Mobile Bay earns fourth straight stakes triumph

Mobile Bay won his fourth consecutive stakes race in a corker Saturday night when he edged Underpressure by a nose in the $170,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs.

It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Social Misfit in third.

The race was the richest on a card of six divisional stakes restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. Purses for the stakes were a cumulative $795,000, making for the biggest night of the meet at Delta.

Mobile Bay ($3.40) won the Championship for the second year in a row. He tracked Temprano through fractions of 24.65 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.77 for the half-mile on the sloppy, sealed track, before moving to the lead through six furlongs in 1:14.08.

Underpressure advanced along the rail down the backside and into the final turn and continued to close the margin on Mobile Bay. The eventual winner was headed by Underpressure in the stretch but had more, getting his nose down on the wire while covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.49.

“I was worried about the track, but he won before in the mud,” said Diego Saenz, who rode Mobile Bay. “He was getting out a little bit in the second turn, those sharp turns. He’s a big horse, but he handled it all right.”

Victor Arceneaux trains Mobile Bay for the horse's breeder, Tigertail Ranch. Mobile Bay is a son of Lone Star Special. He earned $102,000 for the win, which was his 12th from 27 career starts. Mobile Bay has now earned $1,198,440.

His current stakes streak started in the 2016 running of the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds. He then won last year’s Premier Night Championship and another running of the Champions Day Classic last year before adding his fourth straight stakes win Saturday.

In other races, Gladyousawme ($10.60) stretched back out around two turns and returned to the winner’s circle with a three-quarter-length victory over Ready Prospector in the $120,000 Prince for 3-year-olds. The winner tracked the pace and covered the mile in 1:41.10. Roberto Morales was aboard for Klein Racing and trainer Brad Cox. Gladyousawme is by Due Date.

Morales had another stakes win on the card when he guided Ours to Run ($11.20) to a three-quarter-length win over My Miss Chiff in the $120,000 Matron. The winner covered the five furlongs for fillies and mares in 58.34 seconds. Ours to Run is a daughter of Half Ours and is owned by Colonel Thoroughbreds and trained by Larry Jones.

Pacific Pink ($7.20) was a two-length winner over Hyper Piper in the $145,000 Distaff, covering the mile for fillies and mares in 1:41.22. Colby Hernandez was aboard for Keith Plaisance and trainer Eddie Johnston. Pacific Pink is a daughter of Private Vow.

Monte Man ($5.80) had two beat early before getting up for a neck win in the $120,000 Sprint. He covered five furlongs in 58.05 seconds. Gerard Melancon was aboard for Ivery Sisters Racing and trainer Ron Faucheux. Monte Man is by Custom For Carlos.

Remember Daisy ($6.40) was a 3 1/2-length winner over Sarah’s Holy Belle in the $120,000 Starlet for 3-year-old fillies. The winner covered the mile in 1:43.72. Mitchell Murrill was aboard for trainer Gary Scherer. Remember Daisy is by Misremembered and races for her breeders, Bill and Al Ulwelling.