Mirabeau, Chu Chu's Legacy Top Louisiana Cup Day

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack is packing them into the starting gate for Louisiana Cup Day Sept. 19. There were 101 horses and five also-eligibles entered in eight races there Saturday, six of which are for Louisiana-bred stakes runners. Previously announced as $40,000 stakes, they were boosted to $50,000 apiece and every one of the six drew 12 or more horses.

Up first among the stakes is the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies in which an intriguing matchup looms between Larry Romero and Ron Faucheux's stakes-winning Mirabeau vs. Rue Lala, who scored at first asking Sept. 5 at Louisiana Downs for owners Spendthrift Farm and Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. Mirabeau is slightly favored at 3-2 compared to Rue Lala at 9-5 against 10 other 2-year-old fillies in a six-furlong dash.

A daughter of Bind trained by Faucheux, Mirabeau was a 10 1/4-length winner of the filly division of the D. S. "Shine" Young Futurity Aug. 29 at Evangeline Downs. The victory was her third in a row under regular jockey Diego Saenz, who returns in the irons Saturday.

"I wasn't too sure about running her back so quickly," said Faucheux. "But there is a nice gap between this stakes and Louisiana Champions Day. She is so classy and mature for her age; we're looking forward to it."

Louisiana Champions Day comes during the early winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans.

Rue Lala, a daughter of Star Guitar  trained by Steve Asmussen, won by 7 3/4 lengths in her debut under leading Louisiana Downs rider Joel Dominguez, who will be back in the saddle in the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies, the second race on the card.

Louisiana native Faucheux has runners in five of the six Louisiana Cup Day stakes.

"These state-bred stakes days are so important for Louisiana racing," said Faucheux. "Everyone has gone through so much this year with the pandemic, delayed race days, and hurricanes."

Another 2-year-old by Bind, Chu Chu's Legacy, heads the field for the Louisiana Cup Juvenile. The Allen Landry-owned and -trained colt drew off by four lengths in the D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity division for colts and geldings. The 2-1 favorite has career earnings of $60,800 in winning two of three starts.

Landry has given the ride to Tim Thornton, who has guided the dark bay colt to his last two victories.

"He's been doing so well, there was no reason not to run him," Landry said of wheeling back in three weeks. 

He is rematched against Schnell, who ran second in the Young Futurity. Schnell, a colt by Star Guitar owned by Kaleem Shah, will make his second start for Faucheux after being transferred from the West Coast, where he ran fifth in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) at Del Mar.

In other action on the card:

Defending champion Is Too faces 11 rivals in the Louisiana Cup Distaff; 14 females landed in the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, led by Snowball; 3-year-old Sydster takes on his elders in the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic; and past winners Laughingsaintssong and Monte Man head the Louisiana Sprint.

Saturday's weather is forecasted to be clear with afternoon temperatures in the low 80s. The public is invited to enjoy live racing and the track will host a handicapping seminar at 2:00 p.m. CT.

Louisiana Downs will also conduct a fundraiser in support of the Shantel Lanerie Breast Cancer 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.  

Beginning at 2:00 pm on Louisiana Cup Day, a table will be set up in the grandstand with monogrammed apparel and memorabilia to benefit the foundation. Jockeys will be on hand to autograph the items. Fans will be able to stop by the table, purchase items, or make donations until 6:00 p.m.

Also Saturday, the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will draw for two $1,000 scholarships via Facebook Live during Louisiana Cup Day at Louisiana Downs. The drawings will be between the fifth and sixth races in the winner's circle. More information is available at louisianabred.com.

Entries: Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 19, 2020, Race 2

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $50,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 3:33 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Sumitup (LA)	Kevin J. Smith	114	Delmar R. Caldwell	30/1
2	2Squox (LA)	Pedro L. Cotto, Jr.	116	Justin Jeansonne	8/1
3	3Mamas Gone Crazy (LA)	Devin H. Magnon	116	Carl J. Deville	15/1
4	4Tecate Time (LA)	Gerard Melancon	116	Steven B. Flint	20/1
5	5Rue Lala (LA)	Joel Dominguez	116	Steven M. Asmussen	9/5
6	6Totally Grace (LA)	Joe Stokes	116	Lonnie Briley	20/1
7	7Inawic (LA)	Jose Andres Guerrero	114	Ronnie P. Ward	10/1
8	8Mirabeau (LA)	Diego Saenz	120	Ron Faucheux	3/2
9	9Heart That Binds (LA)	Alfredo Contreras	114	Beverly Burress	30/1
10	10Boston Flat Out (LA)	Luis Batista	114	Kenneth L. Hargrave	30/1
11	11Scampering Grayce (LA)	Aubrie Green	114	Al Cates	15/1
12	12Louleigh (LA)	Gerardo Mora	116	Justin Jeansonne	15/1

Entries: Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 19, 2020, Race 6

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $50,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 5:22 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Tensas Thought (LA)	Devin H. Magnon	120	Dale White, Sr.	12/1
2	2Tenpins Tempo (LA)	Aubrie Green	118	Lee Thomas	15/1
3	3Quikfast N Ahurry (LA)	Gerard Melancon	119	Steven B. Flint	6/1
4	4Boston Cadillac (LA)	Gerardo Mora	120	Justin Jeansonne	20/1
5	5Snowball (LA)	Diego Saenz	124	Samuel Breaux	3/1
6	6Veronica's Dream (LA)	Kody Kellenberger	118	Shane Meche	20/1
7	7Nun of Ours (LA)	Filemon T. Rodriguez	117	Shane Wilson	10/1
8	8Our Lost Love (LA)	Carlos Lozada	121	Joseph M. Foster	7/2
9	9Joe G's Payback (LA)	Jansen Melancon	118	Shelton J. Zenon, Sr.	50/1
10	10Suzie's Dream (LA)	Joe Stokes	120	Lonnie Briley	30/1
11	11Suckerforagrey (LA)	Kevin J. Smith	118	Dale White, Sr.	30/1
12	12Saints N Muskets (LA)	Timothy Thornton	118	Allen Landry	10/1
13	13Play Unified (LA)	E. M. Murray	118	Ron Faucheux	4/1
14	14Miss Pat's Girl (LA)	Jose Andres Guerrero	120	Rafael Gomez	30/1

Entries: Louisiana Cup Turf Classic S.

Harrah's Louisiana Downs Casino and Racetrack, Saturday, September 19, 2020, Race 7

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $50,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 5:49 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Silver King (LA)	Alfredo Contreras	118	Cortland Harrison	50/1
2	2Trevilion (LA)	C.J. McMahon	120	Ron Faucheux	6/1
3	3Nippy Red (LA)	Jose Andres Guerrero	118	Patti Turner	30/1
4	4In the Navy (LA)	Alexander Castillo	118	Scott Gelner	6/1
5	5Mageez (LA)	Gerard Melancon	120	Delmar R. Caldwell	12/1
6	6Budro Talking (LA)	Joel Dominguez	120	Keith A. Austin	3/1
7	7Sydster (LA)	Diego Saenz	121	Edward J. Johnston	7/2
8	8Bistraya (LA)	Emanuel Nieves	120	David C. Gomez	12/1
9	9Treys Midnite Moon (LA)	Devin H. Magnon	122	Corale A. Richards	7/2
10	10Big Boy Dave Rex (LA)	Luis Batista	118	Kenneth L. Hargrave	15/1
11	11Luckenbacher (LA)	Gerardo Mora	115	Beverly Burress	30/1
12	12Like Mike (LA)	E. M. Murray	118	Denise Schmidt	20/1
13	13Don Guillermo (LA)	Carlos Lozada	118	James E. Hodges	30/1