Stormdriver Upstages Favorites in Louisiana

Fruition Racing's Stormdriver outbattled runner-up One King's Man to win the $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Stakes Feb. 6 at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel.

 

The Vinton, La. track hosted its second richest program of the year, with the Championship anchoring 10 stakes races for Louisiana-breds and more than $1 million in total purse money.

 

Edging clear late, Stormdriver won the 1 1/16-mile Championship by 1 1/4 lengths from One King's Man, while 3-5 favorite The Pickett Factor wound up another half-length behind in third.

 

With Diego Saenz riding for trainer Patrick Devereux Jr., Stormdriver covered the distance on a fast track in a time of 1:45.67.

 

"Diego looked like he was loaded with this horse," Devereux said after he watching his charge stalk an early speed competition between The Pickett Factor, Deep Bottom, and Know You Now through early fractions of :22.57 for the quarter-mile and :47.22 for the half. "After they went about three-eighths of a mile I felt really confident. He handled this racetrack well tonight."

 

The win by Stormdriver marked the eighth of his 32-race career. He earned $120,000 for his effort and now has $451,667 in earnings.

 

Stormdriver ($14.80) is a 6-year-old by Discreet Cat   out of the Take Me Out mare Prom Date. The four-time stakes winner has an 8-4-8 record. He was bred in Louisiana by Tigertail Ranch.

 

Rowell Enterprises' Heitai (Fusaichi Pegasus  ) won his third consecutive $100,000 LAPN Sprint, also with Saenz in the saddle. The victory marked the first career stakes win for trainer Eduardo Ramirez. All three of Heitai's Louisiana Premier Night victories have come for different conditioners. In 2014 he was saddled by Karl Broberg and last year he was sent out by Tom Amoss.

 

This year's $150,000 LAPN Distaff was taken by Forest Lake (Forestry), who was ridden to victory by Hector Santiago. Forest Lake is owned by Set-Hut of former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme and is conditioned by Jake's father, Jerry Delhomme.

 

The $125,000 LAPN Prince saw Icy Gentleman storm down the stretch to victory under jockey Jorge Guzman. Icy Gentleman is trained by Henry Johnson Jr. and is owned by Ironwater Farms Joint Venture. Icy Gentleman is by Yankee Gentleman  , also the sire of David Richardson and Sandra New's Witch Hunt, winner of the $50,000 LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter.

 

Smittys Cougar (Half Ours  ) was victorious in the $125,000 LAPN Starlet with jockey Richard Eramia up. Smittys Cougar is conditioned by Ron Faucheux and is owned by Roger Smith.

 

This year's $100,000 LAPN Matron was annexed by World War IV Racing's Diamond Cutter (Salute the Sarge), who carried jockey Gerardo Mora to victory for trainer Pamela Simpson.