 15-1 ML) looks to make it three wins in a row while seeking the elusive first turf victory in his sixth attempt; meet-leading owner Brittlyn Stables’ Behemah Star (post two, Reylu Gutierrez/Jose Camejo, 12-1 ML) began his career sprinting and finishing 10th on the grass but has not tried since, though he exits an impressive third-level allowance dirt win at Fair Grounds in January; Autumn Hill Farms’ Get Them Justin (post three, Jose Riquelme/Sturgis Ducoing, 15-1 ML) finished second last out to Mangelsen, improving in his third turf start; Jeanne Dolan’s Changi (post four, Carlos Ulloa/Jeanne Dolan, 30-1 ML) has not won since July 2020 in 19 tries; Norman Stables’ Drewhustle (post nine, Aubrie Green/Lonnie Briley, 20-1 ML) exits a third-place allowance finish at Delta Downs but won the race prior on Fair Grounds’ dirt course; MAT Investments’ City Park (post ten, Pedro Cotto Jr./Eduardo Ramirez, 12-1 ML) is 6 for 7 on the grass, finishing third to Mangelsen and Get Them Justin last out, where he was claimed from Hugo Rodriguez; Glockenburg’s Mr. Universe (post eleven, Jose Vega/Gennadi Dorochenko, 20-1 ML) won against second-level allowance company last out, his second tally in seven turf tries.
Carded as race number eight, the last of three turf stakes races on the day, post time is scheduled for 5:36 pm CT.
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