Louisiana Champions Day Classic falls to Underpressure
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
A couple of blemishes to the form of Underpressure – not having won at Fair Grounds or over a wet track – are no longer after the colt triumphed by 3 1/2 lengths in a sloppy renewal of the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Saturday.
The Classic was the richest of 10 stakes contested at Fair Grounds on Champions Day, three of which were for Quarter Horses. All the other stakes were worth $100,000.
Underpressure sat fourth early under Corey Lanerie, 6 1/2 lengths off the pace, as Ready Prospector showed the way through fractions of 23.83 seconds, 47.98, and 1:13.34 in the 1 1/8-mile Classic. Underpressure got in gear leaving the second turn and engulfed the leaders shortly after entering the stretch, and though he drifted inwardly early in the lane, maintained a steady pace and advantage to the wire.
Runner-up Grande Basin launched a stretch bid, but was never able to pose a significant danger to the winner. He finished well clear of the rest of the pack, with favored Mageez settling for third.
The Classic was the first stakes victory of 2018 for Underpressure ($6.60), a 4-year-old son of Birdstone who won two stakes last year at age 3 for owner Mallory Greiner and trainer Chris Richard. Third in last year’s Classic, he was victorious Saturday by covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.82.
A race earlier, Magic Vow swooped past the field under James Graham to win an off-the-turf renewal of the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf.
The switch to the sloppy main track never appeared to compromise Magic Vow ($8.80), who always seemed to be traveling well. After trailing by as much as eight lengths, he quickly advanced on the leaders from sixth, and drew off to win by four lengths despite drifting out down the lane. He completed 1 1/16 miles in the slop in 1:47.17.
Theoryintopractice ran evenly throughout to be second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Battle At Sea, the 8-5 favorite, who grew fatigued in the stretch after setting the pace with splits of 23.54 seconds, 47.76, and 1:13.47.
The Louisiana Champions Day Turf marked the second victory in nine races this year for Magic Vow, a 4-year-old gelded son of Private Vow trained by Tyron Benoit and owned by Evelyn Benoit’s Brittlyn Stable.
