Louisiana Champions Day Top Contenders

by Patricia Woo | Dec 6 2010

Louisiana-bred winners will get a turn in the spotlight on Saturday, Dec. 11 in New Orleans, La., for Louisiana Champions Day. Eleven races offer a total purse of $1.1M, including the Louisiana Champions Day Classic, Ladies' Classic, Sprint and Turf.

Voted as Louisiana Horse of the Year in 2009, Star Guitar has been nominated to defend his title in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic, a 1 1/8 mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The 5-year-old son of Quiet American is trained by Al Stall – who trained Blame, the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic champion – and has been working at Fair Grounds; a recent 5 furlong breeze over the dirt surface was timed in 1:00.40 on Nov. 29. This year, Star Guitar is 6-3-0-0 and has earnings of $267,500. Also nominated is James Hodges' charge Dynapac, a gelded son of Reformer Rally, who captured the Louisiana Cup Derby on May 22; he has been in training at Fair Grounds and posted a 5-furlong move in 1:02.60 on Dec. 1. 2008 Classic winner Autobeacat, trained by Eric Heitzmann, has also been nominated.

In the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies' Classic – a 1 1/16 mile race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up – defending champion Superior Storm will be on hand to defend her title, according to trainer Rick Jackson. Breaking the million-dollar earnings mark with her victory in the $100,000 Magnolia Stakes, the 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic mare is favored to cap off her year with another victory. Also nominated are Speedacious (eighth in the Magnolia), Vickies in Town (last in the Magnolia) and Shezacrazygirl (winner of the Louisiana Showcase Mile Stakes in July).

My Star Runner is one of the top contenders for the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint, a 6-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up. Cody Autrey trains this 3-year-old son of Run Production, who has captured four consecutive races this year. His latest win was in the Sam's Town Stakes at Delta Downs on Nov. 20; he is 4-4-0-0 on the year and has earned $85,800.

And in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf, a 1 1/16 mile event on the turf for 3-year-olds and up, Snakebite Kit tops the list. With earnings of $191,900 and a record of 8-5-1-1, this 4-year-old son of Sky Classic, trained by Eddie Johnston, is excellent on turf and has won multiple races at Fair Grounds this year.

The Louisiana Champions Day card will also include the Ladies' Sprint, Lassie, Juvenile, Starter and three quarter horse races.

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