Gold Cup at Delta next goal for Sunbean

Sunbean, the millionaire who was scratched from the Unbridled Stakes on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 10 at Louisiana Downs, will make his next start at Delta Downs. Trainer Ron Faucheux said the horse is being pointed for the $100,000 Gold Cup, a one-mile race for Louisiana-breds on Oct. 29.

Sunbean last raced Aug. 6, winning on turf for the first time in the Louisiana Cup Classic. He would have faced open company on grass in the Unbridled, a 1 1/16-mile race in which he drew post 11.

“We’re going to go back to the dirt, keep him against statebreds,” Faucheux said. “We know we have a long winter campaign in front of us. The Gold Cup is toward the end of October. We want to keep fresh for that. He has so many choices over the winter.”

Those options include turf and dirt stakes on the Louisiana Champions Day card at Fair Grounds.

Sunbean has won 14 stakes, including two editions of the Louisiana Champions Day Classic and two runnings of the Gold Cup. He races for his breeder, Brittlyn Stable.

◗ The Dream Walkin’ Farms operation of country music artist Toby Keith led all owners in wins heading into the final week of the meet. The stable has won 18 races. Charlie Hukill, second in the standings, has won 12.

◗ Joey Foster has won 38 races through Tuesday to lead the trainer standings heading into the final week. H.B. Johnson ranks second with 32.