Jockamo's Song may turn tables on Nubin Ridge in Louisiana Champions Day Sprint

Saturday is Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, meaning there is the usual glut of races for horseplayers to assess and enjoy. On either side of the Classic, which goes as the ninth of 13 races on a card that starts at 12:30 p.m. Central, there are four statebred stakes for 3-year-olds and up: the Sprint, Ladies Sprint, Ladies, and Turf.

In reverse order, here’s a quick rundown:

◗ $100,000 Sprint (race 12, post 5:51): Nubin Ridge and Jockamo’s Song were separated by mere inches three weeks ago as the one-two finishers in the Heitai at this same six-furlong distance, but Jockamo’s Song is likely to be favored this time, given his superior overall record and the fact that Florent Geroux now has the ride.

“He ran real big the other day and just got beat,” said trainer Mike Stidham. “We’re coming back on a bit of short rest, but he came out of the race well, he’s training good, and we’re hoping for another big effort.”

Nubin Ridge rallied from the clouds in his narrow Heitai triumph and could once again see a fast pace unfold ahead of him, given the ample amount of speed signed on among the field of 13. Ashley Broussard has a return call.

◗ $100,000 Ladies Sprint (race 11, 5:21): Brad Cox said he and owner Steve Landers hadn’t made this six-furlong race a long-range goal for Illussion Artist, but after the 3-year-old filly remained perfect in three starts by winning a Nov. 13 allowance at Churchill Downs, this spot was a natural.

“Obviously, it’s another step up, but she’s moved forward every time we’ve run her,” said Cox. “She might’ve gone through conditions a little quicker than we expected, but we’re excited about the progress she’s made. We’ve had her since April of her 2-year-old year, and she’s always shown us she could be a nice filly once she got past the minor issues she had.”

Ramona’s Wildcat, with Geroux riding for Tom Amoss, looks like the main competition, along with Sunny Oak, a winner last out of the restricted Happy Ticket over the local strip for Eddie Johnston. Wheatfield and Look Into My Eyes are other notables in a field of 13.

◗ $100,000 Ladies (race 6, 2:52): Big World was the 3-5 favorite when finishing a troubled third for Amoss in her last start, the restricted Si Cima on opening weekend of the Fair Grounds meet. The race was won by Seaside Candy, a 10-1 chance for Al Stall Jr.

A rematch of those two, plus two others from the Si Cima, is on tap for this 1 1/16-mile race.

“Coming out of the gate last time, there was some bumper-car action going on, and Tom’s filly took the worst of it,” said Stall.

“That said, our filly seems to be coming around. We’ve always thought she was this kind of horse. She’s a big, long-striding filly, a little quirky, been a little tough on herself. Hopefully, Mother Nature is getting her organized and she’ll put a couple of good ones back-to-back for us.”

Forest Lake and Pacific Pink, the second- and fourth-place finishers in the key race, help round out a field of six fillies and mares.

◗ $100,000 Turf (race 5, 2:22): Sunbean is among the eight entrants in a 1 1/16-mile grass race that leads off the prime Thoroughbred tilts of the Champions card, but trainer Ron Faucheux has said the versatile millionaire is far more likely to start later in the day in the Classic.

With or without Sunbean, the Turf is a competitive heat. Another millionaire, String King, is always a major consideration whenever Louisiana-bred stakes are run over grass, and his career mark of 19 wins and 10 seconds from 46 starts will help make him favored here for Charlie Smith.

Benwill, who defeated String King when they last met in the Nov. 19 Mr. Sulu at Fair Grounds, is among the chief threats, as is Hail to the Nile, who could find himself on a lonely lead under Francisco Torres.