NEWS
Autobeacat takes Louisiana Champions Day Classic
Posted: Saturday, December 13, 2008 7:57 PM
AUTOBEACAT
Lou Hodges Jr. photo
by Jeff Apel
Autobeacat regained command approaching midstretch, gamely turned back 6-to-5 favorite Star Production in the closing strides, and earned a three-quarter-length win in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
Autobeacat and multiple stakes winner Star Production took turns on the lead through slow fractions of :25.96 for the opening quarter and :50.13 through a half-mile. Star Production regained command by a head through six furlongs in 1:14.14 and maintained a narrow advantage against Autobeacat in early stretch. Displaying determination in the closing strides, Autobeacat powered past Star Production to seize command under Donnie Meche and won the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:53.72 on a track rated as fast.
Stakes winner Southern Invasion finished third in the field of five, three lengths behind Star Production.
Eric Heitzmann trains Autobeacat for owner Valene Farms. The Autocracy gelding earned his first stakes win in the World Series of Poker Stakes on August 23 at Louisiana Downs.
Autobeacat also finished second at Louisiana Downs in the Shiskabob Stakes on August 2 and the Tiznow Handicap on September 20.
Autobeacat earned his tenth win in 28 starts and increased his earnings to $349,782. Bred by Mike Fitzmorris and Peter Feringa, Autobeacat is the first starter out of the Storm Boot mare Storm the Lane.
The Classic was the most lucrative of eight stakes races for state-bred Thoroughbreds on the Louisiana Champions Day card. The Thoroughbred races had a combined purse value of $800,000.
In other Champions Day races: Star Guitar overtook four foes to gain command in deep stretch and earned three-quarter-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint Stakes as the 1.70-to-1 favorite.
Trained by Albert Stall Jr. for owner and co-breeder Brittlyn Stable, Star Guitar won the six-furlong race in 1:11.07 to earn his second stakes victory. The three-year-old Quiet American colt closed his juvenile campaign by winning the 2007 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes.
Wildrally seized command with a determined stretch drive and snapped a nine-race winless stretch with a neck win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf Stakes.
Rallying from eighth in a field of nine under Brian Hernandez Jr., the Wild Event gelding edged runner-up Desert Wheat and won the about 1 1/16-mile race in 1:48.76 on turf rated as soft. Tom Amoss trains multiple stakes winner Wildrally for owner GAL Racing Stable.
Master Link maintained a clear lead through a half-mile in :45.57, increased her advantage on the turn, and earned her first stakes win with a 2 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
Master Link was kept to task in the closing strides by jockey Robby Albarado and won the six-furlong race in 1:11.70. Morris Nicks trains the Dance Master filly for the partnership of Danny and Tim Bockmon, David Hutcherson, and Heidie Maikranz.
Multiple stakes winner Superior Storm overtook pacesetter and runner-up Sammie Sam near midstretch and earned a two-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Stakes as the 1.30-to-1 favorite in a field of seven females.
With the victory, Jac Mac Stable’s Superior Storm earned her seventh career stakes win. Ridden by John Jacinto, the Stormy Atlantic filly won the 1 1/16-mile race in 1.45.87.
Break Up, a 68.20-to-1 longshot ridden by Corey Lanerie, rallied from tenth in a field of 12, overtook four foes with an explosive stretch run, and posted a one-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes.
Break Up won the six-furlong race in 1:12.02. Brett Brinkman trains the Sunday Break (Jpn) colt for co-owners and co-breeders Dr. J. David and Britton Richardson and Walter New.
Multiple stakes winner Coach Mike unleashed a determined four-wide rally on the turn, overtook runner-up Sax Appeal near midstretch, and drew clear in the closing strides for a 1 3/4-length win in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes.
The 3-to-2 favorite in a field of seven fillies and mares, Coach Mike won the six-furlong race in 1:10.66 under Jacinto. The Toolighttoquit filly entered off a win in the Mademoiselle Stakes on November 1 at Delta Downs for trainer Tony Richey and owner-breeder Ryder River Ridge Farm.
Mr. Porter opened a five-length lead in early stretch and posted a 12 1/2-length romp in the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Starter Handicap. Trained by Sturgis Ducoing for owner Harris Hughey, Mr. Porter won the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:46.49 under Patrick Valenzuela.
For Equibase charts, click here.
Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
