Grand Luwegee ($107) notches grand surprise in Champions Day Classic

Grand Luwegee pulled a 52-1 upset Saturday when he made the pace in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds and had more in the stretch to win a hoof-to-hoof battle with favorite Shang.

Grand Luwegee proved a head best. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Jus Lively in third.

The Classic was one of 10 stakes on the annual Louisiana Champions Day card at Fair Grounds. The divisional races were restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. There were three stakes for Quarter Horses.

Grand Luwegee ($107) broke on top and set fractions of 24.28 seconds for the opening quarter, 49.30 for the half-mile and 1:14.10 for six furlongs in the 1 1/8-mile race run on a muddy, sealed track. He was hooked by Slang in the stretch and the two slugged it out to the wire, with Grand Luwegee covering the distance in 1:52.03.

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Colby Hernandez was aboard the winner for Gerard Perron, who bred, owns, and trains Grand Luwegee.

Grand Luwegee has now won the state’s two richest offerings for Louisiana-breds, as he took the $150,000 Premier Night Championship in 2019 at Delta Downs. He came into Saturday’s race off a sixth-place finish in a turf sprint allowance Aug. 14 at Evangeline Downs.

Grand Luwegee is a son of El Corredor who has now won 6 of 21 starts for earnings of $349,250.

Monte Man wins first Sprint

Monte Man has long been a dominant sprinter in Louisiana, but there was one notable stakes missing from his resume. The 7-year-old took care of that on Saturday when he won the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Sprint.

It was the first win in the year-end stakes for Monte Man, who has previously captured statebred championship day races at Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, and Louisiana Downs.

Monte Man ($14) tracked the pace along the rail Saturday, with Bertie’s Galaxy leading through an opening quarter in 21.93 seconds and X Clown moving to the fore through a half-mile in 45.51 seconds. Monte Man advanced, was angled off the fence in the stretch, and moved past the leaders for a 2 1/2-length victory. He covered six furlongs on a muddy, sealed track in 1:10.60.

Adam Beschizza was aboard for trainer Ron Faucheux.

Monte Man is owned by Ivery Sisters Racing. He was winning for the 16th time in his career Saturday, and of those wins, eight have come in stakes. He’s earned $676,423 over 44 starts, with his career beginning in New York. Monte Man is a son of Custom for Carlos and was bred by Val Murrell.

In the sprint offering for fillies and mares, Our Lost Love ($8) was a strong winner on the front end in the $100,000 Ladies Sprint, setting the pace in the mud and holding for a nose win over Mr. Al’s Gal. It was another half-length back to Vacherie Girl in third.

Our Lost Love put up fractions of 22.52 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.41 for the half-mile before winning in 1:11.93. Mitchell Murrill was aboard for trainer Joey Foster.

Our Lost Love is a 3-year-old daughter of Half Ours owned by Tri-Star Racing. She has now won 6 of 12 starts and earned $272,003.

Ninety One Assault retains title

Ninety One Assault won the $100,000 Turf for the second year in a row, when he caught Afleet Ascent nearing the wire for a length victory. It was another half-length back to Guitar Tribute in third.

Ninety One Assault ($5.20) settled off the pace set by Guitar Tribute, who took the field through six furlongs in 1:16.61 on a course downgraded to yielding. The eventual winner covered the “about” 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.86.

Shaun Bridgmohan, who rode Ninety One Assault in last year’s Turf, was aboard again Saturday. The horse races for Paul Braverman and Tom Morley and is trained by Morley. He is a son of Artie Schiller.

Room to Finish ($6.60) closed with a flourish down the center of the course to win the $100,000 Ladies Turf by 1 1/2 lengths over Net a Bear. It was another nose back to Offspring in third.

Room to Finish let the speed go, settling fifth as Marywood led through six furlongs in 1:15.30 over a course rated good. Room to Finish advanced, moved past the leaders in the lane, and covered the “about” 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.11.

Adam Beschizza rode the winner for trainer Wayne Catalano.

Room to Finish is a daughter of Giant Oak who races for West Point Thoroughbreds, Forge Ahead Stables, and Jerry Caroom. She was winning her first stakes Saturday and overall has compiled a record of seven wins from 20 starts for earnings of $289,605.

In the stakes for 2-year-olds, Big Time was a 3 1/2-length winner over Taylor Avenue in the $100,000 Lassie. Sir Wellington delivered as the favorite in the $100,000 Juvenile.

Big Time ($7.20) covered six furlongs in the mud in 1:11.97. Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard for trainer Dallas Stewart. Big Time is a daughter of Astrology who races for Valene Farms. She is now 2 for 2.

Sir Wellington ($4) was always prominent for a two-length win over Standing Perfect. He covered six furlongs in the mud in 1:11.81. Marcelino Pedroza was aboard for trainer Hugh Robertson. Sir Wellington is a son of Palace owned by Xtreme Racing Stables.