Mobile Bay, The Pickett Factor resume rivalry in Louisiana Legends Classic
Mobile Bay and The Pickett Factor rose to the top of their Louisiana-bred crop last year at 3, with Mobile Bay winning the Grade 2 Super Derby and The Pickett Factor taking the Louisiana Champions Day Classic. The horses were frequent rivals but have yet to meet at 4. That will change on Saturday night, when Mobile Bay and The Pickett Factor clash in the $125,000 Louisiana Legends Classic at Evangeline Downs.
The 1 1/16-mile Classic is the richest of seven stakes on the $725,000 Louisiana Legends program. The races are all restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. Other highlights include Painting the Sky – dual registered as a Thoroughbred and a Paint – facing Grade 3 winner Jet Black Magic in the $100,000 Soiree and the millionaire String King making his first start since March in the $100,000 Turf.
But the main event remains the six-horse Classic, which also drew the millionaire Sunbean, who is 3 for 3 at Evangeline, as well as the stakes winners Heavy On Themister and One King’s Man.
“It’s a tough race top to bottom,” said Ralph Irwin, who trains The Pickett Factor for Melissa Cantacuzene. “It’s going to be a dandy.”
The Pickett Factor last faced Mobile Bay in December, when he won the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds. Earlier in the season, Mobile Bay won the Super Derby over The Pickett Factor, and The Pickett Factor defeated Mobile Bay in the Prelude.
“When we were fortunate enough to beat him, we accomplished something,” Irwin said. “He’s a really, really nice horse.”
The Pickett Factor will be returning to the Louisiana-bred ranks following a fourth-place finish in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile in his last start June 4. The race was run in the slop, and it was the first time The Pickett Factor raced on a wet track.
“I kept waiting for him to hit another gear,” Irwin said. “[Jockey] Luis [Quinonez] seemed to think he just flat didn’t like the going.”
The Pickett Factor, who is 6 for 11, has natural speed. He will break from post 6 under John Jacinto.
Jockey Diego Saenz will be reunited with Mobile Bay, with whom he is 3 for 3. All of those wins came last year at Evangeline Downs.
“I’m ready to get back on him,” Saenz said. “He’s got heart, and he’s a big horse. That’s the good thing about him. As long as you don’t get him stopped, he’ll give you everything he’s got. He’s a pretty honest horse.”
Mobile Bay, who races for Tigertail Ranch and is trained by Victor Arceneaux, is returning to the Louisiana-bred ranks for the first time since Champions Day in December. He has racked up a pair of notable stakes wins this season, taking the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup in February at Sam Houston and the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap in his most recent start May 1.
Saenz was aboard for the horse’s most recent work, a five-eighths move in 1:01.20 at the Evangeline Downs Training Center.
◗ Believe in Bertie will be making a couple of notable moves when she starts in the Soiree, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies. She enters off a second-place finish in the $70,000 Acadiana on June 3 at Evangeline. Believe in Bertie broke from the rail in the seven-eighths race for statebreds that drew 11.
“We were taking a shot last time, first time on dirt,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It wasn’t a bad effort. The 1 hole made us probably use her a little bit early, and she didn’t finish as well. But she’s doing great, and we’re excited about getting her back on turf and around two turns because that’s what she’s meant to do.”
Believe in Bertie won her debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on grass at Saratoga last August. Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard and has the mount Saturday for owners Richard and Bertram Klein.
The same team also has Extra Credit in the $100,000 Cheval. He won the $70,000 Lafayette last out at Evangeline and will be moving back to turf Saturday.
“We think that’s probably his preferred surface,” said Cox.
◗ String King will be seeking his third win in the Louisiana Legends Turf. He took the 1 1/16-mile grass race by a length last year, one of four stakes wins he had in 2015.
◗ Look Into My Eyes will be seeking her fourth straight win when she goes in the $100,000 Mademoiselle for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs. She is back with statebreds after a powerhouse effort in the Tellike Stakes at Evangeline.
◗ Forest Lake is returning to the Louisiana-bred ranks for the $100,000 Distaff following a pair of stakes placings against open company at this meet.
◗ Sir Genghis will attempt to win his fourth straight race in the $100,000 Sprint.
◗ The forecast calls for a high of 93 degrees and a 40 percent chance of rain, according to The Weather Channel.