Delta: Sunbean narrowly prevails in Gold Cup

Sunbean rallied to win a photo over pacesetter Redhotrush in the $100,000 Gold Cup at Delta Downs on Saturday night. The one-mile race was for 3-year-olds and up bred in Louisiana, and it is expected to produce a number of starters for next month’s Louisiana Champions Day program at Fair Grounds.

Sunbean ($6.80) rode the rail in third early in the Gold Cup, as Redhotrush jumped out to the lead and raced about five lengths clear of the field through fractions of 22.72 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.24 for the first half-mile. Sunbean angled off the rail approaching the homestretch, then took after Redhotrush. He nabbed him by a neck, while covering the distance on a track rated fast in 1:38.79.

Populist Politics, the favorite, finished third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Redhotrush.

Sunbean, who races for the Brittlyn Stable operation of Evelyn and Maurice Benoit, was ridden by Richard Eramia. The horse is trained by Ron Faucheux. The Gold Cup was Sunbean’s first out since Aug. 3, when he was edged by a head in the $100,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs.

Sunbean, a 3-year-old gelding by Brahms and bred by the Benoits, has now won 5 of 10 starts and $288,900. Of his wins, four have come in stakes for horses bred in Louisiana.