Louisiana Downs: Look At the Time prevails in John Franks Memorial

Look At the Time overtook 1-5 favorite String King nearing the wire to win the fourth stakes race of his career Saturday in the $50,000 John Franks Memorial at Louisiana Downs. The race was one of two one-mile turf stakes for Louisiana-breds on the card. Drinking Fund closed fast to win the $50,000 Honeymoon.

Look At the Time ($18.40) and String King vied for the lead into the first turn of the Franks Memorial, before Look At the Time settled off the favorite as he rolled through fractions of 23.60 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.45 for the half-mile, and 1:11.08 for six furlongs. Look At the Time overtook String King in the stretch, then kept him at bay by a neck when the pacesetter surged again coming to the wire. Look At the Time covered the distance on firm turf in 1:34.62.

Bobby Walker Jr. rode the winner for Hooties Racing and trainer Dwight Viator.

Look At the Time was making his first start since September, when he captured the $150,000 A.L. “Red” Erwin at Louisiana Downs. His previous stakes wins came at Fair Grounds, in last year’s Gentilly and Crescent City Derby. Look At the Time is a 4-year-old by Brahms, and he was bred by Mike Paciera. The gelding has now won 5 of 10 starts and $255,870.

Drinking Fund won her fifth straight race in the Honeymoon for fillies and mares when she barreled down the center of the course to catch Divine Loretta by a neck. It was another neck back in third to Esther Girl in the three-way photo, while favorite Little Ms Protocol finished fourth after being forced to check in the stretch while bidding up the rail.

Drinking Fund ($14.40) trailed early as Ladyzarbridge set a pressured pace of 23.75 for the opening quarter, 47.76 for the half-mile, and 1:11.61 for six furlongs. Drinking Fund advanced down the backside but ran into traffic, then moved around horses to come four wide into the stretch. She proceeded to cover the distance in 1:36.62.

Chris Rosier was aboard Drinking Fund for owner-trainer Joey Foster.

Drinking Fund began her streak in December, with a win in a $10,000 optional claimer at Delta Downs. She proceeded to win three more times at that track before taking the first stakes race of her career in the Honeymoon. She is a 7-year-old by Placid Fund and she was bred by Leonard E. Brown.

The stakes were the first of the young meet at Louisiana Downs.