Raise Your Cup to Louisiana Bred Racing

By Chad Cooper

Mother Nature may have had plans to discourage turf racing Louisiana Cup Day at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana, but the pre-race didn’t stop the phenomenal state bred-racing program that featured an eight-race card – including six states races with nearly $500,000 in purse money. Everything was on the table, from nose and neck photo finishes to 11-length dominating victories. Nothing beats the heart-pounding action of Louisiana thoroughbred racing.

Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
$75,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & Upward, Fillies & Mares, 6 Furlongs

Six String

Star Guitar – Oh Whata Holiday, by Harlan’s Holiday
Breeder: World War IV Racing & Rebel Tide Racing LLC
Owner: World War IV Racing & Rebel Tide Racing LLC
Trainer: Allen Landry
Jockey: Casey Fusilier

Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, winner SIX STRING. Photo by Ann Switalski.

Visually, Clearly a Test looked the part in the pre-race paddock. Shiny coat, ears tentative and four stakes wins on her resume including the $100,000 Louisiana Stallion Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Aug. 2. But, as we know, racing is not run on paper alone. Clearly a Test failed to fire and gave the remaining field an opportunity and Six String grabbed it and never looked back.

Jockey Casey Fusilier, who also won the Louisiana Cup Juvenile, helped the daughter of Louisiana Champion Star Guitar fly out of the gate for the 6-furlong affair and sail on to win the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint by four lengths in 1:10.80. The only issue the filly endured was some late lugging near the grandstand.

“I’m just so blessed to ride for good people and such talented animals,” said Fusilier. “A good horse like this I try not to get in her way.”

Jockey Casey Fusilier and trainer Allen Landry, guide Six String to the winners circle following the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Winning trainer Allen Landry now has three consecutive wins for Six String ($9.80), including her first stakes trophy. “I think a lot of her early races at Evangeline Downs just prepped her for the summer at Louisiana Downs,” said Landry. “She keeps getting better and better.”

Six String now has six wins in eight starts (5 of 7 in 2024) for earnings of $169,710 for both owners and breeders of the filly – World War IV Racing & Rebel Tide Racing LLC.

The final order of finish was Six String, Noneya, Sweet Alexis, Luyv, Magnolia Avenue, Clearly a Test, Olivia G, Fire Vision, Miss Priority and Cute Dinero Queen. Nora G and Wupkar were scratched.

Louisiana Cup Distaff
$75,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & Upward, Fillies & Mares, One Mile & One-Sixteenth, Turf

Dixie Farmer

Mo Tom – Exceedexpectations, by Tale of the Cat
Breeder: Brandon Adcock
Owner: Munoz, Yovani & Carlos, Maria
Trainer: Yovani Munoz
Jockey: Julio Ramirez Jr.

Louisiana Cup Distaff, winner DIXIE FARMER. Photo by Ann Switalski.

Dixie Farmer and Tensas Candy provided the crowd one of the most exciting finishes of the eight-race program. Dixie Farmer and jockey Julio Ramirez Jr. settled perfectly in the 1 1/16-mile Louisiana Cup Distaff, which was supposed to be on turf. The two advanced down the backstretch behind the pace-setting favorite Norah G, before making a big bid on the rail to take the lead down the stretch only to hold off a late-charging Tensas Candy. It took minutes for placing judges to decide that Dixie Farmer had won the Distaff by the slimmest of margins – a nose – in 1:45.12 on a muddy track.

Dixie Farmer breeder, Brandon Adcock, with his wife Ashleigh and baby Barrett.

“It was so close,” said Ramirez, who also won his second career stakes race as a jockey. “She gave me everything she had down to the wire.”

Trainer and co-owner Yovani Munoz said they claimed this filly for $12,000 earlier this year at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. “She’s been really honest, but we really wanted to run her on the turf here today, but it worked out.”

Dixie Farmer improved to 6-18 overall with earnings of $215,840.

The final order of finish was Dixie Farmer, Tensas Candy, Norah G, Cheapskate Diva, For Harper, Birdie Call, Certified Gem, Luminous Flight and Sikara Sikara. Scratched were Back Street Baby, Box of Pictures and Sweet Alexis.

Louisiana Cup Juvenile
$75,000 Guaranteed, 2YO, Colts & Geldings, 5 1/2 Furlongs

Tdz Hint of Power

Imperial Hint – Tdz Mandycorrienda, by El Corredor
Breeder: Tony Doughtie
Owner: Tony Doughtie
Trainer: Nason Eschete
Jockey: Casey Fusilier

Louisiana Cup Juvenile, winner TDZ HINT OF POWER. Photo by Jean Lozada for Ann Switalski Photography.

There’s domination, then there’s total domination and that’s exactly what was put on display during the $75,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile as Tdz Hint of Power led from gate to wire with jockey Casey Fusilier just hanging on for the ride.

The 2-year-old son of Imperial Hint sprinted clear to set the pace in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint with fractions of 21.94, 45.31 and 57.65 for a total time of 1:04.37. He literally had no competition and won by 10 3/4 lengths over a muddy track.

LTBA President Warren Harang and Tdz Hint of Power Owner/Breeder Tony Doughtie.

“We stole it from the gate,” said Fusilier. “This really is a magnificent creature with a good mind. Only two races in, this horse keeps getting better. He really has a bright future.”

The first crop of Imperial Hints is doing very well on the racetrack. Tdz Hint of Power is ($4) a perfect 2-2 with $59,400 in two starts.

“He’s such as nice horse,” said trainer Nason Eschete. “We knew he was special the first time we got him.”

The final order of finish was Tdz Hint of Power, A Million Moons, Big Nickel, Gift Giver, Redbind, Halfmineandallhers, Gold Thief and Big Rasee. Boom Shakalaka, Lone Warrior and Regal Temple were scratched.

Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies
$75,000 Guaranteed, 2YO Fillies, 5 1/2 Furlongs

Quite the Catch

Requite – Exceedexpectations, by Tale of the Cat
Breeder: Brandon Adcock
Owner: Nicholas James Latour
Trainer: Nicholas Latour
Jockey: Jose Luis Rodriguez

Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies, winner QUITE THE CATCH. Photo by Ann Switalski

Quite the Catch made quite the finish. A $3,500 purchase by trainer/owner Nicholas Latour, the 2-year-old daughter of Requite trailed the entire Louisiana Juvenile Fillies field then used a massive move by jockey Jose Luis Rodriguez to come from nine lengths back to catch Sweet Morgan Leigh at the wire to win by a beck in 1:06.63 at 5 1/2 furlongs.

“We just wanted to follow the plan,” said Rodriguez. “The filly likes to run at horses, so I knew we had some energy left at the wire.”

Sent to the gate at 19-1 odds, Quite the Catch ($40.80) was the highest longshot winner on the day. Favorites Wannawholelottaluv and Alyse Parker set furious early fractions of 22.13 and 45.78 before fading out. That’s when a slew of other horses were determined including the winner, Quite the Catch.

“Jose (Rodriguez) and the horse have been a great pair,” said Latour. “She loves coming from off the pace and it worked out again. We have a lot of hopes for this one after two starts.”

Quite the Catch is now 2-3 with earnings of $69,600.

The final order of finish was Quite the Catch, Sweet Morgan, Call Me Susan, Fast Medicine, Wannawholeottaluv, Alyse Parker, Gormely’s Queen, Devil’s Pool and Simoneaux Storm. Classic Embrace and Warrior’s Justice were scratched.

Louisiana Cup Turf Classic
$75,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & Upward, Turf, One Mile & One-Sixteenth

Allnight Moonlight

Ransom the Moon – Gingertini, by Medaglia d’Oro
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms, LLC
Owner: Roger G. Smith
Trainer: Sam Breaux
Jockey: Elio J. Barrera

Louisiana Cup Turf Classic, winner ALLNIGHT MOONLIGHT. Photo by Jean Lozada for Ann Switalski

If you enjoy dramatic finishes, then the Louisiana Cup Turf Classic is one for the ages. Despite the race moving to the dirt surface due to the rain, all those involved waited with bated breath as placing judges examined a tight photo finish between Allnight Moonlight and Wise Verdict, who both seemed to simultaneously hit the wire at the same time.

After anxious moments, it was Allnight Moonlight who was declared the winner of the $75,000 stakes by a mere head, just getting up in the final jump in 1:44.74.

“The horse was wanting to run early, but I knew I had to keep him under wraps,” said jockey Elio Barrera. “Around the far turn, we fanned out six wide to make a rally. I thought we had won. What an exciting race.”

Behemah Star, the 2-1 favorite and Woods N Water, winner of last year’s Louisiana Cup Turf Classic, were never really involved. Behemah Star did lead the runners at 23.94 and 47.40 then weakened

Wise Verdict, with Casey Fusilier as pilot tracked the leaders from the inside then went wide in the upper stretch to battle with rival Allnight Moonlight to the finish line.

Allnight Moonlight owner, Roger Smith.

“After some time off, we sent the colt to Churchill Downs for a change of scenery,” said owner Roger Smith. “After a third-place finish, we thought he was ready to come back to Louisiana and he was. This is back-to-back wins now.”

Allnight Moonlight, who could have been claimed for $10,000 at Churchill Downs, improved to 6-15 with earnings of $299,400.

Trainer Sam Breaux added the team has a good winter schedule planned for the colt.

The final order of finish was Allnight Moonlight, Wise Verdict, Blue Cheese, Cosmic Train, Brian’s Iron Mike, Sunday Breeze, Woods N Water, Behemah Star and Big Boo. King of Contraband was scratched.

Louisiana Cup Sprint
$75,000 Guaranteed, 3YO & Upward, 6 Furlongs

Clear as a Bele

Clearly Now – My Friend Bele, by My Friend Max
Breeder: Delmar Caldwell
Owner: Pendleton Larsen Jr.
Trainer: Courtney Dandridge Jr.
Jockey: Joel Dominguez

Louisiana Cup Sprint, winner CLEAR AS A BELE. Photo by Jean Lozada for Ann Switalski Photography.

If you are looking for a horse in good form, a “third race off a layoff” is the place to start. Add that to the fact that Clear as a Bele’s last two races were impressive finishes on a sloppy track, and you’ll likely have a winner picked out.

Clear As A Bele connections in the winners circle.

With a field of nine in the Louisiana Cup Sprint, all eyes were on the even-money favorite Not On Herb, and rightfully so. The son of First Samurai came to Louisiana Downs with three consecutive wins – including the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint and $60,000 King Creole, both at Delta Downs and both on an off track.

Not On Herb and Mike J. vied for the earlier lead at 22.71 and 45.7 while Clear as a Bele stayed within several lengths. Jockey Joel Dominguez was able to save valuable ground then slipped through the midway to match strides with Not On Herb and Mike J. It was at the 1/8th pole when the gelded son of Clearly Now drew clear to win by nearly 3 lengths in 1:10.89.

“I knew the horse would come running,” said Dominguez. “He got me to the winners circle.”

Clear as a Bele has career earnings of $215,560 and has won five of 12 starts for trainer Courtney Dandridge Jr. and owner Pendleton Larsen Jr.

“The horse is finally getting his act together,” said Larsen. “I think we will next ship him to the Fair Grounds.”

The final order of finish was Clear as a Bele, Not On Herb, El Dinero, Mike J, Mangum, Myglorybee, Pickens, Doublediamond Deal and Half Again. Available Star, Harpeth River and Sunday Breeze were scratched.