Mobile Bay Turns Tables in LA Classic

Tigertail Ranch's homebred Mobile Bay got revenge Dec. 10, and in the process, he made sure a Louisiana legend stands alone.

Second to The Pickett Factor in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes one year ago, the 4-year-old son of Lone Star Special turned the tables on that rival and four others in the 1 1/8-mile race for state-breds, drawing off handily under Diego Saenz for a 4 3/4-length win at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.  

Earning his ninth win from 24 career starts, Mobile Bay also snapped a six-race losing skid that mounted since he captured the May 1 Sunland Park Handicap. In defeating two-time Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes winner Sunbean—who never fired and finished last Saturday—Mobile Bay also ensured that Brittlyn Stable's Star Guitar   remains the only three-time winner of the race.

Unlike his seventh-place finish in the Nov. 23 Zia Park Championship Handicap, where he was last in the early going and never got running, Mobile Bay was up on the pace in the Classic Stakes, sitting right off The Pickett Factor through an opening quarter in :24.82 and then moving through on the inside to take over as they reached the half mile mark in :49.67.

The soft early fractions left Mobile Bay with plenty in reserve as he came off the final turn. With The Pickett Factor giving way and Sunbean not getting himself in the mix, Mobile Bay made life easy for Saenz as they hit the wire in 1:51.31 with Mageez getting up for second.

Sent off at 5-2 odds for trainer Victor Arceneaux, Mobile Bay paid $7.40, $4.40, and $3.20 across the board. Southern Argument was fourth behind The Pickett Factor with One King's Man and Sunbean rounding out the order of finish.

Unraced as a juvenile, Mobile Bay won the Super Derby (gr. II) last September and also won last year's Zia Park Derby.  He is closing in on millionaire status with earnings of $916,440.

A total of 11 stakes races worth $1.1 million for state breds were run at Fair Grounds Saturday. Watch My Smoke won the $50,000 Louisiana Champions Day Starter Stakes, Hail to the Nile took the $100,000 Turf Stakes, Big World won the $100,000 Ladies Stakes, Ivana's Wish took the $100,000 Lassie Stakes, Wheatfield won the $100,000 Ladies Sprint, and Saint's Fan took the $100,000 Juvenile Stakes.