Multiple stakes hero WITT ANTE (Upping the Ante) is set to face six rivals on
Saturday while going for a title defense in the $150,000
Louisiana Champions Day Classic S. at the Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs
meet. The nine-furlong test is the feature race on an all-stakes card that
comprises the 15th annual Louisiana Champions Day.
Witt Ante enters Saturday’s event off a runner-up finish in an allowance as well as a win during the Louisiana Downs meet in early October.
Trained by Larry Robideaux Jr., the five-year-old chestnut captured last year’s
Classic by 2 1/2 lengths and has finished off the board only once from his past
13 starts dating back to early 2004.
Witt Ante will break from the rail on Saturday while carrying a 113-pound
impost that includes regular rider Tracy Hebert. He’ll be followed in the gate
by MERRIMANISTA (Devil His Due), Jose Riquelme, 110; BADTOTHEBONEANDREW (On the
Sauce), Gerard Melancon, 120; SANCTUARY’S OMOONI (Sanctuary), James Graham, 113;
PRINCE SLEW (Far Out Wadleigh), Brian Hernandez Jr., 113; NITRO CHIP (Finest
Hour), Robby Albarado, 123; and MY POCKET (My Friend Max), Calvin Borel, 110.
A field of seven juvenile fillies will start off the Thoroughbred action in
the 4TH race, the $100,000
Louisiana
Champions Day Lassie S., while going six furlongs. TORTUGA FLATS (Wild Zone)
looks the one to beat in the race off an easy 4 3/4-length score in the Laurel
Lane S. One race later, MR. SULU (Rail) will attempt to win the
Louisiana
Champions Day Turf S. for a third time. The bay seven-year-old already holds
claim to the 2001 and 2003 titles, and will have Robby Albarado aboard for this
year’s $100,000, 1 1/16-mile event.
ZARB’S LUCK (Zarbyev) captured the 2002 and 2003 editions of the
Louisiana
Champions Day Sprint S., but could only manage eighth last year. The Edward
Johnston-trained eight-year-old will try his luck yet again in the $100,000 test
going six furlongs. VOODOO GOLD (Gold Tribute) heads a field of nine in the
$100,000
Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile S. at three-quarters of a mile. The dark
bay colt is a three-time stakes winner already in his young career, with the
most recent a 12 1/4-length victory in the Bayouland Sales S.
The distaffers will get their turn in the $100,000
Louisiana
Champions Day Ladies S., and EQUESTRIAN GIRLS (Leestown) is no stranger to
Champions Day after taking last year’s Lassie by 2 3/4 lengths. She’ll face nine
rivals in the 8 1/2-furlong race. The final race of the day will be the $100,000
Louisiana Champions Day Starter H. sending 10 horses 1 1/16 miles.