Layoff no problem for Mobile Bay in Louisiana Champions Classic

Mobile Bay overcame a more than nine month layoff to successfully defend his title in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic on Saturday at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. He set the pace in the 1 1/8-mile race then held for a nose win over Grande Basin, while it was another length back in third to Underpressure.

The Classic was the main event on the Louisiana Champions Day card of 10 divisional stakes worth more than $1 million. The lineup included three stakes for Quarter Horses. Louisiana Champions Day was being run for the 27th time Saturday, according to a press release from Fair Grounds.

Mobile Bay ($3.20) came into the Classic off a Feb. 11 win in the Louisiana Premiere Night Championship at Delta Downs. He moved to the lead soon after the start Saturday, and was up by three lengths through an opening quarter in 24.51 seconds, nine lengths through a half-mile in 48.58, and five and a half lengths through six furlongs in 1:14.24.

Challengers cut into Mobile Bay’s advantage even further in the stretch, but he was able to gut out the win while covering the distance on a track rated good in 1:51.95. Diego Saenz was aboard for trainer Victor Arceneaux.

Mobile Bay earned $90,000 for his effort for his breeder and owner, Tigertail Ranch. He is a son of Lone Star Special and has now won 11 of 26 starts and $1,096,440. Mobile Bay was winning his third straight stakes, with his streak launched in last year’s Classic, which he won by 4 3/4 lengths to help him lock up the Louisiana-bred Horse of the Year title for 2016.

The remaining order of finish in this year’s Classic was Mageez in fourth, and One King’s Man.

Double for Cox, Bridgmohan

Trainer Brad Cox and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan teamed up for a stakes double when Inveniam Viam ($6.40) rallied for a length win over Pacific Pink in the $100,000 Ladies and Extra Credit ($9.80) closed for a three-quarter length victory over Fort Pulaski in the $100,000 Turf.

Inveniam Viam was winning her second straight Louisiana-bred stakes at the meet. She covered Saturday’s distance of about 1 1/16 miles on soft turf in 1:45.07. She is a daughter of Half Ours and she is owned by Allied Racing Stable.

Extra Credit covered the same distance on soft turf in 1:44.88. He is a son of Proud Citizen and he races for his breeder, Klein Racing. Extra Credit had been cross-entered in the Classic and ended up being one of three scratches out of the dirt race.

Juveniles remain perfect

Minit to Stardom ($3) improved her career record to 2 for 2 when she coasted to a 7 1/4-length win in the $100,000 Lassie. The victory came following a 5 1/4-length debut win Nov. 18 at Fair Grounds.

Minit to Stardom on Saturday covered six furlongs on a track rated good in 1:12.18. Colby Hernandez was aboard for trainer Al Stall Jr. Brittlyn Stable bred and races Minit to Stardom, who is a daughter of Star Guitar.

In the $100,000 Juvenile, Greeley Went West ($15) overtook pacesetter and favorite Divine Bean for a length win over that one. With the victory, Greeley Went West improved his career record to 2 for 2, his other win a maiden special weight in September at Louisiana Downs.

James Graham was aboard Saturday, when Greeley Went West covered six furlongs on a track rated good in 1:11.76. Jim Hodges trains the son of El Corredor for Phyllis Hodges and Randy Schiender.

Stall wins second stakes on card

Stall had a second stakes winner on the card when My Miss Chiff ($4.40) captured the $100,000 Ladies Sprint by three-quarters of a length over Look Into My Eyes. It was the second straight stakes win at the meet for My Miss Chiff, who was coming off a score in the $50,000 Happy Ticket. My Miss Chiff covered six furlongs in 1:11.45 on a good track and was ridden by Mitchell Murrill. She has now won four of six starts and the first-place check of $60,000 pushed her earnings to $159,660. My Miss Chiff is a daughter of Into Mischief owned by Town and Country Racing.

► Stand Him Up ($5.20) won his third straight race when he darted to a 1 1/4-length victory over Just Kissing Buck in the $100,000 Sprint. The winner covered six furlongs on a track rated good in 1:11.03. Gabriel Saez was aboard for trainer Howard Alonzo. Stand Him Up is a son of Time Bandit owned by Hay Hollow Racing Stables. His streak started in an August allowance at Evangeline and continued in the $50,000 Heitai in November at Fair Grounds in his start preceding the Sprint.

► The card opened with a trio of Quarter Horse races. Strong Guns ($25.20) upset the $100,000 Classic in a 1 1/4-length romp, while Dashnunder Afullmoon ($5) accounted for the $100,000 Juvenile and Shatto Stoli ($9) was a nose winner of the $100,000 Derby.